Getting your car repaired can be a daunting experience, especially if you do not know what to look out for, or how to avoid the costliest rip-offs. Whether your car is still under warranty, or you have paid for your own insurance, it is vitally important to shop around before getting a car repaired. This will help you save money when getting repairs and also cut down on stressful situations that arise from poor workmanship.
When choosing a shop for your auto repairs, find two or three places that do good work and have good ratings online. Get estimates from each shop, and then decide which one offers the best value for your money. You may also want to check with friends or family members who’ve had similar repairs done before; they may be able to recommend a good shop in your area.
Get another opinion. If a shop is recommending expensive repairs, get a second opinion – and a third if you must. Don’t automatically trust the first mechanic you visit either, no matter how trustworthy they may seem. They may not be aware of an alternative repair method or they might be trying to sell you something in order to make more money off of you.
Check to see if your car is covered by an extended warranty that you bought or came with the car. These warranties often cover certain repairs at no charge, so check the paperwork before doing the work yourself or taking it elsewhere.
You don’t have to have the autobody shop buy the parts. The mechanic can recommend the specific parts you need, you can purchase them elsewhere, then take them back to the shop to have them installed. If your mechanic is honest, this is a great way to save money on repairs.
Mechanics often suggest more expensive options than necessary in order to make more money off their customers. Be wary when they try to sell you something that sounds like a great deal — it may not be worth it in the long run. Be sure that any recommended service makes sense based on the age and condition of your car; otherwise, they may just be trying to upsell you on work that doesn’t need doing right now.
Here’s the takeaway: do your homework on the repairs you need, and have a conversation with your mechanic. Shop around, ask questions, and know your options. You might just see big savings coming to you if you’re proactive with your car repairs.
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A barn-find is a great way to find a vehicle that has been discontinued. It could also be something you have found in the attic or basement of an older relative. A valuable barn-find vehicle can be really exciting but may be difficult to title. If you are looking to apply for the title to your barn-find yourself, here are some tips to help get you started.
A barn-find is a vehicle that has been sitting in a barn or storage for some period of time. Many times these vehicles are not running and usually are not in good condition. The best way to get a title for a barn-find vehicle is to locate the prior owner and have them sign over the title. However, if the vehicle has been in a barn or storage for decades, assuming you can locate the prior owner and the title may be a stretch.
If you are able to find the prior owner, ask them if they are willing to obtain a duplicate title. If they are, follow the duplicate title process for your state. Often this involves having the owner sign an application, which can often be found online on each state’s DMV website. Due to the age of the vehicle, some states may also require an odometer reading and a VIN inspection from a certified mechanic or someone from law enforcement who is authorized to perform such inspections.
It may be tough to get a duplicate, even if the prior owner is still living and has the old title. If the vehicle is abandoned for decades, it’s possible that the title has been erased. Oftentimes DMVs will purge their systems after 10-15 years of inactivity. The title could be lost after being left in a barn for decades. If you can’t track down any paperwork, try submitting a motor vehicle record request to your local DMV to see if they can retrieve the records. They may ask you to fill out some forms and submit an affidavit describing how the vehicle came into your possession.
In certain cases, you may be able to obtain a title for your barn-find vehicle through the court system. To file for a court-ordered title, you must visit the county court in the county where you reside and file a case against the vehicle to ask the judge to grant you ownership of the vehicle. Once ownership is granted, you can take the court order to the DMV in exchange for a title.
A court-ordered title process isn’t an easy process, but it’s a very effective process. If you choose to pursue a court-ordered title, make sure to be aware of the laws in your county. Every county has a different procedure for a court-ordered title. For more information, check out our article The Court Ordered Title Process Explained.
If you want to keep a barn-find vehicle and get a title for it in your name, do not say it’s an abandoned vehicle. In many cases, the designation of an abandoned vehicle will result in the towing and disposal of the vehicle. Most of the time you will not get to keep and title a vehicle that is considered abandoned.
However, this is possibly not the case in the state of Alaska. If you have a barn-find vehicle on private property, Alaska is one of the few states that allows some abandoned vehicles to be titled. For more information, check out our article How To Title An Abandoned Vehicle In Alaska.
You don’t have to struggle with getting a title for your barn-find vehicle. Be prepared with the steps that you will take and how to prepare your vehicle. Do your research and ensure that you’re having it correctly inspected, depending on the state you live in. If you try to be diligent with these things, then you should be well on your way to getting a title for that valuable classic car.
What’s the difference between the title number and the vehicle identification number? The title number and the VIN number were made for two different reasons.
The title number is typically a 7-8 character or number string that identifies the owner of the vehicle. It doesn’t necessarily tell you much about the vehicle itself, but it’s made to identify the owner. The title number will change each time it is transferred to a new owner.
The vehicle identification number (VIN) is a 17-character string that identifies all the specifications of a vehicle (make, model, manufacturer, year, trim, etc.). The VIN does not show the owner of the vehicle, only the specific features, and history of the vehicle itself. The VIN will never change, even if it is transferred to a new owner. (Note: improperly changing the VIN is a felony)
Your title number can be found on your vehicle title or on your registration card. If the DMV recently sent you a notice to renew your registration, you’ll also find your title number on this document. Your title number is issued only by the DMV.
Your vehicle identification number will typically be shown in more places than the title number. This is because when cars are repaired using other parts, the VIN has to be verified as legal for road use before being used. Your VIN can usually be found on the dashboard, frame, cowl, door jambs, and under spare parts.
Car title scams are a scary reality. At CarTitles.com, we work with clients every day who have unfortunately fallen victim to a car title scam. A car title transfer is a legal process so one may think it’s difficult to pull off a car title scam, but it’s important to remember that scammers also know these legal processes and how to get around them without being detected.
The ownership transfer scam is one of the oldest scams in the book and is still seen frequently. If someone says you need to transfer ownership to get a clean title, this is a red flag.
Someone will claim to be able to clear the lien off of your title, remove the bonded stamp, or get a new name printed on the front. They’ll tell you that the easiest way for them to help is if you signed over the title so they can sign the documents personally without a power of attorney.
Once you sign the title over, that’s it. The scammer can then transfer the title into their name because they have the signed certificate of title from you. If this happens, you won’t be able to report the vehicle as stolen because it’s no longer in your name.
Car title scams have been around for a while, but they continue to be popular among scammers due to the fact that they offer such a low-risk/high-reward scenario. Often, these scams are successful because they’re so unexpected and confusing for consumers. The best way to protect yourself from any type of scam is to be vigilant and educate yourself on common scam tactics.
A branded title is a designation on a vehicle title that signifies that the vehicle has been involved in a previous insurance incident and has been deemed by the insurance company subject to damage or a total loss. The claim may have been filed by an insurance company or by the owner of the vehicle.
A branded title does not necessarily mean that there was actual damage to the car, but it does mean that the car was involved in an accident and had to be repaired before it could be titled again.
There are many different types of branded titles for vehicles, some of the most common include:
When a vehicle incurs some type of loss event such as major damage, theft, or repair, the title may be designated as a salvage title. The decision to place a title in salvage status is normally made by the insurance company that pays a claim on the vehicle. In some states, there are statutory regulations that require an insurer to brand a vehicle with a salvage title. An example may be that a vehicle incurred damage that is more than 60% of its value. However, an insurance company can decide to place a salvage title brand on any vehicle it decides to, even if there is little or no damage.
Salvage titles can normally be registered for road use. In some states an inspection is required to make sure that the vehicle is safe for the road, and that any parts used for repair are legal and have a verified origin. For your own safety make sure that any vehicle you purchase as a salvage title has operational airbags and valid documentation of the VIN# and all major component parts.
Vehicles for which the title has been sold to a junkyard may be designated junk titles if it is intended to be scrapped or sold for parts. A vehicle’s VIN in the NMVTIS database means that it can no longer be titled after receiving a junk title brand.
A vehicle that has been substantially rebuilt may have a rebuilt title brand issued by an insurance company, body shop, collision center, or licensed rebuilder. A vehicle with a rebuilt title can normally be registered for road use but may have an inspection requirement to verify it is roadworthy. The vehicle insurance may have limits if the title is rebuilt.
A parts-only designation is typically found on a bill of sale or transfer form, not on a title. However, if a parts-only bill of sale is submitted for vehicle title processing, the title may be issued with a salvage brand or other cloud on the title.
When an insurance company has paid a claim for a vehicle and taken ownership from the insured, they have the option of processing the title as a certificate of destruction. In this case, the vehicle is intended to be destroyed and never to be used on the road or registered. It is unlikely that a vehicle with a certificate of destruction can ever be issued a valid title for transfer.
A vehicle with a certificate of destruction can sometimes appear to be in acceptable condition. The insurance company decides to prevent the car from road use to limit its liability in the event that the car is driven and is involved in an accident at a later date. If it is proven that an injury in an accident is because the car had some existing defect, the injured person could claim that the insurance company should not have let the car go back on the road.
A vehicle in otherwise good condition can be issued a certificate of destruction if the insurance company thinks that the airbags could be damaged, the frame could be weakened, or simply does not want to spend the money to do a detailed inspection, and just wants to sell it cheap to a junkyard.
Depending on your needs, a vehicle with a title brand can be a great option if you want to fix up a salvage vehicle or use it for parts. Before moving forward with a vehicle, make sure to check the title for permanent title brands. Any attempt to remove, obscure, conceal, or alter a title brand using unauthorized means can be a violation of law often referred to as “title washing” or “title laundering.” The salvage title designation is shared with all 50 states. Evading a title brand is a serious offense. Getting a new title for that purpose is illegal and results in serious criminal penalties.
Get a new VIN for your “junk” vehicle and retitle your vehicle as a DMV assembled vehicle.
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