Registering a vehicle without a title

[mike759]

Wondering if anyone's had success titling a vehicle that was purchased without one. I bought a beater Corolla with no title to run as a rally cross car but its now looking like a good option as a daily if I can get tags on it. The Colorado retitling process seems like enough of a pain that's its not worth the effort and I've looked into those Montana LLC loophole services, though $900 to register a $500 car seems sacrilegious. Does anyone know of another route that I may not have come across?
Thanks in advance

 

[unimogguy]

I don’t know anything about CO. But in VA we had this:

Abandoned Vehicle Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When is a vehicle considered to be abandoned? Virginia law (46.2-1200) defines an abandoned motor vehicle as a motor vehicle, trailer, or manufactured home, or

www.dmv.virginia.gov

AVP Intro Page

I don’t know what your time frame is tho. But I used the AVP process multiple times to secure a title for several vehicles. I would always use the sellers “I don’t have a title” as a bargaining chip knowing I always had this in my back pocket when purchasing a vehicle.
If memory serves me correctly it was like $100 all said and done.

 

[mike759]

I don’t know anything about CO. But in VA we had this:

Abandoned Vehicle Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When is a vehicle considered to be abandoned? Virginia law (46.2-1200) defines an abandoned motor vehicle as a motor vehicle, trailer, or manufactured home, or

www.dmv.virginia.gov

AVP Intro Page

I don’t know what your time frame is tho. But I used the AVP process multiple times to secure a title for several vehicles. I would always use the sellers “I don’t have a title” as a bargaining chip knowing I always had this in my back pocket when purchasing a vehicle.
If memory serves me correctly it was like $100 all said and done.

Unfortunately I was looking into what seems like the CO equivalent of this and it sounds like a tedious process here. Impossible to get a state patrol vin inspection, certified mail correspondence with previous owner, a bunch of paperwork, etc

 

[Yarn Cruiser]

What year is the Corolla? If it’s 25 and older it’s a “simpler” process sort of. At that age you don’t have to bond for the title at least. I had a lot of help from @HDavis .

For the inspection it can be done at any state patrol or sheriffs office. I reached out to lakeside, it’s smaller and I was able to get in at 3-4 weeks instead of 3 months for example. Pending the year make sure they mark the correct status here, if 25 and older it’s a different check mark than bonded for title. It’s easier to correct that while at the inspection. Ask me how I know…

Make an in person appt at the dept of revenue under the vehicle division for the information to send the certified letters to. Bring your current paperwork for this.
I had to send three certified letters as last title owner had three addresses so they highly recommend I covered all my bases to reach out to them. 2 came back to sender before 30 days and the third came back after 30 days.
If it needs bonded, I’m fuzzy on this step as I didn’t need to do this. You don’t need the previous owner to respond, in fact it’s easier for you if they don’t! If all three letters came back before thirty days I could have gone to the DMV sooner.

Once at the dmv, make sure everything is correct, if it is and then you’re pretty much good to go.
It’s easier than it seems but I had a lot of hand holding, for the right truck I would do it again. The thing to remember the entities doing this process also don’t understand how the process works. Especially if it’s 25 or older and that is relatively new process.

All of these places require appointments to be scheduled so if you can stagger them that can be helpful to push things along. If you have a friendlier dmv to go to, make sure to go to that one.

 

[mike759]

It’s a 1999, so no need for bond, which is a plus. It would be nice if CO simplified their process a bit. I think I may try registering it to some family’s address in New Hampshire. Can just go straight to town clerk with a bill of sale and they’ll give you a title and plates. No emissions, no inspection, no sales tax.

 

[Yarn Cruiser]

I think this was an attempt to simplify the process. It wasn’t terrible and it wasn’t great imo. Good luck!

 

[nuclearlemon]

i did annie a decade or so ago. no bond due to age. worst part was only the sheriff could do it and you had to have an appointment and they only took appointments on one day. also. i had to get a temp tag and drive it there or they would stamp the body salvage which would ruin her value.