Need some car buying help!(No title!)

[LagunaSecaBlue]

So I found a pretty good condition E30 on Craigslist. Contacted seller, says he did work on this car and the owner never paid and they never came for it. I ran the VIN, was last registered in North Carolina(Report says it still is currently). Its not reported stolen. I live in Arizona. What do I do?

Its a killer deal but its a huge deal breaker if I cant get the title.

[YosemiteSam]

Was this car on Craigslist in your area or were you surfing the North Carolina Craigslist?

[LagunaSecaBlue]

Was this car on Craigslist in your area or were you surfing the North Carolina Craigslist?

It is in Arizona. Apparently, I will get a bonded title or some how get a whole new clean title in my name.

[YosemiteSam]

I don't know a whole lot about buying cars but that sounds kinda sketchy. If you can meet with the actual owner of the car and get him to transfer the car into your name then maybe, but if you can't do that I'd just walk away.

[LagunaSecaBlue]

I don't know a whole lot about buying cars but that sounds kinda sketchy. If you can meet with the actual owner of the car and get him to transfer the car into your name then maybe, but if you can't do that I'd just walk away.

Sketchy but apparently done before and possible to do this. I am meeting with him tomorrow. I want to get a bill of sale before I purchase and take it to the DMV and see if I can get the title if I can then I will get if, if not ill pass.

[YosemiteSam]

If you do do it without speaking to the actual owner, make sure that the shop has had the car for long enough to sell it to you. I believe after a certain period of time the car basically becomes theirs.

[superboosted]

Arizona is a sketchy title state..Im sure you can get a legit title.

[dustyperez]

i live in ohio, and its a pain in the arse here. This is an ohio for instance.... If the seller owns the car or its a dead relatives car then you would be able to title it. But If its registered in someone elses name and you cant find that person you are screwed. Unless you "found" the car you could apply for an abandoned title but that takes months because they will try to find the owner. But arizona will be way better!! Call the BMV they will tell you.

[E30Jigzaw]

If the car was left there by the previous owner the shop has the right to sale. They will give you a lien sale ... My brother had the same type of situation he crashed his car took it to a body shop, then lost his job and didn't take the car out once it was done his lost ...

Well that's in California and yea little sketchy but you have to risk it to get the biscuit ;)

[SmokeE30]

The shop the vehicle was left at should be able to apply for a mechanics lien and get the vehicle titled to them. Other wise you will have to go through a state that isn't as strict with titles like Maine which doesn't use titles for vehicles over 15 years old

[willworkfore30s]

IDK about Arizona but I got a bonded title for my e30 in North Carolina. The previous owners wouldn't play ball on getting a replacement title but I was certain they were not going to report it stolen, so I jumped through the DMV's hoops and everything worked out fine. It will not give you a new clean title though. It will give you a title in your name in whatever state the title was in before. At least thats how NC worked. If its got a salvage title, your new one will be salvage.

[bimmerteck]

I just got an e46 that was abandoned locally via a mechanics lien. Good way to get a cheap car if your state allows for it, but here the bulk of the process is up to the shop to complete before the sale more than the new owner. The shop I bought from pays a title company to handle the paperwork for any cars left over 90 days with no payments. Make sure you know the law in your state before going through with the purchase.

[LagunaSecaBlue]

Thanks guys, I'm going out there tonight to look at it or get it. I'll be spending lots of time at the DMV next week.

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[Cabriolet]

Thanks guys, I'm going out there tonight to look at it or get it. I'll be spending lots of time at the DMV next week.

find another car. sounds stolen to me.

[Vtec?lol]

I've done this with a bike or two. As long as it's not stolen you should be good to go. I always email or bring the vins to the local PD