It’s All About the Title
About this episode
Navigating the headache of missing or messed-up vehicle titles is a rite of passage for many car enthusiasts. Hosts Kevin Byrd and Willie B sit down with title expert Greg LaPointe of GBI Titles to demystify the process. With over 25 years of experience, LaPointe shares invaluable insider tips on how to handle abandoned project cars, deal with jumped titles, and navigate the differences between bonded and non-bonded titles. He also reveals a crucial money-saving trick involving notarized bills of sale for classic cars over 25 years old, helping listeners unlock the true value of their projects.
Greg LaPointe
"We have Greg LaPointe on who's a buddy of mine, you know, I most people know listen I do a radio show. It's my regular nine to five. I've always been passionate and love cars"
An expert who helps people get legal ownership papers (titles) for their cars, especially when the original paperwork is lost or messed up.
Greg LaPointe is a title resolution expert and the founder of GBI Titles. He specializes in helping vehicle owners, collectors, and automotive businesses navigate complex title issues, bonded titles, and DMV bureaucracy.
GBI Titles
"So let's take a break when we come back regular point GBI titles is his company I know I know Kevin's got questions because I know he's got cars"
A company that helps car owners get legal titles for vehicles that have missing or incorrect paperwork.
GBI Titles is a specialized agency that assists automotive collectors, repair shops, and enthusiasts with vehicle title recovery, bonded titles, and navigating state DMV processes.
Ford Mustang
"one of those early mustangs you have or maybe still have it was a title issue car Or maybe you traded that one for another one. I know when I first started doing the show you had a title issue Mustang, right?"
A very famous American sports car made by Ford that started the 'pony car' trend in the 1960s. It is known for being sporty, relatively affordable, and very popular to restore.
The Ford Mustang is an iconic American pony car introduced in 1964, famous for creating the affordable sports coupe segment with its long hood, short deck styling, and highly customizable options. Early models are highly sought after by collectors and often undergo extensive restorations.
bonded title
"These are all bonded title applications that I do... I do something that is referred to as bonded title applications"
A special car title you can get if you lost the original paperwork. To get it, you have to buy a special insurance bond that protects the state in case someone else shows up later claiming they actually own the car.
A bonded title is a type of vehicle title issued when the proof of ownership is missing or defective. It requires the applicant to purchase a surety bond (usually worth 1.5 to 2 times the vehicle's value) to protect the state and any potential rightful owners from financial loss if a legitimate claim to the vehicle arises.
notarized bill of sale
"be sure to get a notarized bill of sale 25 years and older notarized bill of sale you will not have to buy a bond the procedure that you would use is a title application"
A written receipt showing you bought a car, signed in front of an official witness called a notary. This proves the sale was real and helps you get a title.
A notarized bill of sale is a legal document recording the transfer of vehicle ownership from a seller to a buyer, signed in the presence of a licensed notary public to verify the identities of both parties. In some states, this document can bypass the need for a surety bond when titling older classic vehicles.
1970 Dodge Charger
"Which is going to be say $5,000 or $10,000 hypothetically for a a beat-up 70, you know charger Uh, but one is you know got you know an upgraded big block suspension breakup grades a nice painted interior"
A classic, powerful American muscle car made by Dodge, famous for its aggressive look and loud V8 engine. The 1970 version is highly prized by collectors and car enthusiasts.
The Dodge Charger is a legendary American muscle car, with the 1970 model representing the final year of the iconic second generation. It is highly recognizable for its coke-bottle styling, hidden headlights, and powerful V8 engine options like the 440 Six Pack and 426 Hemi.
certified VIN inspection
"one of the steps in these title applications is a certified bin inspection And they run what is called an ncic ccic on that certified bin inspection"
An official check where a police officer or inspector looks at the serial number on your car to make sure it matches the paperwork and isn't a stolen vehicle.
A certified VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) inspection is a physical verification of a vehicle's serial number conducted by law enforcement or authorized inspectors to ensure the VIN plate is authentic, unaltered, and matches the vehicle's paperwork. This process also checks the VIN against national databases to confirm the vehicle is not reported stolen.
assigned VIN
"What you know some one of those three they would go to an assigned bin Title application and so there's a process for that. It's kind of a two step process"
A brand-new serial number given to a car by the government because the original number plate was lost, damaged, or because the car was built from scratch.
An assigned VIN is a new, state-issued Vehicle Identification Number designated to a vehicle when its original VIN plate is missing, destroyed, or when the vehicle is custom-built or heavily modified from multiple parts. The state DMV provides a physical plate that must be permanently attached to the vehicle.
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