1992 Festiva L CA title issues

[letdtst99]

Hello Everyone

I just got a Blue 92 Festiva L two weeks ago for $450.00, I know this site will really help me in a lot of ways, I was able to replace the valve cover gasket coz it was throwing up oil and smoke, now that the gasket is fixed the smoke was minimal and no more leaking oil, and also I have lien release form problems with this car,, so heres the story,

Iam the third owner of this car last tag is Sept 2009,, 1st owner is a Police officer from Suisun city, 2nd owner is Carl from oakland, the 2nd onner told me that he just lost the pink slip, so I went to DMV and verified that the last registered owner of this Vehicle was still the cop from suisin city, and was never registered to Carl the 2nd owner, now for this festiva to be under my name, DMV just want a lien satisfaction from Ford, now the only person that can do that is the Cop from suisin city. We cannot contact the first owner, and the Guy that I bought this from is not also answering phone calls, I already Paid $125 woth of fees to DMV, they just need the Lien satisfaction from Ford and this car will be under my name, we also contacted Ford and found out that theres no lien and they totally have no interest on this vehicle anymore.
now Ford will only release the Lien satisfaction from if requested by the original owner.. and thats my problem,, any body know how can I get this issue fixed?? any other advice will be truly appreciated.

[batstiva]

First off, Welcome Aboard!! You will find a lot of useful information here (as well as a lot of useless information too.)

I'm a little unclear as to why you would need a lien release from Ford. The car is 18 years old. Don't know for sure what to tell you, as your laws are probably a lot different than here in WV. Here the last person to legally own the car would have to produce a duplicate title to sign over to you. The other option would be a notarized bill of sale, by which the DMV can generate a title in your name. No idea what the deal would be in CA. Anybody more local to him have any suggestions?

Kind of worries me just a bit that the guy who sold you the car now seems to be hiding. Makes me wonder just how "legally" he owned the car. Hope it all works out for you. You will love your Festiva.

[letdtst99]

Thanks a lot for the reply,, I know for sure that the car is free of any lien or financial setbacks, Ford is willing to release the lien satisfaction to the request of the original owner, the last tags on the car was Sept 2009, what I have is a bill of sale from the 2nd owner and not the original owner which is legally the registered owner on the DMV. I hope everything works well coz Iam now a weekend junkyard goer for usable parts.
again thanks a lot.

[worfdog]

Can you take it to Nevada,get a title for it, then take the Nevada title for the car to California highway dept and re-register it? Nevada may be easier.

[letdtst99]

Thanks for that idea worfdog, I will take that into consideration and ask a few folks bout getting this festiva to nevada.

Tnx!

[perucho]

Lien satisfaction from Ford! That's a good joke. Do they know it's an 18 year old Festiva? I'm pretty sure Ford wouldn't give anyone an 18-year loan DMV employees are something else. But how did you buy a car that had expired plates without a bill of sale? And why did you pay the registration fees if you were not going to be able to register the car??
I would go to the house of the guy who sold you the car and try to get your money back. I think it would be difficult to register the car otherwise.
On second thought, do you know someone at a towing company? They can tow a car, report it, and then "sell" it to you with clean papers. You could do it that way. Worth the trouble? Not really. I would go get my money back.

[JohnGunn]

One of the most important services of the AAA of Southern California is their DMV assistance. Join at the lowest level and go in to one of their offices and talk to someone there. They are a lot easier to deal with and there are no long lines.

Also, it might help you to have a Carfax for your car. Get one for less than $10 at http://cheapvincheck.com/.

In addition, if you need a permit to keep driving your car while waiting for this to be sorted out, they can provide that in minutes.

John Gunn
Coronado, CA

[letdtst99]

I already have a permit which expires on May 28, 2010, the only thing that DMV needs is a lien satisfaction which is practically stupid for an old car, and Ford has no interest on this car , they can fax the certificate of no interest only to last regisrtered owner. hope the trouble stops there.. thanks a lot for the reply.

[letdtst99]

Thanks a lot for taking time out to reply, I will update everyone on the outcome of this ordeal..

[letdtst99]

92 Festiva CA title issues RESOLVED!!!

:pHello festiva lovers, I now officially own a Ford Festiva, after all the trouble with the title, I was able to convince Ford credit to mail the certificate of no Interest at no cost (use to be a $17.00 fee) I just told the lady that I walk everyday to work and really need a car badly, the lady at the opposite end of the phone crumbled, she bought my drama and I got the document in the mail a day later. the car is now under my name, I also paid fees for a new set of plates coz the front one was missing, im gonna get it tomorrow, this car is not perfect at this stage but I will do my best to keep him running as reliable as ever and of course with everyones help round this forum,,:p
sooo Happpy!!!

[Safety Guy]

Good deal!

Karl

[TominMO]

Great news!!! Glad it all worked out. A good lesson here in not buying a car with title problems, no matter how nice. When I go look at a car, I always check the title first against the VIN on the car, and that the person phydically holding the title in his/her hand is the actual owner. Then I look at the car.

[muscle_Car1]

Great! So welcome to the site & may the sickness continue.

[perucho]

Nice! Good deal. Congrats! I think after all this trouble you will enjoy your car even more.

[fastivaB6TG25MR]

nice