Car purchase and transfer question

[Donald H.]

I'm trying to find someone who lives in Virginia who has purchased and titled an older car from New York State to Virginia.

I'm going to look at a 66 Vette tomorrow in New York. I am told by the current owner that New York does not issue titles for cars older than 25 years and what he has is a transferrable registration.

If I buy the car, I have some concern that Virginia DMV may have issues when I try to title the car in Virginia.

Help please!!!!!!!!!

Don

[Donald H.]

Re: Car purchase and transfer question

I did find this on the NY DMV website:

A transferable registration is issued for a 1972 or older motor vehicle, or a 1986 or older motorboat. The transferable portion proves ownership, and is used to sell or give ownership to another person. The registration portion allows the vehicle to be operated on a public road, or a motorboat on a public waterway.

So maybe I'm worrying about nothing.

Don

[Terry M.]

Re: Car purchase and transfer question

I'm trying to find someone who lives in Virginia who has purchased and titled an older car from New York State to Virginia.

I'm going to look at a 66 Vette tomorrow in New York. I am told by the current owner that New York does not issue titles for cars older than 25 years and what he has is a transferrable registration.

If I buy the car, I have some concern that Virginia DMV may have issues when I try to title the car in Virginia.

Help please!!!!!!!!!

Don

I suspect the ultimate answer to your question is going to come from the Virgina DMV. I suggest you contact them for the definitive and current answer to your questions.

[Donald H.]

Re: Car purchase and transfer question

I suspect the ultimate answer to your question is going to come from the Virgina DMV. I suggest you contact them for the definitive and current answer to your questions.

I actually contacted DMV headquarters in Richmond and the lady who help me was not exactly clear. She was surprised when I told her that vintage cars from NY did not have a title, went away for a while to talk to someone else and "sort of answered" that I should be OK with a notarized Bill of Sale.

I was hoping to find someone who had been there and done it in VA.

[Edward A.]

Re: Car purchase and transfer question

If it does not have a title, make sure you get a notarized Bill of Sale along with the transferable registration, you should be fine. VA, as a rule does not require a notary, but in this case dot your "I" and cross your "t" to be safe!

[Ed S.]

Re: Car purchase and transfer question

Just sent you a private message - I went through this with a car from Georgia. Let's talk.

[Daniel S.]

Re: Car purchase and transfer question

If it does not have a title, make sure you get a notarized Bill of Sale along with the transferable registration

If you buy the car, make sure the seller signs the registration in the 'seller' area. Do not sign the registration - only the BOS. Take the registration to DMV in your city and follow the necessary application for title in VA. While I am not aware of the process for the VA side, I've followed this process for out of state application to NYS without issue.

Dan

[Mike E.]

Re: Car purchase and transfer question

Talk to the manager at the BMV, maybe a couple of them at different offices to make sure their stories match. The folks running the phones have no idea. I've been trying to register a couple old of trailer I inherited from my parents that were built prior to them having titles, they don't even have VIN's on them. What a nightmare!!! Every time you talk to someone at a BMV you get a different answer.

For trailer I came up with an easy solution. Buy a cheap trailer at Harbor Freight that comes with Certificate of Origin then title that and call it done, not 100% legal at all, they are boat trailers I use 3 miles 2 times a year. It's not an option though for a Corvette.

Mike

[Ed S.]

Re: Car purchase and transfer question

Mike,

Procedures vary from state to state. From personal experience I can tell you that if you want to register / get a title in Virginia for a car purchased in another state where the seller does not have a "title" because the owner's state does not issue titles for cars built before a certain year car there is a lot of paperwork involved and you have to send all the documentation to the main Dept of Motor Vehicles in Richmond (the state capital). This type of transaction cannot be done at a local or regional state DMV office where you get license plates and transfer titles etc. The process takes several weeks in Virginia.