I know of a parts car that a mechanic is offering for sale "without title". It was in for extensive repairs and I have reason to believe it was abandoned by the owner without paying the bill to the mechanic. Thus the mechanic is probably trying to recoup some of the cost by selling it.

How do I make sure the mechanic has the legal right to sell me the car? He will provide a "Bill of Sale". Should I also expect a copy of a mechanic's lien or some other legal document? State of Sale is Georgia.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

He should have files for a mechanics lien, that would give him legal title to the vehicle, if he didn't I would hesitate, because legally it wouldn't be his to sale.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

That's pretty much what I was thinking too. It has to be some legal process - can't shortcut the owner's legal rights to the car without some kind of process.

Here's what I spotted and really wanted:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7933516895

It went higher than my target price anyway - up to the end it appeared that it might go for about $900.

Oh well, I can do without "Grand Theft - Auto - Across State Lines" on my record.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

I did get a response back from the seller that the car would go with a Bill of Sale from the owner. Now, why wouldn't she just sign over the title? Or get a duplicate title and then sign it over. Hmmm. A little too shakey for me, and it went over my limit anyway.

But pretty good for a parts car at that price.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

Getting a mechanics lien may vary state to state. Some require the vehicle to be sold at auction, some the mechanic gets the lein and its his to do what he wants. Paperwork like title usually costs extra for him to get. He may be owed more than the car is worth already and won't fork over more money he won't get back. I can only guess what it is. But a bill of sale especially if its notorized would keep you out of the slammer, but you could still lose the car and the money you paid to the rightful owner if it comes to that.

At that price I would have jumped too..... But if they never filed a lien you won't be able to get clear title.

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

I had that one marked to watch also. It was probably doable. Title would cost a couple hundred extra if the car was worth it. If it had a new head and not a used or welded head it was a bargain.

When I read your first post I suspected this was the car. Great minds run in the same gutters.

If it were a couple of states closer to me then I'd have been on the phone to the seller and then the owner to make sure she was agreeing to sell. I would have paid for a duplicate title too. But I've done that run to Georgia and back from Virginia and its no picnic.

I feel certain the head is worthless on the car. But lots of good parts like the radiator, transmission, turbo, etc. etc. all the way down to sheet metal sections. Not to mention the 8-hole wheels that look pretty good.

I like the way all these overheated 603 engines on EBay only need a "head gasket" too.

Ken300D

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1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

That is stretching the term "caveot Emptor" to it breaking limits.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
---------------------
Section 609 MVAC Certified
---------------------
"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

If it's older than 1985 in GA, it doesn't require a title, only a bill of sale.

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85 300CD
83 300TD
78 240D (daughter)

1974 is the cutoff for vehicles in AL. 1990 for travel trailers.

We need a thread for the top ten or so BS eBay statements.

The easiest way to find out what to do for a mechanic's lien is to contact your state attorney general's office. If you know the owner and buy the car with a bill of sale there is no reason why the owner, perhaps for $100 or so, wouldn't sign the title over to you. She has lost the car and the title is of no use to her.

In NC you can get a storage lein after 60 days (maybe less) and hold a "private auction" to recover your repair, towing and storage fees.
I think the last one I did cost less than $75.00 for everything and 5-6 weeks after the storage period and that was on a car that had last been titled in Fl (I don't think it matter which state of origin).
Make sure you file the papers in somebody else's name if you want the car, state law does not allow you to sell it to yourself.

If the price had stayed low I would have taken the chance, so far the only thing the pervious owners wanted (on the other cars I have done this with) was to make sure they did not have to pay any more on a car they did not have.
Other states maybe different but with a bill of sale I would not think the grand theft auto across state lines would apply. (unless you really pissed them off)

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Ncnetman
1959 Chev 3100 Fleetside
1965 Mustang
1968 Torino GT fastback
1969 Ranchero
1974 240d 4-speed -for sale
1976 240d fresh paint- on hold
1978 300cd fresh paint and new rearwindshield rubber
1990 6.2 Suburban 194k-getting a 6.5 turbo
2008 Duramax Silverado
2015 VW Passat TDI

GA doesn't use titles after ten years on a vehicle. Transfer is through bill of sale , and then you pay the county for a registration reciept. DMV's across the country know this and they honor GA's DMV laws. Alabama has the same policy, which is why companies like broadway title exist. Ask the seller if he has the registration reciept and you'll be good. Get a notorized bill of sale with the seller's info on it, and you would be quite safe to own and transport your parts car.

that it is possible to purchase a car that is at least 15 years old from a state that requires a title and run it through Georgia and you can get a tag receipt and after 30 days or so you can take that tag receipt to your state and apply for a title and viola! you are titled, tagged and traveling. However, you need a good friend or relative in the state of Georgia to help you with this.

When I lived in Georgia I purchased a few old cars without titles from other states and was able to get them tagged in GA. GA did not give you a title for that old of a car but when I moved to another state that required titles they simply said "GA doesn't require a title for this year so do you have a tag receipt? A bill of sale?" All you will need!

LSS, find someone to tag it for you in GA. (old car, taxes will be cheap). Take the receipt to your DMV along with your Bill of Sale and you SHOULD be good to go! Worked for me anyway! Make sure your dates are chronologically correct on your paper work.

P.S. If any of that is illegal then it was a friend who did it, not me!

Kevin

Broadway Title is a GA company? Where?

Nevermind, google search:
http://www.broadwaytitle.com/
After looking at their website this is a very limited and expensive business. Better to have a friend in Georgia.

The registered owner of a car registered in Alabama can get a replacement title through the mail for $20, it takes a couple weeks.