Topic: What would you do with this Toyota?

[Shamb]

So me and a buddy picked up this clean 91' Toyota pickup, bone stock and were planning on building it into a low budget build with functionality in mind on the trail. But we've ran into a snag...

Recently found out from DMV that they've got a hold on the title because the previous owner owes something like $1500 in back registration AND owes the bank around $1500-$1800 on the loan still.

I'm wondering if there's anyway to make this thing legal without having to shell out $3000+ just to get a title, we toy'd with the idea of grinding off all the VIN #'s and turning it into a truggy...

Has anyone had to deal with this?  experiances? or anyone that's got a buggy.. how did you green sticker the rig?  because that would basically be what we're doing....

TIA,

Shamb

[jimbo74]

i dont think there is a legal way for you to get out of it

[mudmaster]

X2

[KYOTA]

wouldnt that be the same as a stolen vehicle with no vin's?

without a title you have no way of proving you own it. should've found out about the back reg fees and loan balance up front

[Shamb [OP]]

should've found out about the back reg fees and loan balance up front

Yea I agree, I didn't take part in the actual purchase so that kinda screwed me (us)

Its such a clean truck to just goto waste.

[jimbo74]

Its such a clean truck to just goto waste.

it wont be going to waste, it will be returned to its legal owner

[FIREBALL]

Talk to differant people at DMV. Some are more willing to help than others. They can waive a lot of fees if they're in the mood. It seems everyone who works there has a differant way of doing their job, you just have to find the right person. I doubt all the penalties will go away, but you might be able to get it in the ball park.

[Cheesemaker]

This is why I decided to not even look at a rig here locally, even though it was $1500.  He bought it from his neighbor without a title!  I talked to a friend of mine who works at DMV, and he says the best thing to do when buying a rig privately, is to do the transaction at the DMV.  For two reasons, 1. that way you know that there isn't a lein against the rig, or anything outstanding on it, and 2. you can (especially if your selling) make sure the title is changed out of your name at the time of selling! 

[papa mike]

i would think the lein holder could report it stolen

[TRHS1980]

I have a friend who some would call a bit crazy... He moved from state X to state Z with his Supra and didn't tell anyone where he was moving to. He then dropped a bunch of money into the car (engine, body kit, paint, et cetera) and stopped paying the bank (still the legal owner of the car) for the loan he took out on it. The bank didn't know where he was, as no one did, so he decided to go to the local wrecking yard, found a trashed supra from the same model year, made sure the VIN was clean and then bought it and had it towed to his house. He the proceeded to switch all the VINS out the the wrecked car and into his car. When he was done, he even let the wrecked car just sit in the street, and where he was living cars got towed after X number of days sitting there, so he didn't even have to deal with getting rid of the wrecked car! Of course his credit will be screwed until the day he dies, but this didn't seem to bother him too much. This may not help, but your story reminded me of (let's call him Tim) and I just had to share. He was one of the most interesting people I have ever met. Don't listen to anyone who says it cant be done, Tim proved that it can... And yes the story sounds like BS and wouldn't believe it either if I hadn't witnessed it happening.

[Gittinit]

As a third party you might be able to deal with the finance company and get them to proscicute the seller without loosing posession of the vehicle. If they start asking where its at though DENY DENY DENY or tell them its stripped out. If they know there is know way of getting there money back they might be willing to deal. Explain to them how much you are out and get on there side against the seller. If the buyer has to associate with the seller, he might be better off doing something else.

[Shamb [OP]]

it wont be going to waste, it will be returned to its legal owner

What if you were unable to get in contact with the person you bought it from?  nor did you have ANY information on the person other then their name...

To my understanding this was a truck that had a LOST title so there for false info was given 

Would you feel bad for completely cleaning the entire truck of VIN's or any traceable info just to green tag it as an offroad only vehicle?
Something in the back of my mind just says "umm..yea..thats wrong..."  but.... it is cheaper 

[KYOTA]

I'd start by taking FIREBALLS adviceand at least do some checking. could turn into a real mess otherwise

now go answer my queston about your airshox 

[freds40]

For a green tag, you must prove ownership and provide a title and current registration. If it is a custom built vehicle, the CHP will do a full on inspection of the vehicle to assure it is what you say it is, as well as requiring all receipts from the build of the vehicle. Either way I see you getting in a bind pretty quick. Probably worse if they see grinder marks where the VIN used to be. Now if you happened to have a registered vehicle that needed a motor, maybe a buddy that needed a tranny and t-case, maybe another one that was interested in the body, then you could get some use of the truck. As long as no VINs are being run on this vehicle, the parts can go to good use.

[86bobbedtoy]

yes everyone at dmv does different, at least try, if not Im sure some body has a rust bucket with vins and a clean title for cheap, Your not doing anything wrong except being caught in somebody elses lies. do what you have to do, but keep it on the d.l.

[Shamb [OP]]

Now if you happened to have a registered vehicle that needed a motor, maybe a buddy that needed a tranny and t-case, maybe another one that was interested in the body, then you could get some use of the truck. As long as no VINs are being run on this vehicle, the parts can go to good use.

Yea this was my "plan B"  but it just really sucks to see such a good truck go to waste... or be parted out like that. If all else fails, alot of parts will be going up for sale real soon. 

[jimbo74]

Yea this was my "plan B"  but it just really sucks to see such a good truck go to waste... or be parted out like that. If all else fails, alot of parts will be going up for sale real soon. 

not to play devils advocate, but i would watch out on that one, that is still essentailly selling stolen property

[boggerunner]

u shoulda told me sooner, i have a title and frame, but no vins left off my 94 reg cab short bed, whick i rolled, parted out and the cab went to the scrap yard 2 months ago, but i have a clean title

[BigMike]

[Hyena]

it's a clean clean truck, i saw it yesterday!

[Hottrod81]

Walk away, titleing issues can lead to more problems than they are worth!

[FIREBALL]

DMV fees and past due loans aren't the end of the world. #1 no one has said this truck is stolen. Usually the lending company is happy to get anything out of a deal like this. It was the previous person who screwed the pooch here.
Find out who the lean holder is. Tell them what happened and see if they let you buy out the lean at a reduced rate. Often they will take a fraction of what's owed, especially on a vehicle this old.
Like I said earlier, DMV can work with you too. My 4runner had lots of back fees when I bought it through a lean sale and they were able to waive most of the fees. They saved me around $500. Many DMV employees don't want to take the time to do this, but it can be done.
Even if you save $500 total, you've got a clean '91 for $2500. That's not a bad deal.

[86bobbedtoy]

what to do, Its got you puzzled huh?