Hey everyone, got a question for you. A guy in my area is selling an 02 Monte SS for ridiculously cheap money and it has custom rims on it worth around 2 grand, full leather interior, high sport package and it runs and drives, some body work needs to be done, nothing too major that I couldn't do in the driveway, but......yes there is always a catch lol..................there is no ownership with the car.

I have never bought a car without an ownership before, snowmobiles yes, dirt bikes yes, but not a car. Now I am curious what I would be able to do with it if I was unable to get an ownership. I would strip all the parts off of it that I want for my car, and put the high sport kit on the wifes car with the spoiler, but when I was done I would just have a parts car sitting in my driveway that I really wouldn't want sitting there lol, I am not even sure if a junkyard would buy it from me without an ownership

Would you buy the vehicle or would you pass on it?

I am torn on what to do.

I have sent the guy an email asking him about it and questioning about the lack of ownership on the car and am currently awaiting his response

 

Is there any way to apply for a lost ownership/title?

 

Never purchase a Vehicle with out the TITLE. If you do the real owner can come back and take it, and you may have to visit the Police station as well. If the Car is a Basket Case and you are just going to strip it you should be able to get a salvage title for it. Check at the Court House in that area and they should be able to give you advise that will help you out.

 

Barbara - I am not certain if it can be done, which is why I asked the guy for a reason why there is no title in the first place.

Driver#3 - That is exactly what I am thinking as well. Either the real owner will come and take it, or the police may show up, or if I try to sell it to the wreckers when I am done stripping the car the police will get involved as well.

 

I vote no, even though it sounds like a good deal for parts and everything, you have no way to prove that the car is rightfully yours, just sounds like a potential for a messy situation.

 

I vote no. Without the title, the holder of the title can show up with the police and a tow truck at any time. And stripping it for parts makes you look guilty.

It sounds like a good deal. But the guy may be wanting to unload a can of worms on you. So he doesn't have to deal with it.

 

I say No!
Having said that, you can try finding the title owner through the vin. and DMV. Then you will end up with one of 3 situations; the owner goes and gets the car, or they try to sell it to you for a more inflated price. Or it all works out perfectly, you get the title and now you have a running car with title.
I bought my 98 Monte LS from a used car dealer. Paid $2100 for it. It was a consignment sale. The dealer did not have the title. A week after I bought it, the dealership closed down and moved to Florida. I found the titled owner, and had to pay him $1700 for the title because he never got paid for the car! I paid it and it was still a good deal. The car only had 87k miles on it and was in GREAT shape. And I still paid under the KBB value. But it was a Big hassle! I was lucky!

 

I would go no as well. There just sounds like way to much trouble with that car. Not to mention if you loose it now you are also out 2000 dollars. I would still ask questions and maybe you can find out more about the car by asking the owner before just deciding against it. As far as what you know now it would be a no unless you do find out more about it.

 

I haven't heard back from the seller yet. I am thinking I could get the car for about $300 which is why the deal was appealing to me, as I know the rims are worth 4 times that, not to mention a full leather interior and high sport kit for the wifes car, plus all the other goodies I could strip off of it, and then was gonna sell it to the wreckers for whatever I could get. So on paper it is a great deal, but without an ownership there's a lot of hassles.
There are ways around the ownership, by getting an affidavit and a uvip and having the seller sign a receipt with the vin on it but again there are costs and time involved in this process.

So odds are I probably won't be getting the car, but it was/is tempting

 

Without a title, I'm not sure you can pawn the car off to the wreckers when you are done. Most those companies want/need the title (or I'm sure other supporting paper work).

From what I've heard, at least in the U.S., there is a way to file for a title of an abandoned vehicle. I'm not sure what's involved (I'm sure it's a bunch of time and paper work). If the car is as worth while as you mention, this guy should get the title and sell it with title in hand.

No title, no sale. I agree with everyone here. You have too many unknowns. All you would have is a bill of sale claiming you bought the car. If someone produces a valid title, the car could be taken by the cops. I'm sure that also comes with it's own hardships.