[Jimrob1]

I live in Fla. I just bought a used. car that was part of an estate sale. The car has a VT title and the plates expired almost 2 years ago. I signed the title taking ownership of the car. I have found now that Fla will not allow me to register the car. Reason a lapse in registration and title. Evidently owners turned car over to son, several years ago. He did not register it so no new title was created. The car just sat covered in the Fla carport with expired plates from his parents. The parents are in nursing homes now, and the k
son can't be found. Can I register this car in VT thru the mail,or do it have to go to VT in person for this. It seems this is theway to do this. Register and title in VT so I can then redo in Fla. Thoughts and some advice please. I'm pretty upset about all this, and feel taken advantage of.

[joe moving]

What is the actual problem that Florida is citing? Titles don't expire so that doesn't make sense. Registration shouldn't be needed... unless it's a Florida thing? Plenty of cars sit with reg expired for years and are then sold later with titles and maybe notarized bill of sale. Previous state's registration generally has nothing to do with titling a car in a new state.

[Jimrob1]

Thanks for replying. Fla says there are lapses on the title. Because several people in one family, have signed the car over to each other. The last one who are sthe owners son. He parked this car in the driveway here in Fla, but did not register the car. Fla is looking for a title for the transfer of ownership, from the parents to the son. There is none. The son just let the car sit for several years without registration. I think the whole thing is dumb and there is no reason for this problem.

[joe moving]

That makes sense at least from my experience in other states. Once the son signs it, he has to re-title it in his name before he can sell it to another party.
Is the car older than 15 years by any chance?

[Jimrob1]

It's a 2004 so 12 years. I don't know what to do. Fla. Is no help and sends me on my way. Tells me I have to contact the son for him to title. Have no idea where he is,and his parents are incoherent in nursing homes.

[ansible90]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

It's a 2004 so 12 years. I don't know what to do. Fla. Is no help and sends me on my way. Tells me I have to contact the son for him to title. Have no idea where he is,and his parents are incoherent in nursing homes.

You could ask the nursing homes if they would call the next of kin and ask them (the next of kin) to call you. They probably won't give you next of kin names outright. But the other way around might work. If you can find someone who knows the parents, they may be able to help you find the son.

Or start with the person who sold you the car. Who is that? Can they find the son or another family member?

Good luck.

[joe moving]

So you signed the title where, if the son had already signed it?

[Jimrob1]

My car is now registered in Fla. I told them this am, that I had enough. I felt the Fla DMV needed to call the Vermont DMV, and fix the problem. The Vermont DMV said the title is in good standing with them. Fla then decided to go by the Vermont ruling on their title. So I have my plates now. Sometimes you really need to take a big chance, and stick-up for yourself.

[joe moving]

Wow, I'm glad it worked out for you!

[ansible90]

Originally Posted by Jimrob1

My car is now registered in Fla. I told them this am, that I had enough. I felt the Fla DMV needed to call the Vermont DMV, and fix the problem. The Vermont DMV said the title is in good standing with them. Fla then decided to go by the Vermont ruling on their title. So I have my plates now. Sometimes you really need to take a big chance, and stick-up for yourself.

Yeah, and sometimes you have to tell them how to do their job.