A Few Words Concerning Titles

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.