Have title, no truck.

Is there a way to put an APB of sorts out on a title?

To make a long story very short and anonymous, a family member with memory problems accidentally sold an antique truck that didn't belong to him and we don't have any way of finding the buyer. The owner still has the title and would like his truck back.

Any way to get an alert when someone tries to register the vehicle, or apply for a title in the home state (Michigan) or other locale?

Thanks!

Report it stolen. the S.O.S will have it flagged when the person tries to apply for a title. (assuming they are in Michigan still)

+1 on calling the po po

Anything a bit more subtle? This sounds like it would get people in trouble, when in reality, it is just one big mess of a) man who isn't "there" 100% b) wife who sold the car and thought she was doing the right thing c) owner who doesn't want to offend (a), (b), or the (somewhat) blameless buyer

thanks folks!

Don't press charges, explain in the police statement what happened.

Refund the sellers money and perhaps a little extra for the inconvenience? explain the situation (mental health issues?) that should make everything right

In reply to peter:

Seems like you could work all that out after the police find the vehicle.

Yeah, the seller will be made whole if they're willing and reasonable.

Pretty sure the owner is on good terms with the local Sheriff, maybe they can work something out...

thanks!

Put the word out on the appropriate truck boards and perhaps a press release to Hemmings and hope the story reaches the new owner.

Probably a life lesson for many of us to learn here.......I'd better go get my 56 Chev from my friends farm soon.

I understand there's likely more to the story, but based on what's been outlined so far, what has the 'buyer' done that warrants calling the police?

The forgetful relative sold something that wasn't his to sell - that's probably against the law.

Antique truck with a title ? Just curious.

iceracer wrote: Antique truck with a title ? Just curious.

All Michigan vehicles require a title.

Datsun1500 wrote:

peter wrote: Yeah, the seller will be made whole if they're willing and reasonable.

As opposed to what? What do you consider willing and reasonable? I would think a refund of any money laid out for purchase, transport, repair, etc. and a little more for my time would be reasonable. Do you think that is too much? Do they have a bill of sale?

not that long ago, a guy got his VW micro bus back after 40 some years. it had been stolen, and eventually sold to a custom shop, who did a full restoration with custom paint job, etc. the original owner got it back and didn't owe a dime for the modifications and repairs.

bill of sale is irrelevant because if one doesn't have clear title to something, they can't legally transfer title to someone else.

In reply to Datsun1500:

If the seller has a BOS you're hosed and at their mercy. You can't press charges on the purchaser if they had no prior knowledge of the ownership status of the vehicle and I doubt the po-po will play along. The person who sold the truck would be the perp in this case. I'd call the DMV and see what they have to say. It appears Mi. is very similar Co. in this reagard. (I've done this a few times) The state can issue a title to a purchaser through a process known as bonding for a title. Essentially, it involves searching for prior owners, a police inspection and the purchase of an insurance policy covering the state's @$$ if someone contests the ownership in the future.

http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,1607,7-127-48268-29806--F,00.html

If I were the purchasee, this would most likely be the process I'd go through. So check with the state. They must have a process to dispute state issed titles. On that note, on vintage stuff it's not all that uncommon to simply switch VIN tags to one which already has a title...

frankenstangsghost wrote:

Welcome back Dave.

In reply to John Brown:

Thanx JB!

frankenstangsghost wrote: In reply to Datsun1500: If the seller has a BOS you're hosed and at their mercy.

sounds like any BOS is not from the titled owner

In reply to Grtechguy:

And the guy who sold it and made the BOS (if there actually is one) was in the wrong, not the guy who bought it. I guess it's more of a question of who do want to try to throw under the bus.

You don't have to throw anybody under the bus. The police report is only to flag the truck as sold improperly so that it won't get issued a new title and disappear forever. The real owner can always decline to press charges against the seller.

Duke wrote: The real owner can always decline to press charges against the seller.

Then why call the police and not the state? If no crimes are committed and no charges are going to be pressed, then it's not their job. Then again, care to roll the dice and see if an over zealous cop wants to make something of the matter?

Well, it was a real crime. sell personal property that doesn't belong to you.

My brother-in-law can not go out and sell my car without my knowledge legally now can he?

The true owner can choose whether or not to drop charges. in this case, it's about the only way to find the vehicle that has a chance of working.

State/Police either way, the title will be flagged in the SOS database

One more reason not to buy a vehicle without a title.

Yeah, other than buying a truck for a sum that was obviously far beneath the market value, from the wife of the purported (and incapacitated) owner, the purchaser has done nothing wrong. This is sad, but not criminal.

No one wants to go after anyone here - seller or purchaser. This is just the sort of misunderstanding that reasonable people can usually work out. I'm just wondering if there's a way to trace back to the purchaser so that can happen.

Realistically, I think as Streetwiseguy says, this will just end up being a life lesson. The actual owner is upset, but as is his style, not angry or vindictive. He got caught being too nice of a guy - something that I'm sure has happened more than once and will happen again.

So that's why I was looking for the soft-pedal action - so that things could either be worked out amicably or dropped quietly.

FWIW, years ago my dad bought a non-running bike from a friend, rebuilt the motor, and went to get it tagged with the bill of sale. Bike came up as stolen. Dad had to give the bike back to the owner, and was actually being threatened with being charged with possession of stolen property until he presented the Bill of Sale. Dunno how far the cops traced that one back, but I do know that dad was out a motor rebuild as a lesson learned.

How long of a timespan has passed? Surely the "seller" has some conatact information for the buyer.

If the actual owner isn't pissed can he simply recieve the sale price of the vehicle and attempt to contact the buyer to get him a clear tittle? if he wants the vehicle back the only way to get it is to report it stolen.. Which it was.