SO CAL TITLE TRANSFER HELP

Ok, I am in so cal and have my eye on a 60's van,problem is if I buy it there is no paperwork on it. This was not a advertised sale , I walked up to the house that had it and asked about it. The guy who has it said he got it giving to him by a old guy friend who has now passed away and never got a bill of sale or any paperwork on it. It is not drivable right now and looks like it hasn't been driven in awhile. I don't know when it was registered last. Any thoughts on getting this thing transfered to me if I buy it. I know if it has been longer than 5 years it is off the computer then all I need is a bill of sale from the guy who has it. but if it's not off the computer and it is still in the dead guys name then what. Anyone been through this before. Thanks for any help.

Go to the DMV and ask them what to do.

It is hard to get into there anymore and you can't talk to them on the phone. I have heard the right way is with a death cert. and then a bill of sale from the in between guy but I am trying not to get into a giant can of worms I can't get out of. Thats why I am asking if anyone here has gone through this and how they got it done. Kinda like smog certs, there is more ways to do it than just one, if you know what I mean.

Unless it's a fantastic deal or something super rare, it's best to walk away.
The time is 7-10 years, and the dead guy may not have even had it in his name. It will be a big can of worms. Other states have bonded titles, which would make it easier, but not CA.
You could forge paperwork, but that is a BAD idea.

http://dmv.ca.gov/vr/topbuysell.htm

http://dmv.ca.gov/vr/vr_info.htm#BM2522

There are private registration Co.s that can handle some paperwork, but with the mess you are considering, talk to them BEFORE buying.

Hey Bumpbug,

I've done it. The actual owner was deceased, and the guy "selling" the
truck was willing to write up a Bill of Sale. I got as far as being ready to
take my chance and go to the DMV, but had to go the the Highway Patrol
with the vehicle on a flatbed to verify the numbers. After that I got my
AAA office to push the paperwork for me. I got lucky and the title was "clear"
(not "cleared" they don't like that wording for some reason.)

You really got to grill the "seller" and try to determine if he is legit, and willing
to stand behind a Bill of Sale with his signature on it. And, as suggested do
some detective work on the VIN. There is a phone number on the CA DMV
website (I actually got through to a human being, who was very helpful) to
give me some direction, but he couldn't "run" the VIN number.

There was another one, a '63 Econoline Pickup, but the Seller was not willing
to make a proper Bill of Sale- which scared me away, then I came across my
'61 Pickup I got now, so all's well that ends well...

George

Thanks everyone for the help, George , so the guy that gave you the bill of sale it was not in his name at the time of sale it was still in the dead guys name? Did he have a bill of sale from who he got it from or it was only a bill of sale from him to you and was it still on the computer for the DMV?