HELP!!! retitleing a car!

BuildADSM · 01-19-2006

Cliffnotes: how do I get a new title for a car that was stolen and the insureance totaled it.

I found a hell of a deal on an evo and am pretty sure that I will buy it. The car was stolen and is missing headlights, front seats, hood, front bumper, intercooler, wheels, wing and the drivers door (only that one... kinda weird). the turbo was also stolen but a new one comes with the car. This is perfect because most of thoses items would be upgraded anyway.

To get to the point. The car is really a great project and nothing was damaged other then what was taken (no cut wires and such). I would like to buy the car and fix it (new FMIC, race seats, CF hood, OEM door) and stuff like that but I would neet to get a new title. The insureance totaled the car so it doesn't come with a title. How can I get a new title and what all would it be. I think it would haft to be a salvage title but is there a way that I can get around that becasue the car has never had any damage or been wrecked but just taken apart?

Please help me get the chance to finally BuildADSM!!!

thanks in advance,
Stuart
P.S. I think that I am going to buy the car even if we can't fix it because I could part it for alot more then the cost.

Black97civic · 01-19-2006

I think there is a such thing as a "rebuilt" title, but I would call the DMV to make sure you aren't backing yourself into a corner by buying something that you wont be able to register.

cudvig · 01-19-2006

dont they onl total a car if it cost more to repair it than its worth?

if so, those items would not cost 25K or even 10K or like 5K. so whats really wrong with the car?

niterydr · 01-19-2006

I would say it would have to be branded "salvage" but it would make a good track car.
Let me know if you want to sell it

.
I would check with your local dmv.

BuildADSM · 01-19-2006

yeah it is pretty well stripped with other odds and ends missing as well...

it does have a full aftermarket suspention and 3 in turbo back on it.

BuildADSM · 01-19-2006

i think it may need new brake rotors too lol

Jakey · 01-19-2006

Turn your PMs on Stuart!

santa · 01-19-2006

you might end up needing to talk to the insurance company that declaired the car totaled. I have overheared that if you get the car back to normal and you can present it as a near new car you can get a title for it.? I maybe wrong.

Kevin

BuildADSM · 01-19-2006

there on... sorry I didn't know that they were off...

I know that it can be a pain to get any real money out of a car with a salvage title so the if we get it we may part it and sell the shell, fix it and use it as a fun track toy and a daily driver since my brothers eclipse has 120K on the stock 7 bolt wile pushing 500HP, or we may fix it and sell it as a track car.
if possible my brother would like to keep the car and put a CF hood aftermarket FMIC 500 dollar race seats, and another grand into goddies for the motor. With all of this we seriously think that we can get it fixed and running for about 10 grand and I no we could sell it for that salvage or not. (yes that does have an extra grand for misc. parts)

**Goat Blower** · 01-19-2006

You might be able to get a title, but it will be salvage, no way around that legally.

BuildADSM · 01-20-2006

Ok thanks for the help so far.
I am going to see it tomorrow and will post more tomorrow.

Parts I have seen so far on it
JIC Magic Suspension
Sway Bars
Turbo-back exhaust - 3" back?
Stereo wires everywhere
Some remains of the N20 system
if you see anything else let me know

Pics http://people.clemson.edu/~jamesj/evo8/

Black97civic · 01-20-2006

I would definately do it if I were you. Gut it, put a cage in, make a sweet track car. You can drive salvage title cars too, you just wont get nearly as much money for it, but you could sell it on ebay as a track car.

cudvig · 01-20-2006

Thats alot of rusty parts!

-Colin

**Kracka** · 01-20-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by cudvig

Thats alot of rusty parts!

-Colin

I just see rusty brake rotors which is normal for any car that sits in the rain. Not a problem at all anyways since they need to be replaced after the cars sat on them. EVO brakes aren't all that impressive anyway, might as well toss some good pads in there!

BuildADSM · 01-20-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by S2kracka

I just see rusty brake rotors which is normal for any car that sits in the rain. Not a problem at all anyways since they need to be replaced after the cars sat on them. EVO brakes aren't all that impressive anyway, might as well toss some good pads in there!

Yeah it will get new rotors if all of this goes through as planned. Rotors will rust really fast like that but as soon as you hit the brakes the clean up. It is just surface rust it happens after I wash my truck and let it sit.

Also the car is in atlanta georgia... not much snow down here so no salt. I doubt the car has ever seen snow.
I'll update tomorrow after I see it in person.
thanks again,
Stuart

Jakey · 01-22-2006

Any update?

BuildADSM · 01-23-2006

WOW intresting history.
We found in the car the some paperwork from where the 2nd owner bought the car for 28,100 bucks, we found a paystub, insurance info, loan company info, and get this HIS CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY PAPERS!!!
after some digging we know that the title is either with the insreance company or the loan company and the car sat for a wile a the tow yard (where the current owner got it) because it was a case of insurance FRUAD AND THE GUY HAD SOMEONE STEAL THE CAR FOR HIM so he could get the insrance money (explains alot like now problems with the ignition and only certain parts missing, the were "nice" thieves and unclipped instead of cutting wires and such)
we didn't really find any bad supprises on the car and I think if we can get the title from the insurance company we will buy the car to either put on ebay, fix and sell, or fix and keep.
I will update again when I find out about the title.
thanks for all of the help so far,
Stuart

**Goat Blower** · 01-23-2006

It still will have a salvage title because the insurance company paid a large claim on it. Still a good deal at the right price though.

Jakey · 01-28-2006

So......any update Stuart?

Boost Junkie · 01-28-2006

Stuart and I tried to buy this car. We went and spent a few hours with it last weekend, and have spent the past week chasing down its title.

From everything I've found its still owned the original owner, who is suing the insurance company becuase they won't pay on it -they're claiming fraud. The insurance company moved it to behind the dealership because storage fee's were adding up. There is also a lein on the car and the original owner has declared bankruptcy... so anyway you look at it the car is VERY wrapped up in legal matters. To top everything off, the lein company and insurance company believe the car has MANY more parts than it does. Apparently they just keep disappearing.