My dad and I bought an 04 Black NA crossfire a few months ago as a parts car for my red crossfire. The man we bought it from said it drove weird and he thought the teeth of the rear differential were broken. We got it home and I started tinkering on it to see what was wrong with it. Come to find out it drove weird because of a bad Mass Air Flow Sensor. I replaced the bad sensor and it drives perfectly fine now. We now would like to get the car put on the road instead of tearing it apart; however, we bought the car without a title from the guy. We looked into getting a replacement title from the DMV, but found out it has a rather EXPENSIVE lien we must pay off before getting a new title. Instead, we would like to buy a title and window vin from someone who has an extra crossfire they use for parts. The title can be either clean or salvage, we just want to get the car back on the road, and enjoy it, without paying an arm and a leg for the lien.

 

So, you are looking to register the car under another car's VIN ? Isn't that uh, ILLEGAL ?
What happens if you ever get stopped and the officer compares the title to the car's VIN plate ?

 

Er that's called "ringing" where I'm from, swapping vin numbers, and titles ?....................pretty sure it's illegal in all 50 states .....................

 

 

if their were no lien on it, maybe you could do that but ,,i agree with onehundered call the lien co and tell them what happened ,, they will tell you to either give them the car( put the old censer back) or pay off the loan and keep the car. or whatever,, did you get a recite,and did he tell you his real name if the owner reports it stolen,,, you may go ti jail. get out of this asap jim

 

I think we are being "punked"............can the OP be THAT naive?

 

If you are not the title holder, you don't own it. Period.

Have the DMV look up the legal owner and get it back to him before you get in legal trouble. Work out the money situation later.

You may even have to drop it off at a police impound yard so you are not in legal possession of the vehicle. Obviously, tell the police if the DMV or the legal owner cannot or will not help you.

 

As others have said here, you are flirting with TROUBLE. You can change the vin plate if you want, BUT that is not the only place the vin number is.
It will be STAMPED other places, the frame comes to mind. I was an insurance adjuster years ago and had to look at some ambulances that were in
a building fire. The only way we could identify the vehicles was just that way. The tags had melted away.

 

 

Well am pretty sure the lienholder does not want the car. Another possibility is to tell them (e.g. registered letter) that it is on your property and offer what you think is a fair amount as a parts car. I am wondering if you could place another lien on the car in the amount paid in good face for it.. It is possible they will just send a tow truck or a policeman but you will have proof that you acknowledged their interest in it and how they may retrieve it. From there it is a negotiation but you could wind up with both the car and a clear title for not much more money. Am not a lawyer but suspect your only obligation is to acknowledge their interest and tell them where the car is. I doubt that you are under any obligation to provide any transportation.

Just my opinion.

 

You have have some valid advice already provided.

My first thought was to suggest you make an offer to the lien holder but that might get you locked up for being in possession of stolen property. Going through an attorney might work if you can find one who does not feel they would be breaking the law.

Not a straight forward situation. Be careful.

 

It is now a decision for a judge to make. Report your situation to the police before you get in legal trouble.

 

I don't think that's a good idea; talk with an attorney!