I may be buying an 87 Trans Am for $300 for parts. The car is VERY rough and doesn't run. It is in Ohio. The owner has the title, but do I need to get the titled transferred if the car is going to be stripped then off to a junkyard? Would I need to get insurance on it? I've never bought a car strictly for parts so I'm hoping someone can help.

Thanks.

 

I have bought a car for parts before, there is abosoultley no need to put insurace on a car if it doesnt drive or if you will not be driving it. About the title transfer thing well, i think it depends on the junkyard the one i called up to get my parts car taken away didnt even ask to look at the title they just came and took the car away. I dont see a reason to change the title over unless you plan on keeping it for a while.

 

when you take it to the junkyard you will need a title for it. in oregon this title DOES NOT need to be in your name, signed off by the prior owner is fine. i have taken a few parts cars to the junkyard. infact, in one case of somone elses car who will remain nameless, you can have a title for a totaly different car.

you can take a car to the junkyard without a title (in oregon anyway) only if it is a "non-car". i helped somone do this once too, we had to sawzall the chassis in half, so that the car could never be made into a car again. then they will take it without a tittle as it is essentialy scrap metal.

you do NOT need insurance on it so long as it never moves, but if it rolls out of your sideyard and hits the neighbors fence you are not going to have any coverage for that. so just be aware.

glad i could help

EDIT* ninja'd by 1985WS6transam.

 

I will be buying this car from a private owner in Ohio, towing it back to PA, stripping it, then sending what's left to a junkyard. So I get that I dont need insurance....do I need to have the title transferred to me, or can the owner "sign off" on it? Basically, I'm wondering if I need to go to a notary with him.

Thanks.

 

just have him sign off on the title & write out something that says he sold it to you.

 

Before you get carried away, call around and see if the yards in your area will even haul it off for you. Around here they don't want anything that's been parted or is more than a few years old. It's easier and more profitable to sell the hull to a recycler. They pay by the pound and require that the gas tank, radiator, A/C, and all fluids are removed. They also typically don't like to take tires but they are flexible when the prices are up. A salvage yard will likely require a title to ensure the vehical was legally obtained, scrap recyclers here require titles for vehicals 1990-up, but require that you sign a sheet providing your contact info in case the VIN comes up stolen.

As far as insurance, if you're going to be pulling parts in your driveway and there's a chance it could roll into the street and hit or be hit by a passing car, it might not be a bad idea to have it covered for liability. How about if a nosey neighbor kid knocks it off the jack and it flattens him/her?

From past experience a partially stripped Camaro/Firebird can only sit outside in plain view for about 2 weeks before a neighbor complains and the city issues a deadline for removal.

$300 for a parts car that doesn't run seems excessive. As a recyclable car body it's worth maybe $80-100 at full street weight. If the engine and tranny are gone or body parts are gone you'll drop down to $50 in a hurry. With current gas prices it can cost more to transport it then what it'll repay you.

 

yeah 300 is way tooo much man, really
sounds like a 50 or 75 dollar car to me unless something on it is a high dollar item


each state varies in Re of title/salvage/junking certificate laws and requirements


you need ot go to the DMV online site for your state and find out

here in IL you have ot have the title and you can give it to the shredder yard when you haul the vehicle in

you can also turn the title in for salvage certificate to part it out yourself for 5 bucks

junking certificate is free and non reversible

salvage certificate can be reversed but only after inspection and then the subsequent titles will be forever stamped REBUILT in red letters


each state is different though

no one can answer your questions like these 1005 accurately unless they know your state's laws on titles


good luck