When Title Tricks Won’t Wash

California extradited the Titles Unlimited president from Alabama. He was convicted and spent a year in jail

by John Draneas

Say you hit the proverbial collector car lottery and find a 1957 Porsche Speedster that has been sitting in a barn for 40 years. The only problem is that the farmer lost the title 38 years ago. Like most states, your DMV purged its records after the car went unregistered for five years, and it can’t issue a replacement title. Now what?

In many states, you can title the car with an affidavit from the owner that explains the situation. The DMV will verify the VIN on the car is the same as on the affidavit and that it is not on the stolen car list, and you’re home free. If that won’t work, you can use the services of a car title service.

Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Arizona

Car title services are found in the “no-title” states, which don’t issue certificates of title on older cars and simply register them if they see a bill of sale. The...