Let me offer yet another possible solution:

I bought a car (not registered or driveable, but not a salvage title either) from a guy when I was in the Navy, I fixed it up, and got it going again...but I didnt get the title from him when I saw him (he was in Ohio, I was in CT)- lo and behold, he never sent me the title (he would have had to pay $30 for a replacement title).

In Ohio, or cincinnati at least, if there is a car, "abandoned" on your property for more than 6 months, and you cannot contact the owner (and its not reported stolen...) then all you need is $175, an affadavit saying all of this, and a trip to the county courthouse to get a 'court ordered' title.

(I think they even mail you a check later for approx. $100 of the $175 that you paid them up front (unused court costs?). The title you get is in your name and fully legit. (I think car repair places use this to 'reposess' cars that people leave))

Worked well for me. Not the cheapest option, but fully legal and only involved a half day of running around (an affadavit can be handwritten on the back of a napkin if you want...


-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

Sounds kinda like a bonded title.

If you have no title and the car is abandoned or something, a bonding company will issue a "bond" allowing you to title the car. They do some kinda background search on the car and basically guarantee to the state that the car is not stolen or any liens against the car and the current owner has long disappeared or whatever.

But they charge a percentage of the cars value for the service. Basically it's insurance in case someone comes looking for his car later or the police later say it's stolen and confiscate the car.

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1987 300TDT
1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap
1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel
assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles

RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5