Titling/registering pre-1980 vehicle in MA

[themangeraaad]

So my other thread I have going explains why I am now curious about this information... but long story short I am looking at buying a 1950s-1960s Willys Wagon. The current owner has no title, but apparently has owned it for 20+ years. I kicked around the DMV site and found the following:

"Passenger vehicles with a model year of 1980 and older, purchased before November 26, 1990 are exempt from titling"
Source: http://www.mass.gov/rmv/titles/index.htm

So my question is: If I do buy this vehicle, how would I go about getting it titled/registered? If the previous owner bought it 20+ years ago, that would have been before the 1990 cut off so he wouldn't have needed a title to begin with if I understand the law correctly. Since the Waggy has been sitting for years I HIGHLY doubt there is any previous registration or anything available either.

So if that is the case would I be able to title it in my name with only a bill of sale (since I would be the first one titling it after the "title required" sale date)? Or would I have to register it as a custom vehicle? Anyone have experience with this that they could let me know how this process goes?

Thanks
-Scott

[Darky]

You should be able to title it using a bill of sale. Somewhat different scenario, but I just titled a 1985 Nissan without having the original title, using a bill of sale. Just have the seller write up a bill of sale saying essentially, "I Insert Name Here, do hereby sell insert vehicle here, VIN:, to insert name here for the price of x" Make sure it's dated and signed by both. That should be all the info you need to title it in your name.

[T3hk1w1]

Pretty sure it varies by state...
we had to go through a title company to get one for my C101, and it's a '67

[themangeraaad]

Yeah, it varies by state. Typically in MA there are two ways to get a title when you buy a vehicle. you either need:

A) The title from the previous owner
B) A bill of sale AND a copy of a previous registration (Dont think it has to be the most recent registration issued.. just as long as it was issued to the person that the registry has on record for that vehicle)

[THEPATRIOT]

MA can be a ball buster to say the least.Use ITS(international title service).It cost about $125- and takes just a few weeks,WELL worth it.I've used them many times to reg. a car in MA.Good luck

[themangeraaad]

Yeah, I know all about MA and their ball busting ways. Lost out on quite a few great vehicles over the years of shopping around due to lack of title.

Is 'ITS' something that the current owner will have to use to obtain a title before selling the vehicle?