I think the chances are good.
...remember ...they exist to serve US ...
we employ them ..
they cam make you jump through hoops or pay money ..
but they can not keep you from titling your own vehicle properly.

and always go to the Auto Club DMV service ..not the regular CA offices .

the most they can ever do is make you pay fees or jump through a few hoops.
humor them.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Walter Houle" <whoule@ECSCONTROLS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 2:52 PM
Subject: Clear Title? Was Buying advice

> All this talk about clear titles got me thinking. My registration slips
> over the years have always listed the banks name, even though I paid it
> off in 1991. So, I go to my files, and sure enough I have the pink slip
> and lien release from the bank all nice and notarized and stamped and
> everything. I never sent it back to the DMV! I'm not too good at buying
> and selling cars I guess - we keep them for years.
>
> So, my question is, what are the chances the CA DMV will accept my 19 year
> old paperwork? The bank still exists too, btw.
>
> Walter
> 85 Vanagon in San Diego
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:02:47 -0700, Jim Arnott <jrasite@EONI.COM> wrote:
>
>>Craig, before I spent even another dollar on this Vanagon, I'd get a
>>title for it.  I bought one in a similar condition and it took three
>>years to get a clear title. And it was not stolen. It belonged to a
>>bank that no longer existed. Times two. The bank that owned it was
>>acquired then THAT bank was acquired. Tough to get a release of
>>interest when the bank can't find the title or the loan papers. (And
>>the location of the original bank was a hole in the ground where the
>>new civic center was being built.... In another state.)
>>
>>Good luck Craig.  Glad you have the metal.  Worst case, you can get a
>>titled 2wd van and move the Syncro stuff over.
>>
>>Jim