Expert: Vern Bullock - 10/1/2009

Question
QUESTION: I am looking to buy a 1969 International Scout 800A from a North Carolina seller. The car's title is from California dated in 2002...the current seller name is listed and notorized as the title holder, however he never had the car registered in North Carolina.

Also, the vin number is only 14 numbers and all of the title search forms require a 17 number vin number.

I have a picture of the title with all numbers including; Calif. title number, license plate number, title #, etc.

Will I have difficulties during the transfer? I have to drive over 3 hours to purchase the car...What do I do?

ANSWER: Hi Paul:
Since the vehicle was never titled in North Carolina, it is still technically a California vehicle. You will be purchasing a California vehicle that is currently located in NC. Once you are ready to put in on the road, you will have to pay NC vehicle sales tax (3% of cost/value) at the DMV. Just make sure you get a signed title and a Bill Of Sales from the seller.

Regarding the VIN number, the VIN database did not exist until 1982 and that is when a standard VIN numbering system was implemented. Before 1982 VIN number length varied greatly, so a history on this vehicle won't exist on carfax or title search.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Is there any way to do a title search to find out if anyone has a lien on it before going to NC? ... most title search engines have nothing on the vehicle.

Answer
The lien holding name is on the title and if there was a lien
on the vehicle at some point, you will see that on the back
of the title. NC will not accept a title transfer that has a
previous lien without sending the new NC title to the lien holder shown
on the title.

There have been cases where titles were transferred without specifying
a lien holder when the bill of sale came from a private seller that fail
to disclose a lien holder upon purchasing a vehicle. However, these are
rare and the seller is liable  and prosecutable by law for any outstanding
balance on the vehicle.