Lien sale vehicles

[Boatwrench]

Anyone know the procedures to register a lien sale vehicle and clear (as much as possible) the title? My future son in law runs a tow company and this abandoned XJ was towed and stored at his lot. The registered owner was notified, it was posted noticed of lien auction in the paper and no one showed up to bid. The auction sale must be for the cost of tow and storage and auction administration. At this point he normally sends vehicles to pick-n-pull for $150 to recoup some of his costs. He wanted to know if I wanted it. Although a trail rig is tempting, I don't want to inherit a paper work headache/nightmare.

Anyone done this before? What pitfalls lay ahead?

Don't know the mileage, but it's a blue 88 4dr and he said it has a straight body but raggedy paint. The teaser (prior to paying) with the carfax states there are 19 entries for this VIN.

Thanks,
Tom

 

[5-90]

As it is understood (i.e., my wife - our resident legal mind - isn't 100% sure - but it makes sense,) when the lien sale is made, the new owner gets a clear title to the vehcle, and the funds generated from the sale go to satisfy the lien.

If funds are generated in excess of what is needed to satisfy the lien, the excess (she thinks) go back to the previous owner after the lien is satisfied.

If funds generated by the sale are not sufficient to satisfy the lien, you will still get a clear title, but the prior owner is still responsible to satisfy the remainder of the lien - and the lienholder may set a lien against another asset, in some cases.

Is this a mechanic's lien, or a bank lien? They are handled different, but you might have to check to see how it's handled on the other end to make sure you're covered...

YMMV

5-90

 

[Boatwrench]

Thanks. it would be the equivalent of a mechanics lien, sale for services rendered. The CA DMV website fell short of being helpful.
Tom

 

[5-90]

Figures - CA/DMV sure isn't worth the money they extort from us. Honestly, I'm still trying to figure out exactly what we're getting for the money they pay in, and why they insist upon sending me to "test only" every time - meaning that the damn smog check ends up costing twice as much as the plates (which themselves cost twice what they should...)

I find DMV to be as useful as the vermiform appendix - especially in an inflamed condition.

5-90

 

[Eagle]

I did it, many years ago in Connecticut. Not a big deal. My brother and I paid the tow company, they gave us the vehicle. I don't recall for certain, but I believe they had already obtained the title. I do remember that I had spotted the vehicle, looking very abandoned, before they towed it. When it disappeared, I tracked it to the towing company and then had to wait the prescribed period (don't recall if it was 30 days or 60 days) before they could get a clear title from the DMV and sell it to us.

Each state is different, of course, but it wasn't any problem in our case.