[MBZ] '86 300E 5-speed in NY

[David Brodbeck]

Jim Cathey wrote:
>> Here in Oregon, if someone buys a car with an Oregon title, all that 
>> person
>> has to do is to send a certified letter to the last known address of 
>> the
>> previous owner.  If it comes back undeliverable, DMB will grant a 
>> title.
>>     
>
> In WA it's the same, though it works for other state titles as well.
> The Frankenheap was a CA car, and the DMV had a CA address as last
> owner of record.  One registered letter bounce later and the car was
> mine.  Also, WA will grant a license even if you don't have a title.
> (Extremely common.  Read: payments.)
>   

It's worth noting that not all states are so forgiving. In Michigan it's 
much more difficult to register a car without a title.  If you have a 
loan on the car, you still get a title, but it has a "secured interest" 
noted on it, with a space for the bank to sign off when you pay off the 
loan.

I was actually surprised how loosely WA handles such things.  It also 
seems to be common here for cars to be sold among family members without 
ever re-registering them.  The car I just bought was like that; the 
title was for two owners ago, and I had two bills of sale to bring with 
it.  The vehicle licensing office didn't give it a second thought.