was gonna post this in the 86-95 section, but i figured others can look off of it, and try an solve their own problems. now anyway, before you tell me to google anything, i have. and just want to get an idea firsthand, of what works and what doesnt.

so anyway, angus. bought her on a bill of sale. figured she was going to be some POS so i bought it sight un-seen, for parts. Anyway, turns out its a beutiful truck, runs on road great, never had any problems with it. bad part is i bought it on a bill of sale, and im not one to break the law. I want to get this thing legal.

the guy i bought it from, we'll call him Herb. well Herb bought it from a freind. He told me his freind (lets call him josh) was going through a divorce, lost the house, and needed the cash. He sold the truck, but the title was still in the house his Ex-wife took over, so he had no way of getting to it. Now Herb told Josh that he was going to use it as a farm truck, so he didnt need the title. Josh figured "hey, if he's not going to register it, no sense in wasting money on a duplicate title for no reason".

Now Herb told me when i bought the truck, that i could contact Josh, tell him i"ll throw some cash his way, and in return we could make arrangements for him to mail me a signed title. He told me that josh is a nice and understanding guy, and he was 99% sure that josh would be willing to do it, but just to save his butt he told me no garuntee's.

no, how in the heck do i get ahold of this guy? Herb told me multiple time "i dont have the title, is that okay with you?" so i really want to avoid calling Herb, because he made it clear he DIDNT have the title, and honestly i dont think he can be bothered. so my next option is to contact josh.

Now, josh moved out of his house, and pretty much dissapeared. Herb told me he hasnt heard from josh, and he got his cell number changed, and we dont know if he has a new house number.

searched his name (if anybody is good with searching i can pm you his name and all the info on him) and about 20 different people popped up, all fitting the discription. now do i call everybody on the list and ask if they have ever owned an 88 toyota?

i do have a bill of sale. anybody know if theres any loopholes that allow you to get some sort of "reconstructed title" say if a vehicle was "abondon" and not regestered in Ex. amount of years?

what other options do i have?? i know my first mistake was to buy a truck on a bill of sale, but im sure i can figure something out if i put my mind to it!! any help is GREATLY appreciated.

$20 to the first person who can give me an option that leads me to getting my truck registered. (hell $20 is alot cheaper then buying another rig)

 

You're going to have to find the guy and get him to fill out this:

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/About/ISM_SS-52.pdf

Try googling the guy or ask the guy you bought it from where he now lives/works. Maybe you should go to the police station with the vin to see if they can find the old registration with the vin.

 

bought the truck in pennsylvania, but im sure they have an identical form.

nobody knows where this guy is, after his wife left he dissapeared.

i was thinking of running the vin, will that show his current whereabouts, or just his whereabouts from the time period he was the trucks R.O

 

and is it true (i think i may call the njdmv tuesday)closed sunday and monday) if i show the bill of sale, i can then apply for a duplicate title in MY name?

 

CA DMV requires the registered owner and only the registered owner 2 apply 4 a duplicate title. In regards 2 having a bill of sale well thats all my friend used 2 legally have the title transferred in his name. He ran the plates prior 2 the purchase in order 2 know if the car had back fees with the dmv. Im sorry this isnt in regards 2 NJ DMV but i hope it helps

 

thats what i figured. i'll give the dmv a call and ask what they can do.

right now my main concern is locating this "josh" guy. if i cand find him, i have an idea he can help me out

 

I will never buy a vehicle w/o a title, usually make them give me a bill of sale too.
Avoids legal headaches....

 

i agree with you 100%.

it was originally gonna be a parts truck so i didnt care about a title, but besides not having a title theres no reason i can see it not being street legal

 

I think a used car lot can get titles like in this case. And also townyards, or impound yards can to.

I wouldnt put money on it, but i went throu the same thing a few years ago with a honda. What i ended up doing was scrapping it. But good luck....

 

Try talking to the revenue office in Ar. there is a way of getting a title. I do not remember what the process is called ,but I think they will require a percentage of the trucks valve. The truck I was looking at was going to cost around 200.00 for the process. They do a search on the title, and if no red flags pop up they can get you a title. If a problem pops up you might lose the money and still not have a title. I decided to pass on the truck ,but it might be an option. I may be wrong on some of the info, because it has been a few years, so asking would be the best bet. This process is what tow services and repair shops use to get titles .

 

Before you travel to DMV, call them on phone and explain to them you need a title from absent former owner etc. See what DMV says. (Good luck). I seem to recall that there was a NJ State Police department that did reconstructed, replica, or stolen vehicle retitles. It involved (years ago) towing said vehicle to NJ State Police (location?) for VIN verification/paperwork etc. The person that had to do this said it wasn't a big deal. The guy had his 70 camaro stolen for over 3 years, found with different VINs except for inspection sticker VIN was original. I will follow this post.

 

Quick search found this:
- http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Vehicle/LostStolen.htm

 

i've heard that any state business licsenesd mechanic can put a "mechanics lean" on a vehicle, and get a copy of the title shipped to them, now mind you i'm in Wv, and i've not tried this (yet) we have similar lost/not givin/defaced title forms here in Wv, but they require the origional owners signature... I've got a buddy up the road who owns a junkyard/repair shop, and gets titles somehow, assuming he uses the mechanics lean method i described above. you would just need a good friend that's a state licsencsed (i can't spell tonight) mechanic to help you out. Good luck, and let me know what, if anything works. I had a real nice El Camino found a couple months ago that was a North Carolina car without a title... man i wish i coulda got that car/truck/thing....

 

so i've been reading up. places like boradway title no longer offer titles in new jersey anymore. NJ will not accept "store bought" titles. I could however, do everything in somebody elses name in a different state, like PA for example. So bassicly, i have to sell my truck to somebody in a different state, have them get the title, and then buy it back from them.

Im very iffy about doing that :/ once the title or bill of sale is signed over/in somebody elses name, its no loner my truck anymore, and if they wanna just take off and skip town, theres nothing at all i can do about it.

 

this whole thing is a nightmare. i wish this upon nobody. stupid states and different laws bring your hopes up just to say they cant help.

anyway, giving broadway title a shot. only thing is i have to patch my rust, get fenders on the bed, and fender flares on the front, put my doors back on, get some tires with tread, or put the tires from my 85 on (just for the pictures LOL) and shine my truck up before they ask for pictures.

if they say they cant help ( website states otherwise) im going full out stalker and creeping for the previous previous owner 24/7 so i can give this guy a call, or even knock on his door and ask him to get a duplicate title in his hands.

 

hate to hear your having so much trouble getting a title, if i rember right you don't have one for the 85 either right?

 

actually, beleive it or not, the 85 does have a title, i'm the 3rd owner, and the title is clean, no salvage prefix or anything.

and the funny part is given its 25 years old its classified as historic, wich gives me dirt cheap tags, and reg, AND its exempt from state inspection.

so i could actually go get that thing regestred and legally drive it around if i wanted too, but i'm not doing that untill i get myself a new frame

 

thanks to igotit, i just opened myself up to another option i"ll be looking into. A bonded title. new jersey HAS offered them, but i have to double check to see if they still offer it (knowing NJ im gonna bet thats a no)

so heres my options for now

1. contact broadway title or international title

2. look into a bonded title.

3. get ahold of the last r/o and ask ever so politly ( i might even start crying on the phone ) to apply for a dup. and I'll compinsate him for it.

4. buy a new truck

 

must say, contacted both broadway and its, both filled out the e-mail from, and called and left massages, and i havnt heard from either of them. they both said they would get back within 3 business day, but i havnt heard from either. their work sounds fishy, i would have to hear fom different people it worked out for them. It seems to me like they just want to take the money and run.

Anyway, when i bought the truck, the po ecplained why there isnt a title, and im sure nobody will try to claim my truck (unless of course the last r/o saw pictures on the internet of how beutiful i made her, and he wants her back :hillbill ) so a bonded title would be great if i could get my hands on one

 

so back to the nightmare. I've been talking to "maine title"? anyway, this place ACTUALLY e-mailed me back, and i've been in contact with them everyday so far this week, and they are very helpfull with questions, so this company looks promising.

BAD i was quoted about $450, to get a title...then i HAD to be nice, and explain to her for future reference, the truck was originally white, and just so she doesnt get confused, i painted the truck green. She said that was fine, as long is its not camoflouge....and the truck was still "original" on some ways

so then i spilled my guts and told her it was olive drab green, the military color AND it has an aftermarket bed on it...

so now im quoted $795-950....ughhh.

i sent her an email back, asking if it would make any difference if i re-paint it white again. i'll let you know tomorrow what info i get back

and what i left out was that it has oversize tires on it, wich is highly frowned upon...I do however, have a "decent" set of of stock-sized tires on my 85, if you know what i mean