No, we’re not
talking about forms of address for people. The sample provided with this post
is the topic being addressed.
When you
borrow money to purchase a vehicle, the title is usually held by the lender
until the loan is paid off. We have never leased, but it seems reasonable to
believe the title is in the possession of the lessor. There may be people out
there who, for one reason or another, have never fully owned a vehicle. This is
not a judgment of those individuals, but if you’ve never had a title in your
possession, you owe it to yourself to know what they are and how your state of
residence uses them; before you consider
purchasing something used. Regardless who the seller of your vintage RV might
be, a good source for information is www.dmv.org. You can find information by state
and the required forms to make your purchase legal. (Except the title.)
Why are titles
important? Proof of current ownership is probably the most essential. Next, as
long as the title has always been properly transferred, it provides a history
of ownership. And from a state’s prospective, it’s not only a way to make sure
something isn’t stolen, it’s a continuing source of income. Every time a
vehicle or RV is sold, states not only charge a fee for title transfer, they
will usually expect the buyer to pay sales tax on the purchase price.
This is the
info most states expect to see on a clean/clear title. (For a vehicle that has
never been classified as salvage – something which has been damaged and cost
for repair is more than current value.) Motorhome titles should have odometer readings.
Every time the vehicle changes hands the odometer should be read and the
correct mileage noted. The title should also list color, gross vehicle weight,
make/model/year, and most importantly – the VIN. (Vehicle Identification Number)
This number is provided by and secured to a vehicle by its manufacturer. It is
not recommended to purchase from anyone trying to sell something where the VIN
is missing or doesn’t match what’s recorded on the title.
Depending on
the history of a vintage RV, it’s entirely possible the title has been lost or
not properly transferred somewhere along the way. What your state requires to
prove legal ownership could, and really should, influence what you decide to
look at and ultimately buy. You don’t want to find out, after someone else has
your money, the lack of certain documentation has hijacked your dreams. It can
be costly and time consuming to acquire a new title for something that doesn’t
have a clear history of ownership. For our purchase and restoration project, we
preferred to have a clear title up front. We wanted to put our resources into
the restoration, not the hassle of trying to obtain a title.
Some states
require a safety inspection of an RV to ensure road worthiness before you can transfer or obtain a new title. (All signals, brakes etc. must be working properly. Proof
of insurance may also be needed. Checklists of such requirements can usually be
found online at a state’s DOT/DMV site.) Some states also require an emissions
test for motorized vehicles. Please keep the emissions test in mind if your
state requires it, and the state you are purchasing the RV from does not. It’s
possible an out-of-state vehicle might not pass the test the first time. Check
your state’s laws on how long you have to transfer a title over, especially if
the “new to you” RV requires a great deal of work before an inspection can take
place. Your state may charge penalties if the title isn’t transferred in the
given time frame. If you can’t find necessary info online, call the government
office where you will make the title transfer.
The subject
of titles isn’t exactly a fun one. Unfortunately, it can’t be avoided, even if you
think your restored RV will become a funky office space or groovy backyard
hangout. Someday you might decide to sell your masterpiece and buyers may want
to convert your RV dream back into something they can travel with. Please don’t
be “that guy” who passes on a problem (lack of title) which can be preventable.
Also, be aware of “lemon laws” and what rights you have as a buyer or seller.
In our Airstream search, we came across many listings where a title wasn’t
available. On listings that didn’t mention a title but were on the radar as
possibilities, our first question was always “Does it have a title?” Those
listings that didn’t were thanked and taken off the list.
Our Airstream
came from a situation you may not encounter. When we first saw our dream
trailer, a young couple was living in it while saving money for their first home.
The trailer was loaned to them by a long-time family friend who unfortunately
is ill. The owner decided, after many years of possession, it was time to let
the Airstream go to another home. The young couple was helping them sell it. As
sometimes happens when life gets in the way, the title had been misplaced. The seller
was aware of the situation and was in the process of replacing the title before
we got involved.
Before we
decided to buy the trailer, we made it clear the purchase price would be made
in installments; one part to secure the Airstream as ours, the remainder to be
paid once the title and accompanying transfer paperwork were in our possession.
While finalizing the sale someone else tried to buy the Airstream by paying
full price plus a bit extra all at once. We don’t know all the details but got
the impression this buyer thought a title could be obtained by other means,
therefore bypassing the wait for the replacement title. Apparently, that buyer
was wrong and backed out of the deal a couple of hours after making it. While
the incident did cause a bit of disappointment, thinking the trailer was sold
out from under us, it was even more stressful for the young couple trying to
help the seller. They already had enough going on that they didn’t need someone
making offers which couldn’t be honored. Our willingness to wait for the title
helped us prevail in the end. When the trailer came into our possession, we
began troubleshooting for the safety inspection while waiting for the title/transfer
documents.
