QuestionQUESTION: I bought a 2001 BWM witha good title. When I went to trade it I found out it had a salvage time, I have a good title. I later found out from the state in which I purchased the car the car had been over 70% totaled. The seller never had the car inspected so I have a fraud title. I have taken the seeler to court in which to lose because my Attny didn't ahve his crap together. The state ordered me to park the car, which has been for 2 years now,I can't get a tag and i am still paying on the car and have been without being able to drive it for several years now. The car looks brand new, do you have any suggestions on what alternative I hav to sell the car to at least get out from under the payment. The state will not help me with this matter.
ANSWER: Hi Pam, First I would need to know what state you are in. I am more familiar with Michigan laws. In Mi you can still register a car even with the salvage title. A salvage title doesn't mean that the car is unsafe to be driven, it is issued to alert the owner or possible buyer that it has previously been an Insurance Company "Total Loss" claim. This drastically reduces the vehicles value but will not make the car useless. A title is simply proof of ownership and I can't tell you why they wouldn't register the car for you, salvage or clean shouldn't matter. If you have a clean title and your original purchase agreement and it doesn't disclose anything about the title being "branded" (flood, salvage, hail, etc.)than I can't see how you could lose in any court of law. It seems the seller has committed fraud (title washing)here and I would urge you to still pursue it in court. Just because your attorney stinks I wouldn't give up, you have a strong case. I hope this helps, Shane
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I'm in Alabama. The State requires only a licensed person to have a car inspected to get a title once it has been wrecked. So I don't even have a salvaged title once the cr is paid off the state will take the title and there will not be a title at all for the car. My statue of limitatins is up on the appeal. Is why I haven't tried to take it back to court. That really doesn't answer my question? Can I get the car retitled as a individual in another state?
ANSWER: Hi again Pam, Yes you can get the car titled in another state. Here in Michigan there is no inspection of any kind to title a vehicle. I am sure that other states are the same as Michigan but I wouldn't know without doing some homework on that. You could also sell the vehicle to someone in a state that doesn't have inspections and they wouldn't have any problems getting it registered. And they would more than likely get a clean title when they titled it in their name. In Michigan they don't pull any title history they simply issue the new title with the information from the title in your hand. The only problem would be if the title you have is a salvage title. In that case any state will issue another salvage title. Sorry If I am not much help but I am not educated on Alabama laws and I have never heard of the state being able to force you to park a car. Good Luck with this, Shane
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Even though I live in Alabama can I come to Michigan and get the car retitled and get a tag even though I live in Alabama. Who would I have to contact there to have it titled. The title my lien holder has is a good title but it's suppose to be a salvage title. You have been a great help. Thanks so much.
AnswerYou can go to www.michigan.gov/sos and read up on what it takes to title a vehicle. You may have to apply for a Michigan Drivers License or have a MI address. This sounds like a lot of work but I think if you can pull it off it will be worth it in the long run. What a title is "supposed" to be doesn't change what it "is" all that matters is what it "is" and in your case you have a good title.
Take care, Shane
