HoosierDaddy

3rd Party DMV already did the level 1 inspection. They were happy with the number plate and will use what's on it as the VIN on the new title. Yes, 3rd party DMV charges more but is also for-profit. My instincts (and my mechanic) tell me that could make a difference in a judgement call situation. I'll happily pay more for just the chance of avoiding extra hoops or roadblocks. 😉 I would (and have) always used the govt offices for routine transactions.

AZ has some privatized DMV offices and those typically have other services under the same roof. One office quoted a rate per $1,000 bond value that came to ~$500 for the size bond AZ DMV requires. BUT its above their cap. The first on-line bonding company I contacted wanted $800. Will try a few more today. DMV told me my personal insurance company should offer bonds but USAA says they don't do that.

Thanks. Am curious. Did Buick consider whatever that plate represented to be strictly numeric? But maybe used letters because they didn't have numerals to stamp (from behind), in my case there is both a numeral 1 and a letter I. Maybe they only had a single numeral 1?

The first inspection by DMV is done and am now getting a surety bond required to retitle. I noticed that the inspection form has the letter I as the 3rd digit of the serial number stamped into a plate in the driver side door frame while the bill of sale has the number 1. The DMV didn't seem to mind. Hope the bond company is the same. And I think I read that number stamped that plate could be the original engine number and that different states used different numbers on titles, sometimes engine, sometimes body number, sometimes ??? before modern VINs were a thing. I'm guessing that's why none of the VIN checks I've tried recognizes my number as a valid format. What's stamped into the plate is 15I378nn which apparently is what AZ is going to use for a VIN on the new title.

Ironic. I'm also not compatible with too much aging. But the more ethanol the better.

Went to DMV, showed them my documentation and was sold a three day permit for 2 trips to DMV to acquire the title. Permit cost a whole dollar. First trip is for DMV to confirm the VIN and see if the lights work, etc.. Then I get a bond over the counter at a nearby bank or insurance office and take it back with the car and DMV will issue a clean title and registration in my name. But glad there was the Vermont loophole to fall back on. Somewhere along the line DMV confirms not reported stolen and not registered elsewhere, I think they did that this morning. Was going to make the first visit with the car later today but the shop is searching for a fuel pump. The existing one is ejecting a fine mist. I guess I could have got fire insurance and saved a later second trip. (joking)

Thanks! I may do this. The VT "fee" of 6% of car value is not good. I'm hearing there may be an option to get a prorated refund when sold. I think my wife always wanted one of these. 😉

Born there but left in '56. Too far, but thanks.

Completely agree with your advice but technically, in this case he did have legal ownership. What he didn't do is retitle it which prevents us from selling it to anyone who does want to title it.

Not much risk of stolen. He bought it at the auction below and has the bill of sale. DMV says to take the car to DMV. They claim they have the ability to identify the name and address of the last known owner of this VIN in any US state. They will give that to me to certify mail a DMV form to the previous owner. If they return the form OR the letter gets returned as undeliverable, I take the form or unopened letter back to DMV and they start a 14 day clock for what reason, nobody seems to know. At the end of 14 days, I have to acquire a bond and present it to the DMV along with proof of insurance and they charge for and issue an AZ title AND a year registration. I very much expect they will fail to identify the previous owner since they lived in Texas. Texas doesn't have on-line records going back that far but maybe they can do a paper/microfilm search for other DMVs. If they do find the owner name and address, I think a very good chance they have passed on or address unknown. Any of those result in new title to me. Will be more hoops if owner doesn't return the form or thinks they can get it back for free by lying. They have no chance with no report of stollen, but if they receive and don't return the form, will have to get a judge to declare my bill of sale more likely the "truth" than someone saying they didn't notice their car went missing for 33 years. LoL

Absolutely. The problem only exists because he wanted to avoid the expense of registering the car in AZ. Titles are only $12 but to get a title, you have to register the car at considerable cost and get insurance, etc.. The car came with Texas plates that didn't expire for 4 more years (some specialty plate only good for use in parades!). He lived in a massive gated community and may have never driven it outside except for a few car shows. Was taking a chance he wouldn't get stopped and ticketed for no insurance, no valid plate (not issued to him and not valid for a AZ resident anyway).

Hi, my name is Randy. I recently inherited a '1949 Buick Super convertible. Similar to the one in Rainman but a Super. He bought the car with Texas plates in the late '80s at an auction in Nevada and shipped it home to Scottsdale. He apparently only drove it a few times to local car shows where he took first place. But he never titled it and soon parked it in his garage where it sat. I've had it gone thru and it looks and runs great. But I can't find a title anywhere, just a bill of sale from the auction company. Arizona has no record of a title and that makes sense because it still has the Texas plate. Arizona won't title a car without also registering it and issuing plates. Texas has a lookup for plates and VINs but no hits on the plate and the VIN lookup chokes on old VINs. Arizona won't title it without signed title from the prior owner of which I have no name or any other contact info. If the auction owned the car, not much more help since they are long out of business. I see a bunch of web sites that sell history of cars based on VIN or plate but none actually guarantee any results but hint they will issue a refund with a phone call. I'm guessing they just have access to the various state data bases and I already know this car isn't in the data base for the state it was last titled in. Any advise?