I bought a car from an auction down in Van Nuys, but it didn't come with a title. It came with an "acquisition bill of sale". I called the DMV and tried to find out how I deal with this. The lady just said "bring the papers and the car down to the DMV". I think she didn't actually know herself, and was just blowing me off. She tried to tell me the car was a junk vehicle, but the car wasn't damaged and it runs fine. I contacted the previous owner and he told me he had donated it to a serviceman's charity because he didn't have a place to park it. Is there anybody here from CA who knows anything about a CA "acquisition bill of sale"?
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Richard
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Dont know too much about that. Sounds kinda funny tho? So how did he sell it to you if he already donated the vehicle. I would check with the DMV and physically go there, see what they have to say. GLOriginally posted by 91Saleen#15 View Post
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I got a bill of sale with my e30, only because my cousin lost his pink when I bought the car from him. The DMV may have you get signatures from the previous owner, so keep his number. But you should be fine.Comment
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If you are in contact with the previous owner, ask him to file for an application for a lost title - then once he gets it, have him "gift" you the car. You might have to pay some fair market value tax, but it sounds like the easiest way to get a clean title for the car.
Or go back to the DMV & refuse to leave until they clearly spell out what the process is in CA. They are there to serve you, something they tend to forget. Don't be an ass, but be firm & courteous.
It's not how you handle the good times, but the faith you keep in the bad that defines you.Comment
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Thanks, that is exactly the information I was looking. It appears that the car has been determined to be a junk or salvage vehicle even though the car is undamaged and operable. I suppose for some reason, the charity that received the car as a donation was responsible for this.
Originally posted by VROOMCP View PostRichard
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Let us know how it turns out!Comment
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thats not true! I know of donated cars that are not salvage simply because they were donated. in fact one of the cleanest E30 verts i've ever seen was donated by a wealthy dentist to one of those organizations and bought by a friend of mine.Comment
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I bought My E30 with no pink slip. I just brought the bill of sale, and it was good to go.Originally posted by bluntComment
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That may be, but he's in Utah, and even though the car is from California, DMV laws concerning registration and titles van vary greatly from state to state.Originally posted by jflip2002 View PostComment
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If I recall that is stanard auction form, basically lets the Dmv know you piad for a car that had the a release of interested signed. However I think you still have to file for title search and go through a state inspection. I never deal with the auction stuff but I have a friend who helps me buy cars all the time . PM if you want me to ask. he buys from CA all of the time.
TylerComment
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well, it seems to be a fairly complicated issue. I bought the car through a salvage auction and received instead of a title, an "acquisition bill of sale".. which seems to be something that only California has as far as I know. In the search reference previously given me, I found a page that describes how to re-register a junk vehicle:
In this procedure, it references the use of an "acquisition number". It says
"A Bill of Sale from a licensed dismantler including the acquisition number under which the vehicle was reported junked......"
I think that what this means is that somewhere in the chain of transfer from the donor to the charity to the salvage auction to me, somebody advised the state that the car was a junk vehicle. So, even though the car was never damaged and is perfectly functional, the car is viewed by the state of california as rebuilt if I bring it in to license. And, they want me to submit the car to various inspections in order to determine that it is now operable.
Bottom line: I get a rebuilt title for a car that was never damaged.Richard
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Good point. I didnt even think of the different rules for different states....Originally posted by Mr. Anderson View PostOriginally posted by bluntComment
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