Buying a van that has no ownership papers?

[gdogg47]

The owner of the body shop I go to was given a 72 VW Westy by someone who owed him a couple hundred dollars. However, the guy who dropped it off had no papers.

How do we go about getting papers for this bus so that I can buy it from the owner of the shop?

To make matters worse, the guy who dropped the bus off is no longer reachable. We have no phone number or address, not even a last name.

He was talking of putting a lein on it but #1 I'm not very familiar with that process and #2 he's only selling me the bus for $500. To spend $200 putting a lein on it wouldn't make sense.

Is there anyone who has been though this and can help?

I also have a friend who is junking a 74 camper that does have papers. Any way to transfer them from one bus to another without getting in too much trouble?

I'm anxious to get the camper and start working on it and will be moving across the country in two months. I'd really like to get this thing rolling and add to my VW collection.

Thanks in advance,
Gary

 

[Trossi3389]

 

[gdogg47]

If you're implying that the bus is stolen, you're incorrect.

As far as transferring vin plates from one to another, I know that is not a good idea, I was just throwing it out there.

Bottom line is how do you get papers for a vehicle that has been abandoned?

 

[BahamaMama]

"The owner of the body shop I go to was given a 72 VW Westy by someone who owed him a couple hundred dollars. However, the guy who dropped it off had no papers.

How do we go about getting papers for this bus so that I can buy it from the owner of the shop?

To make matters worse, the guy who dropped the bus off is no longer reachable. We have no phone number or address, not even a last name."



If this is all the info you have on the guy, how in the WORLD do you know for sure that he didn't steal it to pay off the body shop??

 

[gdogg47]

The owner of the shop is a very trustworthy person. He bought the business from my family.

As far as the guy who gave him the van ... I'm not sure. Well, now that I think of it ... the van doesnt run. Kinda hard to steal a camper that doesnt run and have it towed to a body shop. Its not like it was left overnight or something. It was towed to the shop and the owner took it with hopes that he would be able to get paperwork for it, sell it for a few hundred $$ and make the money back that the guy owed him.

The van was dropped off in October and since the guy has moved and not been in touch, thinking that he paid off his debts.

All in all a dumb move to take the bus in exchange for owed money, but that is not my concern. I just want to buy the bus and was wondering if anyone knows a solution to getting a title for it.

 

[worm44]

Depends what state you are in---if you have no papers, by the way-how do you know that there isnt Already a lein on it?

Take the Vin to DMV along with a bill of sale and tell them original paper work is lost...and pray the car was registered in your state....gl2u

 

[gdogg47]

I'm in NY.

Does it make a difference that the vehicle was made before 1974? I was told that cars 73 and older do not have titles or something.

 

[worm44]

That is the case in some states...like I said if the car was last registered in Ny-you will be all set if you have a bill of sale from the last person to register(owner) it---write down the VIN and bring the sale receipt to DMV and you should be all set.....

 

[worm44]

PS-if you have nothing in writing from the last owner-you will be fuked in NY.......

 

[Trossi3389]

Depends what state you are in---if you have no papers, by the way-how do you know that there isnt Already a lein on it?

Take the Vin to DMV along with a bill of sale and tell them original paper work is lost...and pray the car was registered in your state....gl2u

he's prolly gonna need even more then that. i remember years ago when i bought my 70 nova "i lost my regi ( WHICH BY THE WAY IS YOUR TITLE FOR THAT YEAR ) they wanted 30 forms of i.d,vin,any past history owners, it was a nightmare!!!!!!! you say your in n.y??? NOT GOOD BRO!!!!! there mother fawkers!!!

 

[Trossi3389]

PS-if you have nothing in writing from the last owner-you will be fuked in NY.......

YUP !!

 

[MrP]

Dont know about New York but in Michigan a body shop can get a salvage title pretty easy. I am assuming that the body shop owner knows how to get a title by placing a mechanics lien against the car. Check on a abandoned car title also. I have been in the auto business for 25 years and there is no quick way to do it, you are dealing with the government!

 

[DOGS THAT BARK]

Interesting thing about late model VW's. When I was in St Louis back in those days there was theft ring that stole exclusively VW's
the story goes the reason they stole them was only location of VIN # was stamped in drivers door. They would steal car smash door--have replaced at body shop have repair bill for replacing door-with changed vin # and drive out with sellable auto. Might be myth but I don't think so.

 

[bsucards]

run a carfax report on the thing to see what info you can find, maybe you can get some more info that way on the whole thing

 

[Simply In The Red]

Interesting thing about late model VW's. When I was in St Louis back in those days there was theft ring that stole exclusively VW's
the story goes the reason they stole them was only location of VIN # was stamped in drivers door. They would steal car smash door--have replaced at body shop have repair bill for replacing door-with changed vin # and drive out with sellable auto. Might be myth but I don't think so.

That would be a myth. There are more places than that on a VW. Trust me, I know.

 

[Simply In The Red]

run a carfax report on the thing to see what info you can find, maybe you can get some more info that way on the whole thing

I doubt Carfax would be able to do any good with a car that old. Besides, you should only take the information that carfax gives you with a grain of salt. That system can be beat very easy.


Give me a little time and I will see what ideas I can come up with.