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Fri May 16, 2008 10:06 am

I just searched all the threads about these titling services and found some very helpful information... however, I was wondering if anyone in New York has successfully used either of these. One other person asked the same question but didn't get any replies from New Yorkers.

New York does not issue titles for cars older than '73, and it should be possible to register the car with just a bill of sale and the VIN. However, the forms you need to fill out to do this require knowing the date/location/plate number of last registration. The car I'm looking at has been in a barn for 30 years and the current owner has none of this nor any way to contact the previous owners. I think a titling service, which can provide me an Alabama/Nevada/whatever transferable registration would be a quick, hassle-free alternative.

I don't need a link to the NY DMV or any general comments about these services. Just looking for someone who can confirm they work in NY. [-o< I would call these places, but I can't make personal calls from work and I want to go look at this thing tomorrow, confident I can register it and ready to buy.

Mon May 19, 2008 10:04 am

Unfortunately I can't speak for NY in general since I do not live there, however I do know that Broadway Titles does have a current list of states they can not process titles for & New York is NOT on that list.
This is a copy of that info. from their site..............

Please be aware that some states have made changes in their motor vehicle registration laws and they have effected our services.

We can only title vehicles that were manufactured in model year 1992 or earlier at this time.

Due to changes in their title laws, we are unable to due titles in the following states under ANY circumstances. Alaska, Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Ohio, Wisconsin. Please note, Laws change on a constant basis. So please check with us on any of the states listed. Please call for additional information.

In the following states we are now able to do titles using our new forms. Be advised that the rates are somewhat higher. California, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina.

We have added Boats and Watercraft and we can work with any year.

Since you can't make personal calls, but probably have internet access, you might want to try going to this page http://www.broadwaytitle.com/pricing.htm
where they have the pricing & also a printable application form. Good luck.

Mon May 19, 2008 10:40 am

Just remember that in NY you need whatever paperwork (Title, bill of sale, etc) you would need as if you were registering in the state you are buying from.

So you need to look at the law in the state where the vehicle is and see what their law is for your year and work accordingly.

Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:17 am

Herrrkafer,

Did you use Broadway title?, what was the outcome at DMV? I am also in N.Y. and went to DMV and and asked flat out straight about a title from Alabama and she told me the process but threw in "IF YOU SHOW UP WITH A TITLE FROM BROADWAY TITLE IN Ala. we send you straight to the state police stolen vehicle bureau" , she was not helpful once Broadway title was mentioned and the Troopers over at the theft Dept were no better I never did get that car titled........

Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:09 am

You can use form MV51b.

I currently have a dune buggy on a 1962 pan that is registered this way. The person I bought the buggy from had the pan in his posession for many years and "transfered" it to me. It takes a couple of weeks but it is done through NYS and legal.

Why go through back door methods of registration when one is available to you through your home state?

Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:13 am

Tower Rat--
I did buy the car (the black '58 in my gallery) but I haven't had a chance to work on getting it registered. I'm working on a huge project in Austria and have been here since a week after I bought the car. I really want to get home to work on it!! :cry:

Genom--
Of course, MV51b was my first line of attack. What made me think Broadway might be less of hassle was this paragraph on it: Quote: If a non-titled vehicle...was in your possession for less than a year and it was never registered with by the former owner, or the former owner lost the registration and cannot obtain a duplicate, the former owner must complete the MV-51b and MV51/Bill of Sale.
The problem being a recursive one; the person I bought the car from would need to list the address, etc. of the person he bought the car from, and he had no way to contact the guy he got it from.

I did make a trip to the DMV (advice: find a small office and get there THE MINUTE they open if possible) and explained the WHOLE thing to the lady there. The clerk was a rare specimen and was extremely accomodating, spent a bunch of time doing as much research as the materials available to her would allow, (and then gave me her number :oops: ) . Unfortunately, I left with no solid answer like, "yes, if you bring item x, y, and z, we WILL be able to register your car." But she did seem to think if I had 51b filled out as best I could with the most recent PO's info and a notorized bill of sale, VIN rubbing, etc, that there was a good chance I would be successful. It all depends on who you get at the desk, if you get someone that just isn't going to be helpful, you won't get anywhere. Once you get someone to even look at your paperwork, I guess it's up to the machine in Albany, and I don't have any experience on that end .... yet.

And if I read that paragraph I quoted earlier correctly, if I have the car for a year, then guy two owners back doesn't have to get involved? Like that makes any sense? 800 verbal SAT and I still can't understand these damn forms.

Mon Aug 04, 2008 8:22 am

You use the address of the current "owner" (the person who has had it on his property for 30+ years). The car has been out of DMV records for decades and this is the reason you use MV51b. He just has to state that it has been in his posession for over 10 years IIRC.

It is actually easier than the wording on the form will lead you to believe.

When I get home tonight I will see if I have any copies of my paperwork to refresh my memory and help you out.

Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:28 pm

HerrrKafer,

If you do use Broadway title post back the results please.

Genom wrote:

Why go through back door methods of registration when one is available to you through your home state?

Genom,

The back door method sounds sneaky but really its about protecting your interest (your cars ID),,,,,,,, in N.Y. DMV will do a Salvage title or a reassigned state vin# and both are a killer for a vintage car no matter what brand it best to keep the factory vin if at all possible........ I already have one car with a reassigned vin but recently I found another car for cheap but most likely DMV would give it a salvage title or possibly reassign the vin so with that I decided not to buy that particular car.

Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:29 pm

Form MV51b allows you to maintain the original VIN.

Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:58 pm

Genom wrote: Form MV51b allows you to maintain the original VIN.

That depends on the history of the car and DMV is the only ones that have the records and they do not share info unless they have you buy the shorts,,,,,,,, like I said I already have one car with a state assigned vin # :evil: ,,,,,,,, one is enough for me....

Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:57 pm

HerrrKafer wrote: Tower Rat--
I did buy the car (the black '58 in my gallery) but I haven't had a chance to work on getting it registered. I'm working on a huge project in Austria and have been here since a week after I bought the car. I really want to get home to work on it!! :cry:

Genom--
Of course, MV51b was my first line of attack. What made me think Broadway might be less of hassle was this paragraph on it: Quote: If a non-titled vehicle...was in your possession for less than a year and it was never registered with by the former owner, or the former owner lost the registration and cannot obtain a duplicate, the former owner must complete the MV-51b and MV51/Bill of Sale.
The problem being a recursive one; the person I bought the car from would need to list the address, etc. of the person he bought the car from, and he had no way to contact the guy he got it from.

I did make a trip to the DMV (advice: find a small office and get there THE MINUTE they open if possible) and explained the WHOLE thing to the lady there. The clerk was a rare specimen and was extremely accomodating, spent a bunch of time doing as much research as the materials available to her would allow, (and then gave me her number :oops: ) . Unfortunately, I left with no solid answer like, "yes, if you bring item x, y, and z, we WILL be able to register your car." But she did seem to think if I had 51b filled out as best I could with the most recent PO's info and a notorized bill of sale, VIN rubbing, etc, that there was a good chance I would be successful. It all depends on who you get at the desk, if you get someone that just isn't going to be helpful, you won't get anywhere. Once you get someone to even look at your paperwork, I guess it's up to the machine in Albany, and I don't have any experience on that end .... yet.

And if I read that paragraph I quoted earlier correctly, if I have the car for a year, then guy two owners back doesn't have to get involved? Like that makes any sense? 800 verbal SAT and I still can't understand these damn forms.

Exactly. I had a '72 Bus I bought on Ebay, no paperwork on it. The lady at the DMV said I had to own it for at least a year before I could go about getting paperwork for it. Who's to say you haven't had it for a year? Maybe the PO would write you out a receipt back dated for a year and you can get the whole process started.

Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:06 pm

I think I was the guy who posted the question but didn't get a response for NYers. Have I registered the car yet? nope. But I did find the person who last had it registered and that was in CT. Someone here made that point that NYS requires you to follow the regs of the last state it was registered in. The CT DMV was actually friendly to talk to and since I have the title of the last registrant and it was before x date, then it should be ok. It is all very confusing, but I have the title, state, person, and date of last registration and his bill of sale to the guy who sold it to me. so I have the paper trail for form 51b.