Title problems while trying to sell overseas

roadcuda

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I have a sale pending with someone in Germany for my '58 Plymouth. The problem is Connecticut doesn't issue titles for cars over 20 yrs old, and since I never had one for this car in my name, they won't issue one to me. The gentleman in Germany says that they must have a title or he can't import the car. Does anyone who has dealt specifically with shipping to Germany have any suggestions on how we complete this transaction without a title?

Thanks in advance
 
Well, he is correct. The car needs to have the paperwork in order for him to import it. No title, no import. Could be stolen otherwise and the paoerpushers in Germany won't know what to do with it either.

How do they not issue a title? How else do you prove ownership???
 
Well, he is correct. The car needs to have the paperwork in order for him to import it. No title, no import. Could be stolen otherwise and the paoerpushers in Germany won't know what to do with it either.

How do they not issue a title? How else do you prove ownership???


Connecticut does not issues titles on cars over 25 years old. They only require a bill of sale.

Steve, You may have to get the car titled in a state that issues them or find another buyer. Hopefully one of our members from Germany will shed some light on this problem and offer a solution.
 
How do they not issue a title? How else do you prove ownership???

Many states don't issue titles for older cars. New York has never issued a title for a 1973 model year or older. They use the car registration as proof of ownership instead.

There has to be a way that this is done. A friend sold a '36 Plymouth street rod that went to Germany and that was a NYS car with no title.
 
Connecticut does not issues titles on cars over 25 years old. They only require a bill of sale.

Steve, You may have to get the car titled in a state that issues them or find another buyer. Hopefully one of our members from Germany will shed some light on this problem and offer a solution.
I never thought of registering it in another state that issues titles Bill. I'd have to give that some thought. Big John suggested I post a question here and it was after that that I remembered seeing posts of car shows in Europe, so maybe those German members will have some ideas.
 
Many states don't issue titles for older cars. New York has never issued a title for a 1973 model year or older. They use the car registration as proof of ownership instead.

There has to be a way that this is done. A friend sold a '36 Plymouth street rod that went to Germany and that was a NYS car with no title.
72 and back. 1973 have titles.
 
I never thought of registering it in another state that issues titles Bill. I'd have to give that some thought. Big John suggested I post a question here and it was after that that I remembered seeing posts of car shows in Europe, so maybe those German members will have some ideas.
it's my understanding that vermont has very lenient rules for titling a vehicle. i would be worried about throwing a red flag with customs and a newly minted title though.
 
Well unfortunately @Knebel is right. No title no import. It is a must have document to get the car through customs. If you can't prove ownership, the federals consider it as non legal transaction.
@Tobias74 ships cars overseas from Canada maybe he has an idea
 
it's my understanding that vermont has very lenient rules for titling a vehicle. i would be worried about throwing a red flag with customs and a newly minted title though.
Vermont is 15 years or newer for titles.
 
One thing everyone is missing is that he does have paperwork for the car. It's not just a bill of sale. He has the official state issued registration and that is what shows proof of ownership where he lives.
 
I don't know exactly what the procedure would be in New York. I had a similar problem bringing a car from Illinois to Indiana where the owner had passed away. I had to get a court order for a title which only cost me an extra $75.00 for the court cost, and have the vehicle inspected by the local police to verify the V.I.N. numbers were correct.
 
No titles issued in Alabama on vehicles 1973 and older. I have gone to a friend in Tennessee and obtained a title there with a faux transfer using his address. I did this to appease a buyer who did not feel good about buying with a BOS and current registration.
 
I know that with the cars @Tobias74 sends overseas our Provincial Registration and Bill of Sale is all that is required as we do not issue titles in Canada so maybe the State's Registration is all that is needed?
 
One thing everyone is missing is that he does have paperwork for the car. It's not just a bill of sale. He has the official state issued registration and that is what shows proof of ownership where he lives.

That might be right but federals work the same way all around the globe.
You want to get the car through customs? You need the title! Oh you have another document? I don't care, I just know titles and without one you won't pass me... You might be lucky but I wouldn't take the risk of getting stopped at that point,because what would you do??! Ship it back?
 
That might be right but federals work the same way all around the globe.
You want to get the car through customs? You need the title! Oh you have another document? I don't care, I just know titles and without one you won't pass me... You might be lucky but I wouldn't take the risk of getting stopped at that point,because what would you do??! Ship it back?

So how do guys do it? How do non title cars get shipped to Europe. I've seen other non title cars, including a very recent sale of a non title New York State car to Europe.

The ownership proof, is on the state issued registration. They must be taking it or these cars would never sell. The big difference is the title shows ownership with or without a lien.
 
I don't know. @fc7_plumcrazy has imported dozens of cars, maybe he knows.
You mustn't forget that every country in Europe has his own laws. So maybe things get handled differently in Sweden / Finland etc. Wouldn't be surprised if Germany is the country with the strictest rules. We love to restrict ourselves :BangHead:
 
I know that with the cars @Tobias74 sends overseas our Provincial Registration and Bill of Sale is all that is required as we do not issue titles in Canada so maybe the State's Registration is all that is needed?
Here in Canada you need a registration and bill of sale otherwise the car is not allowed to leave Canada is a no go then from Customs they won’t release the car for export
 
I sent a 1963 Olds F85 to Germany 2 years ago. All I had was the registration and gave him a bill of sale. There was a round of export paperwork and one of import paperwork that their carrier sent me the instructions on. I’ve also brought a lot of cars into NYS from all over and most are old and no title and no problem. Sent a bunch out to other states and no problem. Just use the registration. Brought in a 47 caddy in Jan that was a little tough. Had no GA registration. Owner had to go back and get one!
From their DMV!
 
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