Title Transfer - no 130u form (2024)

12:47p, 2/17/15

AG

I bought a jeep to use as a hunting toy a few years back with cash. At the time, I got the title and a signed 130U form, but never transferred the title because I was just going to use it exlusively as a hunting/rec/ranch vehicle. I've changed my mind and now want to restore it to make it street legal (I've got too much time on my hands and need a project). The problem is that I have no idea where the 130u form went, but I have the title. To make it even better, the jeep had been a hunting vehicle for a few POs, so I don't even know if the POs ever transferred the title.

Is there a way to transfer the title to me without the 130u form? Or would it be better to just try and get a new title for the damn thing.

FTR, it's over 25 years old, no liens, etc, and I'm trying to get this done in Texas. Anybody have any experience with a situation like this?

TL;DR-never transferred car title to me, is there a way to do it with just a title? (no 130U form)

1:22p, 2/17/15

AG

Call the previous owner?

Call your local Tax Assessor-Collector, sounds like a bonded title might be in your future.

1:37p, 2/17/15

AG

1:40p, 2/17/15

AG

1:45p, 2/17/15

AG

In reply to wunderbrad01• 2:28p, 2/17/15

AG

quote:Forge the signature on a new 130-U

That's what I've always done. Bought several cars and bikes with no signed 130u.

2:50p, 2/17/15

AG

Legal / illegal and moral / immoral are completely different things. It's only morally wrong to do it if you're trying to steal or conceal something. Sure, it's not exactly legal.

To answer your original question, the only way to do it legally is to get the previous owner's actual signature on a new 130-u or to get a bonded title, I understand it's a pita, I've never had to do it so I can't say for certain.

The TAC will have a current address for the previous owner and can give you that info, or they have for me at least. Texags can find that info based off of vin as well more than likely along with his phone number, facebook page, and detailed photos of his 3 most recent rectal exams. In my experience, the previous owner for some reason always seems to be a complete A-hole and will do anything he can to be unaccomodating.

Of my 2 experiences in this situation, one owner dodged me every chance he got to not sign a lost title form, even when I offered lunch at the establishment of his choice at any time of his choosing. This went on for 2 months. I resold that one without a title. Truck number 2, previous owner felt he was owed "at least a few hundred dollars" to help me out. I sold that truck without a title. I am a very nice dude, and was never rude to these guys at all. So beware.

3:18p, 2/17/15

AG

10:01a, 3/5/15

AG

10:44a, 3/5/15

AG

11:05a, 3/5/15

AG

11:19a, 3/5/15

AG

I'm not a lawyer, but here's what I found:

quote:3.3 Delinquent Transfer PenaltyTransportation Code Section 501.146
(a) If the application for the transfer of title is not filed during the period provided
by Section 501.145, the late fee is to be paid to the county assessor-collector
when the application is filed. If the seller holds a general distinguishing number
issued under Chapter 503 of this code or Chapter 2301, Occupations Code, the
seller is liable for the late fee in the amount of $10. If the seller does not hold a
general distinguishing number, subject to Subsection (b) the applicant's late fee
is $25.

(b) If the application is filed after the 60th day after the date the purchaser was
assigned ownership of the documents under Section 501.0721, the late fee imposed
under Subsection (a) accrues an additional penalty in the amount of $25 for each
subsequent 30-day period, or portion of a 30-day period, in which the application
is not filed.

(c) Subsections (a) and (b) do not apply if the motor vehicle is eligible to be issued:

(1) classic vehicle license plates under Section 504.501; or

(2) antique vehicle license plates under Section 504.501

(d) A late fee imposed under this section may not exceed $250.

Source: Title Manual from the TXDMV.GOC website

quote:SUBCHAPTER F. SPECIALTY LICENSE PLATES WITH RESTRICTED DISTRIBUTION AND REGULAR LICENSE PLATE FEES

Sec. 504.501. CLASSIC MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAVEL TRAILERS; CUSTOM VEHICLES; STREET RODS. (a) The department shall issue specialty license plates for a motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old or is a custom vehicle or street rod. The license plates must include the word or words "Classic," "Custom Vehicle," or "Street Rod," or a similar designation, as appropriate.

(b) A person eligible for the license plates may instead use license plates that were issued by this state in the same year as the model year of the vehicle and are approved by the department. The department may require the attachment of a registration insignia to the license plate in a manner that does not affect the display of information originally on the license plate.

(c) There is no fee for issuance or approval of license plates under this section.

(d) Notwithstanding Chapter 547, a custom vehicle or street rod eligible to receive license plates under this section is not required to be equipped with a specific piece of equipment unless the specific piece of equipment was required by statute as a condition of sale during the year listed as the model year on the certificate of title.
(e) On initial registration of a custom vehicle or street rod, the owner must provide proof, acceptable to the department, that the custom vehicle or street rod passed a safety inspection that has been approved by the department. The department shall create a safety inspection process for inspecting custom vehicles and street rods.

(f) In this section:

(1) "Custom vehicle" means a vehicle:
(A) that is:

(i) at least 25 years old and of a model year after 1948; or

(ii) manufactured to resemble a vehicle that is at least 25 years old and of a model year after 1948; and

(B) that:

(i) has been altered from the manufacturer's original design; or

(ii) has a body constructed from materials not original to the vehicle.
(2) "Street rod" means a vehicle:

(A) that was manufactured:

(i) before 1949; or

(ii) after 1948 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1949; and

(B) that:

(i) has been altered from the manufacturer's original design; or

(ii) has a body constructed from materials not original to the vehicle.

Source

Since it's older than 25 years old, then it should be exempt from the title transfer penalty, right?

11:24a, 3/5/15

AG

In reply to Sea Gull• 11:26a, 3/5/15

AG

11:41a, 3/5/15

AG