Title problems, vin swap?

Curt said:

In New Mexico,you’ll have to apply for a lost title.A bill of sale is gonna be needed.Ultimately you’ll have to call the main state office to see what all you really have to do.

I will say that New Mexico is pretty chill compared to most states on this issue.I’ve never seen them come outside and look at a vehicle unless it was about a ticket for malfunctioning equipment.

And then I know they have like a hotrod/classic title,but then they will most likely go over it with a magnifying glass.

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This is basically what I had to do with my truck (Daisy). There was not title, and the extended family member of mine that "owned" the truck, used it as a lien on a car loan. He defaulted on that loan years ago, and they took the car. He gave me the truck because he would rather me have it than him try to tile it, and have it taken as collateral. I did my research, and here in KS, All I needed was a bill of sale, and proof that I purchased the truck (I filled in the dollar amount to make it look legit) and that he had lost the title. All the State of KS did was search for the last time it was tagged (10 years prior) noted it was a reasonable amount of time to lose the title, and I paid $45 to get a new title, and showed I had insurance on the vehicle, and it was in the mail to me in a week.

You may get that lucky.

Register the good one, put the sticker on the plate of the other, and don't ever do anything to get pulled over

Mine didn't have a title but. Had a bill of sale. Got a bonded title thru state farm For 100 bucks. Take that paperwork to the dmv and they'll mail you a clean blue title in your name. That's what I did. Easy peasy!!

Texas makes it a little easier since they added the last 6 digits of the VIN to the registration sticker. Since the sticker is directly above the VIN, they check closely on newer vehicles. My old junk, they figure nobody's going to try to steal one...

Many states do not require titles on older vehicles, so there are title places all over the web you give them number of dollars, they register the car on your name in a no title state, send you the tag and title, next year transfer it to your state. All legal, all numbers matching.

No one mentioned a putting a lien on it yet?! Here in CA I put a lien on a car. Used a local company. All they do is send the previous owner/registered to a letter, they have 30 days to respond ( in your case they won’t) and boom! It’s yours. You now take the paperwork to dmv/AAA and register and title in your name.
My case was a x boyfriend left the car, moved back east. Letter was sent to local address here so didn’t respond.( he didn’t want it anyway)
-it’s a mechanics lien, ment for cars left in shops not paid for.
Does NM have this?
- I’ve also registered in VT a car . A no title state but whack you for sales tax on the value of car.
Good luck!

MikecLA said:

No one mentioned a putting a lien on it yet?! Here in CA I put a lien on a car. Used a local company. All they do is send the previous owner/registered to a letter, they have 30 days to respond ( in your case they won’t) and boom! It’s yours. You now take the paperwork to dmv/AAA and register and title in your name.
My case was a x boyfriend left the car, moved back east. Letter was sent to local address here so didn’t respond.( he didn’t want it anyway)
-it’s a mechanics lien, ment for cars left in shops not paid for.
Does NM have this?
- I’ve also registered in VT a car . A no title state but whack you for sales tax on the value of car.
Good luck!

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I was offered to buy a C20 or C30 flatbed for $400 about 12 years ago. I don't know what year, but it was a squarebody that was left at the shop. They were tired of looking at it. I didn't want a squarebody truck back then, nor did I have the money to get it going, or registered, depending on the actual title issues involved. Kinda glad I didn't take them up on their offer, I had enough bs going on in my life at the time

Sometimes you have to trust people. If the old couple have "kids", they should be old by now and should just sign it over to you. If they don't, it is a lesson to you. Other than that, you dummy up some type if bill of sale.
Really, how much would it truly set you back? It sucks, but it isn't worth having a heart attack over.

The easy way to do this is what Ricko1966 said. People in states that no longer have titles for older vehicles can register this truck in their name and then sell it to you with that paperwork. You can then register it in your state and apply for a title. It will be a clear title with the correct vin and you will never have to worry about it again. THIS IS DONE ALL THE TIME!

What works in Washington state is I have a buddy with a tow yard. I let him say it's impounded for a month or so, then he goes to the state and says fees owed not paid and gets a title for it. I do some minor mechanic or electrical work for him to return the favor.