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“Help, I’ve lost my title!” is the most frequent call I get from Nevada residents.
The Lost title issue comes about in many ways…
1. Vehicle purchase from out of state but never registered in Nevada.
2. Moved to Nevada and can’t find the box with car stuff.
3. Relative passed away and the title is missing.
4. Car is left on property and owner is unknown/or unknown whereabouts.
5. Trying to sell or trade the car and can’t find the title.
The first issue to address is if the car had a loan? Was the loan paid off?
If you know the bank where the loan was made, then contacting the back for a lien release is critical. DMV wants an ORIGINAL signature and or notarized statement to prove there are no open loans on the car before granting a new title.
Once you have a lein release letter you can request a duplicate title, with an explanation as to why you need it.
Even if the car was previously registered in NEVADA, you will need this form.
If you bought this vehicle from out of state and it has never been titled or registered in Nevada, you will have to start with the state where it was last titled or registered, and the former owner. Hopefully, you have the information on who sold you the car. California does not keep records past 4 years on their computer system, and DMV in California is extremely backed-up, so be prepared to have many long calls to get someone in SAcramento to give oyu answers. You may have to send a formal inquiry to their history department to request a title, but only if you have all your data completed before licking the stamp and sending the paperwork in.
Need HELP with A LOST TITLE?
In many cases I help Nevada residents with lost titles by performing a series of steps which allows DMV to give you that title. Providing you are the official owner, the DMV requires a number of forms, many needing a notary or a DMV signature.
This involves reaching out to the previous owner (from any state), determining what, if any, response is provided. If no response is provided, there are additional steps to get you that title. Once you have the new Nevada title, in your name, you can sell, register, transfer or trade-in the car legally.
I strongly urge vehicle owners to “perfect” the title to their car as soon as it is paid off. This saves a step with the lein release letter.
If you move to another state, change the title to that state where you are going to tag/plate the car, again, this saves you a world of pain, if you lose the title in a move.
Inheriting a vehicle from the deceased with no title.
If you are the executor or administrator for the estate you should contact the attorney handling the estate before desposing or the vehicle. The process to request a duplicate title is similar to the steps mentioned above, with the addition of a death certificate, copy of the estate orders (probate or trust), plates from the vehicle involved. An easy way to avoid the lost title of an elderly person is to add a beneficiary to the title. (See the form: Transfer Upon Death).
This allows for the simple hand-off of the vehicle without extra forms and hassle.
CLASSIC CARS missing a title.
Many times clients buy an older vehicle with the intention of fixing it up as a hobby. They don’t register or title the car because it isn’t running. However, when the time comes, the title is missing, and so the LOST TITLE process begins.
Rebuilt, kit cars or old clunkers brought back to life will need additional documentation to prove they are road-worthy. At 25 years of age an emissions (smog) test may not be necessary if you are going with a classic plate. Hot rod or old timer (40 years old) where the annual mileage will be less than 5000 miles.
If you need help with your LOST TITLE call Sarah Lee: MyCarlady.
*CANADIANS. If you are bringing a car into Nevada from Canada, you will need customs paperwork, proof odf all recalls being corrected AND a lein release document showing no open loans or tax leins.
