Honestly, like others have said. You need to talk to a lawyer. Thats not just a “mess up” that is a huge screw up on the DMV’s part and they are just like ehhhhhh sucks for you. The truck was clearly not junked and that title branding needs to be reversed No cab swap, no rebuilt or reconstructed title. Classic case of the big guy screwing the little guy
You took the words right out of my mouth. They said they would of needed to know something within the first 90 days to correct it, but since it’s been a few years, they say that to much time has passed and they aren’t sure of the condition of the truck now
@@Hunterrnorris A lawyer- preferably one with good political connections at state level- can probably get you straightened out. It won't be cheap. Whatever else you do, don't try any VIN-plate swapping in any form. That can cost you big bucks and land you in jail. Felony stuff. Ain't worth the risk.
If there is no documentation saying why the title was changed to junk, then why would they require documentation to change it back? I say go back in and see if you can "talk with a supervisor." Maybe if they realize your next step is a lawyer they will fix it.
I got a 2005 Daytona edition RAM with a rebuild title that I bought used in 2007 for cheap, and I am still driving it. Best vehicle that I have ever owned.
Previous owner prob brought the wrecked truck from a junkyard and registered it before the insurance company branded the title. Yeh The title was CLEAN when he brought it WRECKED!!! but the insurance company branded it junk after...Takes time.I can bet $100 he gave you the title from when he 1st brought it....not a recent title...
In every state I have lived in, you get a title when you first register the vehicle in your name. The title comes from the DMV, if it was issued to the seller with a clean title, it's the DMV's problem.
@@thomasbloesch7551 not true! Example : 1 August 2023 Truck in accident with another vehicle . 17 August 2023 Insurance company declared truck total lost 18 August 2023 Junk yard sells truck with previous owner clean title to unfortunately buyer 19 August 2023 Buyer takes clean title and gets the vehicle registration. 21 September 2023 Insurance company notified DMV Junk vehicle The vehicle has a valid registration, correct … keep paying annual registration, you will get tags..UNTIL you try and sell…
My 2 guesses would be they either weren't paying attention during the renewal process at the dmv, or got the paperwork mixed up with a different truck that had a junk title mistaking it for the truck Nick owned at the time. Either way, I'm with you on thinking Nick is legit with the sale of the truck and with not knowing the truck had a junk title due to what you mentioned about meeting him at his house and giving you all of his info. In my mind, I'm also thinking there might be a paper trail leading back to the dmv associate that applied the junk title, if you chose to press the issue on their end, but I could be wrong. I've never even heard of junk titles, so any information related to them is a mystery to me. Either way, good luck with the registration process, and I hope it gets sorted quickly so you can enjoy your semi-newly purchased truck.
I purchased a junk title motorcycle from the auction, got it really cheap for the exact reason of the title, it didn't matter to me at that time, but you definitely have to watch out for that junk title seller not disclosing what it really is
I know in canada you can just switch the paint colour at mto the same thing as dmv in states , ive done it numerous times i had 3 03 dodges all used same vin tag , all you do is zip disk around the vin then cut the backside of the rivets off with side cutters and drill the vin out on the truck your keeping and jb weld the vin back in, the hardest part is cutting the windows out to do this
think the easiest solution is to take it back up there get it inspected and get a re-built title for it and you'll be able to register it where you are and that'll be the end of it and no more hassles, that's my two sense on this.
as long as there are no stolen parts on the truck and if there are non number matching parts they are going to want documentation of where they came from.
The DMV somehow got my name, and my wife's birthday on a registration tag for my car . Made for a big ass ache, we both had to go to the dmv, wait for a hour, while the worker wanted to do an investigation, like we _can't change the day we were born_ , but you can _correct my registration_ to reflect it, right ? When an "agency" of the government makes a mistake, it's hell getting it fixed, 99% of the time.
My suggestion is try to get the DMV inspection if you plan to keep the truck for awhile. It's the quickest and cheapest solution. If that doesn't work then try plan B or C
A Carfax history before purchase would have told you this. However, a Carfax does not always show what was done on a vehicle. Carfax histories do not always show repairs made that are under $800.00 that do not have to be reported to carfax by a body shop. Not all repair facilities report mechanical repairs to Carfax. Carfax reports also do not show repairs or body work that was done by a backyard shadetree mechanic or body work performed by people who do the work themselves.
Let me expand on this a bit. Carfax reports what's been reported to Insurance companies and some DMVs. If a vehicle is repaired without an insurance claim, most likely the Carfax won't show it. I've run into that twice, once with a quarter panel hung on a Fusion, once with a flood car. Fleet cars are often self insured and body work won't show.
Talk to a lawyer and see if there is anything you can do. Ngl, I would want to sue the county clerk for failing to do their simple job, probably cost more than it is worth. I probably would try to find a cab and bed the same color with a clean title.If that doesn't work out, get the inspection, but you lose value with a salvage title.
If it was a newer truck this mistake wouldn’t of happened I think, but do to the year of the truck and the mileage, it’s exempt in a few categories whenever titles are being transferred so they pretty much expedite the process and I guess it may of been a Friday when this truck went through because someone wasn’t paying attention
Had this problem with a car my wife bought from a dealership,the dmv screwed up her Vin # to registration and the only way they would fix their screw up was for us to pay for it.
This is why I don't recommend anyone buying vehicles off of Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Sellers on those sites are usually selling junk vehicles. Scrap titles, wrecked vehicles and such.
In New Jersey we disliked going to the DMV and inspection used to be your front end was jacked up and inspected for loose parts ball joints A arm’s tie rod and worn tires. After that you get out of the car and the inspector drove it at 20 mph they pulled the emergency brake handle and if the car didn’t stop it was failed they tested headlights turn signals emergency flashing lights and smog equipment. If everything passed you got a new sticker. Now it’s only one test for the cars computer and the emissions. When I bought my truck 99 F250 in 2006 it was smoking so bad they pulled me out of the line and then told me to fix it. I feel your pain it suck’s buying an old car with the intention of saving a little money or getting a good car that won’t break down or cost a small fortune to repair. Only to be torpedoed by the DMV!
Either get an attorney to fight the DMV on their mistake to get the title corrected back to clean, or take the guys cab and title, and just swap the VIN plates.
In Ohio when the state does a salvage inspection, they look for safety, receipts for repairs and parts, and if parts are used, you have to show proof that they are not stolen. Titles of the donor vehicles.
If I'm not mistaken the VIN# is in multiple places that should match because of chop shops doing the same thing you're talking about w/cab swap, all the ducks have to be matching/in a row so to speak.
Yeah, before you bring it to inspection, check ALL the VINs to make sure they match. And the ECU has the right VIN encoded. If there's one thing on the truck that comes back as stolen, you won't get the truck back.
@Hunterrnorris title washing is when someone takes a salvage title car to another state that does easy titles and obtains a new "clean" title. Then sells that vehicle with the new title
been through this same thing. i have an 01 cummins that i rolled. i put a new cab on it. i sent a picture of the vin and got a new vin door sticker made from a company online for like 300 bucks for the new cab. my windshield tint is so dark you cant see the one on the dash either. the only other vin numbers on the truck are on the passenger floor pan and radiator support. easily removed. i went to put the title in my name, noted the color changed for the title. and now im driving a rollover chassis, with a clean title, and matching vin numbers. basically, if you have a clean title for one of these trucks, its very simple to swap the vin plate and get a sticker for the door. when you own both trucks and there is no funny business, its fool proof.
Call around to different Mech. Shops in your area and see if there's one that does what you mentioned about maybe jointly works with the Dmv so that you can get the truck legal
My take-No one is so nice that they are going to give you a clean title cab or money back unless something shady has went down so take the clean title cab and "cough cough" swap the VINs and cab.
Just to let you know some state go by the Cab vin and some go by the frame vin. So selling them might be interesting for whoever bought them. I'd just drive it up there or see if they will allow your state police to do the inspection for them. That way you don't have to drive it all the way to their state.
In Kentucky when you take a vehicle bought out of state for an inspection they just make sure the vin matches the title. The vehicle could be on fire and they wouldn't care as long as the vin matched the title.
I’d definitely take it and get it inspected and get it lined out with the DMV. The DMV is the one that screwed up so there shouldn’t actually be anything wrong with the truck to prevent it from passing. In my state we have yearly inspections and I assume it’d basically be the same as that so just look over the truck now before you go and make sure it’s good and everything works. If you talk to the guys at the shop they’ll surely be glad to help you out. I know if you came to my shop and told me this story I’d be glad to look the truck over and help you get it on the road. Just make sure there’s no stupid things that wouldn’t pass a safety inspection like driver window won’t roll down, air bag light on, bad ball joints/tie rods, etc. A check engine light could fail too if it’s a picky shop. I’d just make sure the truck is all good and get it lined out properly. There’s no way I’d go through a cab swap when that’s an option. I’d just get the cab from the guy and swap the vin tags before I’d take the cab off lol they’re just riveted to the dash anyway
Sue the DMV. If we can fly to the moon the DMV can sure as hell correct their mistake. Especially if there is no evidence of the truck ever being in a wreck.
Hey, I also live in Florida. Pensacola, actually. Florida has what’s called a salvage title, and I think in Florida it covers also “junked” cars. Basically, if your vehicle is too far damaged to be repaired OR driven then it will get a salvage title if you decide to keep the car. Let’s say your back doors get smashed to fucking kingdom come but you want to keep the car, and the car is otherwise perfectly driveable, insurance will pay you out a “salvage buy-back” settlement (settlement amount less the amount to junk the car, $300-$500 for most states) and now the vehicle has what I guess you can call a “junk” title. So, yes, Florida has a similar title process as Alabama but I don’t think it’s as strict and I think there’s a lot more leeway so long as the car still has fully functional headlights, blinkers, backup lights and brake lights (all the essential shit necessary for safe driving). But the folks at the Florida DMVs are assholes too, so in that regard Florida and Bama are running neck and neck.
@@Hunterrnorris I know in Florida if you make the mistake of dropping the insurance on a car and wait like 2 or 3 days to turn the tag in, you could still get a suspension letter from the dmv saying you have a car with an active registration and no insurance so your license is being suspended blah blah fucking blah. Fucking Florida for ya🙄🙄
Just FYI, technically cab swapping with a new title is illegal. You’re supposed to swap cabs and turn the cab swapped title in with the current title for a whole new title to make it legal. Be careful what you post because they really do go after people and the punishment for something so basic is very extreme.
I flip vehicles and over time I've had to buy a 2nd smashed or parts vehicle and swap vin, door tag , ecm, body stamp vin its not illegal and happens in the auto industry a lot
Buy a cheap roller 2500 on marketplace or better yet just a cab with a title. Swap the cab over onto your chassis, emissions, and register it. One weekend and you’ll have the problem solved other than potentially mid matched paint of course.
The dude is telling the truth 100%, the carfax you said backs that up, he was driving it and registering it and the junk was added after he registered the truck. How would he know ya know? So let that go. He offering the best he can, you gotta remember he got screwed by this too so it isn’t like it was intentional sometimes unfortunate shit just happens. That said. Take it and get it inspected, why ruin a perfectly good truck? When you can could have 2. Or take the money and find a better cab and title.
here in Mo. you fix it where its supposed to look, take it to the highway patrol they inspect it and you can get a title, the inspection form costs like 30 bucks.
Similar in SC. You set up an appointment for inspection, they go over the vehicle with a fine-tooth comb for safety and identity items, and if it passes you pay a fee and get a title. If you don't pass you have 15 days to correct whatever failed, they reinspect only that part, then you're good.
DO NOT DO A CAB SWAP. If you do and register the VIN number to the cab the frame engine transmission will be the original truck so you will technically be driving around an unregistered uninsured truck if you get in an accident the insurance that you put on a cab which is a different VIN number then the frame will not cover you. They might find out they might not but if it's a fatal accident for another party they might look harder.
I would take it to Alabama and get it inspected. Maybe the seller knows a mechanic that can “help” you with the inspection if you explain to them that the junk title was due to a clerical error at the state DMV. Since you have already put the repairs into the truck, at least you’d be able to use it.
Should be able to get a garage or your insurance company an inspection as safe to drive (road Worthy) and put a restored or rebuilt title on it. The way they do with restoration vehicles.
I drove without tabs/current registration from 2018-2024(about 6 months ago). In my county you have to do smog inspection every 2 yrs. When I bought the truck it had just passed inspection. The next yr I got a letter telling me it was time for inspection again. I went to the DMV and they told me it didn’t matter, I had to do it again. I said fine I’ll do it but I wasn’t happy and had it done. The next yr the same thing. Again I went down and they said too bad, you have to do it again. I argued forever that this would be the third yr in a row. They gave me some story that because I was late getting the inspection done the 2nd time(first yr I owned it) it messed up the schedule of when it was to be done but couldn’t explain why they couldn’t fix it. I was p1ssed but did it again. The next year SAME THING! I’m went down & told them I wouldn’t be doing it a 4th year in a row. They said too bad. I went home and called the woman in charge of the DMV in Washington State and she said “that’s crazy, you shouldn’t have to do that. Go back and tell them I said ur good to go. 😂 I said no I don’t want to waste the trip because I know they won’t accept that. She said she would call them and call me back. She called back and said “I guess you have to do it again” she said I shouldn’t have to but their system says I have to so I have to. 😡 So I told them I would never do emissions on another vehicle again. And haven’t. I drove the truck for 6 more years with expired tabs. 🤷🏻♂️
DMVs often make mistakes. I bought a one owner 65 T-bird with less than 50,000 miles, verified by title. Upon my transfer of ownership DMV agent tells me they can only mark mileage over mechanical limits, which just knocked a bunch of value off my T-bird. Later found out agent was wrong. Son transfered a title in his name on his motorcycle after moving to another state. DMV lost all paperwork, but told him he would have to get duplicate from originating state, even though he had receipts showing he completed transfer. Previous state would only issue a replacement if he applied in person. Huge hassle and expense for problem DMV created.
The problem you run into with inspection is that you have to take it back to the dmv that screwed things up in the first place. And, apparenty they never actually assigned the junk status to the vin until you tried to register it. Otherwise, the guy you bought it from wouldn't havd been able to renew the mistakenly registered vehicle.
Maybe the same office, but it's usually a senior-level competent person who does these inspections, or a Highway Patrol officer who doesn't do any other kind of work for the DMV.
Hey do what the BMV said. Take it up there and get it inspected . It's the best way to go and get a previous salvage title. You can then get the title and register it for road use. It's not that hard To pass inspection. Plus get some money back from the seller. Honestly he knew something was wrong with the title. That's why it took a month for him to call you back. Funny he can offer to give you a cab and doors to swap parts on to. Like a chop shop lol.
I'm going to piss a few people off but here goes if they screw you around going back to Florida and trying to do it that way just tag swap it. Down here it's not that uncommon to buy a cab and there's no papers with the cab when you get it and you use your tag on the cab and your papers they've been doing that here in Nova Scotia with trucks since the 1950s. DMV don't particularly like it but it's what's been done going back years if you look up the salvage yards down here when you buy a cab you don't get paperwork with the cab any more than you get paperwork with a tailgate or a box you buy the cab from a salvage yard and you use your papers and tag on it and that's been going on that way since the 1950s. I wouldn't go as far as changing the cab just take the goddamn Vin and the papers from the green one and put them on the red one as in the little plate off the dash usually they're held on with a couple of rivets. Would require probably taking the windshield out. If you're familiar with rayco here in Nova Scotia they specifically do trucks and when you buy a cab from Raco there's no VIN number anymore on the dash and there's no windshield in the cab you take your VIN from your old cab and you put it on the new one. Been doing it that way since Christ was a cowboy. Nobody ever registers a truck down here when they change the cab they just use the tag and papers from one cab on the next cab. Like I said I know people are going to call that scummy but if you're keeping the truck especially that's what people do.
Rather than take the cab off the truck you have parked alongside your truck. You just bought get the cab from that other dude and that way you have a truck that’s a running vehicle along with the one you just bought. I take the cab off of one and put it on the other and you got a vehicle you can drive, six In a row Jim from Kennerdell PA
You can get a clean title. Fix everything that is required normally and take it to the DMV and they will do the inspection and give you a brand new title.
I have a dozen DMV horror stories caused by the negligent morons working at the DMV. I literally had to junk a couple of cars because of their mistakes. You need to be very careful about switching cabs to "get a clean title" with the VIN on the switched cab. I put a 1970 Dodge Slant 6 engine in a 1955 Dodge truck and passed inspection in Missouri with the "clean title" I had. However, when I moved to Texas I could not get registration and license plates because the 1970 engine did not "match" the 1955 truck?????????
Before posting this video, I thought I just had bad luck with this one. But seeing as how a couple other guys have mentioned they have had similar experiences, makes me wonder how bad DMVs actually are
Careful with "cab-swaps", you might find yourself with more problems, like you already have a an issue and you want to create even more issues by your own doing. You really need to understand all of the possible issues you are facing by swapping cabs.
Vin should be on motor, and frame, and may even be on body panels,,,(and its illegal to try and do a cab swap like this) unless you go to dmv and explain.. (in my state anyway) I would get it inspected..most legit option
I would drive it back up there and see if you could get it fixed. The thing is, if I had a clean title and it was their mistake on their end. They should make it right and it should stay a clean title. You shouldn't have to get punished for somebody else's mistakes And if all else fails, get the other cab off the guy and just take the stuff out of the inside let's say and swap it over. I wouldn't change the whole cab, especially if it's in good shape.
If it were me, i would go with the cab the guy is offering. You would make more money selling that other truck than making it into basically a farm truck. Just make sure to title the other cab first before doing any work.
The only reason I was considering it was because I had less money into both of those trucks than what it would cost, to buy another Cummins. But I decided to sell the truck instead
My mother in law inherited a 1949 Willys Jeep. She gave it to me to restore. I restored it and DMV said I couldn’t register it because they couldn’t find the VIN. I went back to them 10 times to see if they would reconsider. I finally got a bond for the vehicle and they gave me a bonded tile. I think I just wore them down.
If you have the paper title on that, buy a reproduction vin plate and stamp the number on it. Then, screw it to the firewall under the air cleaner where it goes. Make sure to use Phillips sheet metal screws as that's what the tag uses.
I paid to have a cab swap done to my 02. I've been waiting 4 years and it's not done and barely started. I wish you well with your truck but would like to have mine done.
Me and a buddy did a cab swap on a 2nd gen in 2 days. That was with removing the cab, bed, fenders, hood off the old truck and installing on the new truck and wiring everything up. Not sure why yours would take 4 years?
@@Hunterrnorris The guy developed kidney problems. I got 2 other 1/2 ton parts trucks to make sure it was going to be good. He would have had a whole truck plus an extra engine and frame. Gas engines if course. I have a 1-ton dually extended cab but I really want a short bed.
Find a SMALL town licensing place. I used to take my stuff to the city place and tried changing over my old chevy i bought and they wanted to charge me as if it was a 25000 restored vehicle. I went and drove 2 hrs to a small town licensing place and 100 bucks transfer. Call ahead of time have them look up the number do not talk about your prev experience. Even had the person tell me on my other rig where i bought tabs. In 2 years you can get a plate where you do not have to pay tabs ever again and on another rig for 30 bucks i bought a farm exempt. I drive everywhere with that thing. Stuckers on the back as you are in the fire dept also helps not to be screwed with.
I would try to get it inspected and a new title (still branded) first and if that didn't pan out then I would look at options to swap cabs and vins over. Good luck tho, man that sucks!
DMV Would rather screw you around then admit one of there knuckle heads made a mistake and correct the title. You should contact a lawyer, one legal letter can prompt them too have a change in attitude.
You technically could, but it’s not the right way to do it, because then the vin on the dash wouldn’t match any of the other vins on the truck which could get you into trouble
Your first mistake was going to the DMV. The Motor Vehicle Code were created for the purposes of Commerce. Unless you are using the public roadways to make a profit, you do NOT need a driver's license or registration. Forced registration of private property is a violation of both the 4th and 5th Amendment. When a Code that was created for Commercial purposes is wrongfully applied outside of the context for which it was created, that's called a Deprivation of Rights under color of law. The people have a right to private travel.
Getting a title in your name should have been the first thing you do. I got into a similar situation a few years ago. Put a lot of money into a truck before titling. Turned out it had an inspection notice on it. With a 35-year-old truck, that can be a death sentence. Found a good shop that was relatively easy on the inspection, and it turned out ok.
You’re right, it should of been the first thing, but by the time the DMV appointment came around, I had already been working on it, wasn’t expecting to have any issues
Dude, dont know what state your in but im every state i know you just do a recovered title, safety inspections and fees. Its a salvaged title but if your going to drive it who cares.
That’s bs and scary! So you have to scarp a perfectly running highly sought after truck due to a glitch? Makes zero sense. Go to a different DMV or not when she is working. Crazy
I would first have the inspection done, I'm sure they will do a thorough safety inspection and check to make sure no safety or emissions mads have been made, , and I would also explain to the inspectors why your even having to go through this to begin with, just inform them your not resurrecting a vehicle from a salvage yard and they may take it into consideration on the inspection, i would cab swap as a last resort. Im not sure about small trucks but big trucks have the vin numbers stamped in the frame rails as well as the cab tag.
There are VIN's in at least 5 places by Federal law. The locations vary by vehicle but one must be on the frame and one on the dash under the windshield. One is usually on the firewall but not always. They have a book to tell them where to look on that vehicle. If any VIN doesn't match you need separate proof of proper ownership of the changed part.(s).
We used to take our motorcycles or cars to the California highway patrol for inspection,, they would run it on their hot sheet,, red flags on the car,, CHP would award you paperwork to get a clean new title
I was caught up in the exact same situation with a 06 FX4 F150. It was what I thought was a perfect truck till I got to the tag office here in Ga. Long story short the lady told me the exact same thing, it was an error on their part and I payed the consequences. I sold it and made money off it cause I got it so cheap. It was heartbreaking but I got a newer truck so it wasn’t too bad.
Something similar hapend to me in tx title had different name as bill of sale.had to go to a street were they sell lots of salvage recked cars stoped at a dealer and asked he to put it in my name and register it, sure enough they did it for 250.
@@Hunterrnorris I understand that. Man had I found this video a week earlier I would have inquired about it. I would have put that Cummins into a F350 I got
Hold on there cowboy you cant just swap the cab and go on that vin, cause the vin is stamped on the frame and is also in the computers info, so you will still have the same issue or it could even be classified a stolen if you attempt to use the cab with one vin on a frame with another vin. Best bet get your money back or go with a salvage title or talk to DPS where you live.
Register it as a custom built truck and tell them everything is custom my father did this on a chopper he built and that's how he got it legal don't know if the same applies here but just my opinion and take on it and that's what I would do and see if that helps there is a process for it but know what the process is just look it up I'm sure you can find all you need to know
@@sarahnicholebrown9192 thank you for the advice, never thought of taking that route. I actually sold the truck last week, just decided to use that cash and buy something else with a clean title
I wouldn’t swap the half ton cab onto the other frame if you plan on towing anything you’ll be stuck to the towing limit of the half ton legally speaking but if your not planning on towing anything the go for it
Yeah you’ll be fine there you’ll just be confined to the gvwr of what ever you register. But think of all the spare body and wiring parts you’ll have lol. But you’ll be able to sell off whatever you don’t need and get some money from that too
@@zX_Ragz_Xz874 I have a couple of guys that want the gas motor and trans out of the green one, so you’re right, I would make a little on the back end to help fund the swap
