Run VIN to trace title?
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From: Ypsilanti, MI
Run VIN to trace title?
On behalf of my brother-in-law, I am involved in a tug of war between the state bureaucracies of Kansas and Michigan. The issue is that the four of us can't tell if the title for his car (that he owns) is in Kansas or in Michigan. Each state keeps referring us to the other.
Can someone run the VIN to at least tell if the title was transferred to Michigan, as Kansas insists? I'd also like to know if there's still a lien on the title and, if possible, who owns the title -- but I'd be happy with just the state.
VIN is 1B3HB48B68D650113, 2008 Dodge Caliber. Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help me along here.
Can someone run the VIN to at least tell if the title was transferred to Michigan, as Kansas insists? I'd also like to know if there's still a lien on the title and, if possible, who owns the title -- but I'd be happy with just the state.
VIN is 1B3HB48B68D650113, 2008 Dodge Caliber. Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help me along here.
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From: Ypsilanti, MI
I agree with you, which makes this case even more frustrating: it has a Michigan plate, Kansas says they sent the title to Michigan's Secretary of State, but Michigan says they know nothing about it. The registration is in my brother-in-law's name but the State of Michigan says there's no Michigan title in his name.
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On behalf of my brother-in-law, I am involved in a tug of war between the state bureaucracies of Kansas and Michigan. The issue is that the four of us can't tell if the title for his car (that he owns) is in Kansas or in Michigan. Each state keeps referring us to the other.
Can someone run the VIN to at least tell if the title was transferred to Michigan, as Kansas insists? I'd also like to know if there's still a lien on the title and, if possible, who owns the title -- but I'd be happy with just the state.
VIN is 1B3HB48B68D650113, 2008 Dodge Caliber. Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help me along here.
Can someone run the VIN to at least tell if the title was transferred to Michigan, as Kansas insists? I'd also like to know if there's still a lien on the title and, if possible, who owns the title -- but I'd be happy with just the state.
VIN is 1B3HB48B68D650113, 2008 Dodge Caliber. Thanks in advance to anyone willing to help me along here.
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From: SJC
While I agree that that is a good idea, this sounds like some BS that a Carfax won't entirely cover; the Carfax will post once it's officially in one state or the other. However, sounds like it might be in both states.
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From: Ypsilanti, MI
Anyway, for those of you who are into this kind of thing: it turns out that Michigan issued a "memorandum title" which is not a real title, but a one-time document that will let you get plates and registration in Michigan "when a vehicle is titled in a another state." I didn't know such things existed.
Kansas still says they don't know anything about a title, but at least Michigan has a plausible story why they don't have a title, so it's back to Kansas I go. Who says bureaucracies aren't fun??!
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From: Chesterfield VA
There is, of course, a Michigan title. The lien holder (bank, etc.) has the title. Lien holder is listed on the memorandum title which you should have and can certainly get.. You can't sell the car until you pay off the lien and get a real title. EVERY state has these, it's not unique to Michigan.
I'm still surprised your "brother-in-law" is incapable of doing this or determining what has to be done.
-- Chuck
I'm still surprised your "brother-in-law" is incapable of doing this or determining what has to be done.
-- Chuck
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From: Ypsilanti, MI
Chuck, you know what you're talking about and you've been very helpful, thanks.
I'm still trying to completely understand this. I have the memo title here and there is no lien information on it, but a reference that this is a memo title for a Kansas title. Michigan's Secretary of State website explains, when there is an out-of-state lien holder, then:
Michigan will issue a "FOREIGN OWNERSHIP-REGISTRATION ONLY" registration for the vehicle. A Michigan title is not issued. The out-of-state title remains the ownership document.
I have a copy of the Kansas title with the lien holder information.
I'm also holding a Lien Release document from the Kansas Department of Revenue and a letter from the Kansas "Central Office Operation Bureau" that a Kansas title without a lien "has been issued and sent to the state of Michigan." This worries me because Michigan has no record of such a title, at least not that they're telling me.
My brother-in-law lives in Italy. It's hard enough to deal with Italy's bureaucracy — I offered to help him out so his grandmother can drive his car.
I'm still trying to completely understand this. I have the memo title here and there is no lien information on it, but a reference that this is a memo title for a Kansas title. Michigan's Secretary of State website explains, when there is an out-of-state lien holder, then:
Michigan will issue a "FOREIGN OWNERSHIP-REGISTRATION ONLY" registration for the vehicle. A Michigan title is not issued. The out-of-state title remains the ownership document.
I have a copy of the Kansas title with the lien holder information.
I'm also holding a Lien Release document from the Kansas Department of Revenue and a letter from the Kansas "Central Office Operation Bureau" that a Kansas title without a lien "has been issued and sent to the state of Michigan." This worries me because Michigan has no record of such a title, at least not that they're telling me.
My brother-in-law lives in Italy. It's hard enough to deal with Italy's bureaucracy — I offered to help him out so his grandmother can drive his car.
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From: Chesterfield VA
Have you visited MI DMV in person? And dealt with someone knowledgeable? With no lien it seems MI should have issued a title and license plates. Not sure how this can be done, though, without the owner's signature.
-- Chuck
-- Chuck