VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 1941 Title Problem

This is the short version:

a. Checked with License and Theft Bureau (L&TB) about the PA title the seller had in CA. Inspector said that if the seller got a CA title instead of the PA title then he could properly sell it to me and that such would satisfy NCDMV.

b. Seller got CA title.

c. Made deal, went to CA and from there to the CA DMV. They said the title was good to go.

d. NCDMV could not process the CA title to get me a NC title. State NCDMV in Raleigh said hat the CA title had not been updated in the CA system of title ID that all the states use. Therefore, it was not recognized.

e. Sacramento DMV said the title was in the system and that the problem must be in NCDMV.

f. Result of all the above time and effort: There is a stalemate. I have a car that I cannot get a title for.

I'm sick and tired of this mess. I may have to do the bond thing and go through the NC titlling mess again. It has already been done once.

Tomorrow, Monday, I'm going to seek the advice of an attorney. Or oil my Colt 45. At tnis point the latter is an appealling solution.

While I admit that Bob warned me about NCDMV being anal about details (I already knew that) I thought I had done my due diligence on this issue. There is a hiccup in the system and I don't know what to do.

Any advice would be welcome but I don't need any "I told you so" responses. I know, I know.

Charlie

BTW: Seems that there are other ways that a car may become a "trailer queen."

BTW2: For all you who are laughing at me. Go ahead and have a big one. I deserve any and all humiliation directed at me/ Do too! You can join the missus.

BTW3: The NCDMV brought up the serial number from NJ where the car was once. The se®ial number was 8 HA(I may have those letters backwards) and then followed by three numbers. I told the clerk that that couldn't possibly be the original serial number. More bad stuff.

Just a reminder that the 8 AH is part of the serial number and in 1941 most states used the stamped motor number for registration.

Thanks, Gene.

In my case, the NC assigned serial number is accepted by PA, CA and of course NC. Probably all other states as well. The serial number is not the problem.


Charlie

Hi Charlie,

Sorry to hear about the hiccup with the title. That's quite a nice car so I know you are anxious to get things sorted out.

Just a couple of ideas to consider before you start spending money on an attorney or the bonding process.

Try to find out how frequently the master ID system updates. It could be that the system only updates once a week or even only once a month. So that fact that NCDMV cannot see the CA title could be just a timing (lag) issue. We did batch updates a lot with our various databases at Deere. It was cheaper and faster to create the change record and put it in a work queue that would run at night when overall transaction volume was lower. Plus the programming to have live online updates to a system is more complex and really slows things down.

I would also try to get something that we call a screen print of the record in the CA title system. That might help the NCDMV locate the record in the master ID system. In the computer world there is often a unique number associated with each record in a database. The record number is created in the background by the program when someone creates a new entry like they did for the CA title. That number is not the title number and not the VIN or car serial number. We often used the term "file record locator" for this number.

Charlie, is it your local DMV office that you've been in contact with? If that's the case try calling your state office & try them. Or try a different regional office. Often an employee at one office is too lazy to go the extra mile & work with you where someone at another office will help you.

Rusty,

I'm informed by the NCDMV that something as you describe has occurred or as yet not occurred. Neither end is any help in trying to sort it out. They merely indicate that it is not their problem and bid me farewell.

Tiny,

I have been to the local DMV office here in NC and gone to the main DMV in Raleigh. I have called the local DMV office in CA where I got the car. I have also called the title division of the CADMV in Sacremento, CA. Neither seem to want to help straignten out the roadblock. They each say that it is not their problem to fix.

Accordingly, it is up to me to fix. The waiting time on the telephone to the CADMV in both the local near Moreno Valley, CA and Sacremento, CA is one to two hours. I have had the phone to my ear for over over two hours altogether already.

Sadly, I think legal action ($$$) is the only alternative left.

Best,

Charlie

Charlie, try calling the CA Highway Patrol and ask to have one of their vehicle inspectors call you. The Highway Patrol is hooked into the CA DMV electronically and they might be able to verify to NC DMV that the CA title is legit.

I had to take my '28 truck to the CA DMV to assign it a VIN before I was able to get a title from the CA DMV.

If there is something I can do on your behalf at the CA DMV, lemme know.

Dean

I seem to remember someone else having lots of trouble with title transfer. In 1 respect I am glad that I am down under and well away from that but we do have similar problems but they dont seem to take long to sort out in most cases.
Tony

Tony,

Thanks for the encouragement.


Dean,

I would appreciate any help I can get. It may be that I merely jumping the gun but it is nonetheless worrying.

I'll send you a copy of the title by email. Is the email address in your profile stile accurate?

Thanks a heap,

Charlie

Charlie: Have you tried asking your State Representative to help straighten out the mess? Hopefully you voted for whoever it may be.

Dick

Dick,

Not yet. It may come to that.

Thanks,

Charlie

I hope you can get that straightened out soon Charlie! Good luck!!!

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/online/nrl/welcome

Charlie, did the previous owner fill out the application for title transfer in CA? If not this may be why it does not show up as transferred to you in the CA records. Above all try not to get too upset. Congrats on the beautiful car.

VR,

Not that I know of. I'm not aware of any such form. This is something I will surely bring up with the previous owner.

Let's hope it is something simple.

Thankyou very much and the comment on the car.,

Charlie

Hi Charlie,

I didn't see your question to me until now. Yes, the email address in my profile is correct.

Cheers, Dean

Okay, Thanks

Charlie

DIZ, et al,

Title went through today. Seems the NCDMV was using the wrong set of numbers from the CA title for the VIN.

I'm holding my breath. I hope there are no further hitches in the system and I get a NC title in about three weeks.

I appreciate all the concern some of you expressed. Especially DIZ down in FL who went out of his way in order to help. Thanks DIZ. Bob, too!

Best regards,

Charlie

Great news Charlie, I hope everything goes smoothly now!!!

glad your ordeal is hopefully over so you can enjoy your car,glad that I could try to help,good luck and have fun at the two fall meets, hope you have the best of weather too. DLZ