alien_rx7

Okay, here's the deal. I need a new body because mine has some rust in places that makes it too dangerous to drive (at least autoX-wise). I know of one that is in quite a bit better condition sitting on some property for sale.

The property owner says it belongs to his last renter whom he kicked out because the renter owed quite a bit of back rent. The renter left the car (and a little speed boat but not interested in that) there but not the title.

The property owner says he'll sell it to me for a song but of course I cannot trust him to tell the renter if he ever came back to get the car that he actually sold it to me and I didn't just take it ala grand theft auto. Also this leaves me with a car without title too.

I went back out there today and took down the VIN number off of the car and now I'm wondering does CarFax tell you the current owner and contact info for that owner? If not, is there a service like that out there on the internet that will tell me the current owner's contact info? Or will I just have to write the DMV or whomever is responsible for that kind of thing in my state?

It would be really nice to have a clean title on the car and then I could just drop my stuff into it and be legit.
For those in MO, how long does a car have to sit before it becomes abandoned and one no longer needs the owner around to get a title? I'd much rather contact the owner of the car and screw this property owner!!

Sorry to be so long winded.

Sterling

Look for another car.
The owner obviously has little interest in it. But if you've ever watched little children play with toys, one will regain sudden interest in a particular toy he's neglected for months if the other kid picks it up! Human nature.

The property owner will at the very least claim "possesion" (as being 9/10ths of the law, ect), and if he's talked to a lawyer or knows the ropes on this, he'll know that (my guess) he could probably technically charge rent to the old tenant for however long the car sat there if the tenant tries to claim it. This amount will no doubt exceed what the tenant would want for the car. He won't have to chase down the tenant for back rent...The tenant will show up saying, "Dude. Where's my car?!"
The renter in an effort to get some money out of it all might be willing to sell the car, but he's not going to be in trouble when the tenant suddenly shows up. You are, because now you are in posession of his property (he's got the title), and you actually physically removed the property from where he had left it.
As far as the arresting officers are concerned, it's the same thing as if I sell you my neighbors BMW, and tell you to just go and get it..."The keys are in it."
After the cops take you in (they'll have to, as this is too much of a mess for them to sort out, and an exchange of money took place) the judge will no doubt find you not guilty. But you will have spent money on a lawyer to rep you, and you'll not get the car.

I think, no matter how tempting it may be, that you're in for a long, drawn out battle for something that only you will really appreciate.
It could be just fine if you go and find the owner, I suppose.
Just sounds wayyyy too messy for me.

I think Directfreak knows the law from the enforcement officers perspective. PM him, maybe he can help you.

Directfreak

iTrader: (2)

One of the ways we do it..

If the car has been abandoned on the property, you have the owner tow the car. After 30-60 days, it has a "mechanic's lein" (actual name may vary), and the tow truck company orders a new title in their name. Then they sell it legit to you for a joke.

You need a friend in the towing business though, otherwise he might sell it to a higher bidder, or have an auction for it.

I bought an old '87 B2200 Mazda pick up in the 90's this way for $100.

Technically, the owner of the property can do the same thing, and request a clear title in his name because it was abandoned on his property. In S. Fla, these laws change rather frequently, so I would always have to call and confirm.

Go to the local tax collecter (they issue vehicle registrations) and give them the info as if YOU were the homeowner and they should provide you with a "what to do list".

Good Luck.

rotor-lynn

Have the owner put a storage lein on the car. If the renter doesn't respond the car's his and he can sell it to you out right.
A friend got his '84 SE that way, sort of. He took possesion of the car but they agreed not to exchange money until the guy had the title, well he never produced it and my buddy was dying to drop the new engine in it so he went to the DMV , put a "storage lien" on the car and sent the guy a registered letter. The guy never responded so DMV sent him a new title and the car cost him the price of the registered letter.

alien_rx7

Thanks for the tip. I have some spare time on Friday so I'll head down to the tax collector and see if they know anything.

How does one get a lein, do you talk to a lawyer (yuck), bank (damnit), or the DMV?

Manntis

Call your city hall and find out who you'd register such a lein with in your area. Things vary from place to place (f'rinstance, here our tax collectors have absolutely nothing to do with vehicle registration and there is no DMV - all vehicles are registered through a government body that also provides insurance for cars, houses, etc)