Bought camper in NC w/ indemnity bond and no title

[melissansc]

I bought a '68 ACE(yes I have a Shasta too:) in NC last year from a lady that had just bought it from a guy that had no title but gave her an indemnity bond. I have been restoring it since last year and I'm in SC. What do I do to get tags and title. She said she took it out once, and camping was not for her. She gave me the indemnity bond paperwork from the original owner. That paperwork says he sold it to them. I have since lost all contact info from the lady. I need to tag and title it here in SC. I've read nightmares about SC DMV. Should I just send off for a NC title first? She seemed to think I would send in this paperwork to NC to get that title first. Help? I've almost completed restoration and now I'm getting worried. What to do? Any advice apprteciated.

[thehorsepeople4]

In California, I use the services of AAA. They handled the transfer of ownership from Utah to CA without any hassles and they are so much nicer to deal with then the DMV folks. If you are not a member, it might make sense to join for a year just to use that service. For a reasonable price, they even have trailer coverage. I swore off ever using DMV for anything other then driver's license renewals after being spoiled by the AAA folks. This service is part of the annual fee and it is worth every dime.

Here is the AAA office in Charlotte, SC. Give them a call and see if they do trailers. They will tell you exactly what you need to bring (along with the trailer so they can verify the VIN number on the frame). You will be pleasantly surprised at the service and smiles. Good Luck!

AAA Carolinas
6600 Aaa Drive, Charlotte, NC 28212
[phone] ‎ carolinas.aaa.com

[melissansc]

thank you, I'll have to check out AAA.

[vikx]

If AAA doesn't have all the answers, try for the NC title first. Not sure if you can do that without a NC address? Please let us know how things turn out.

[melissansc]

Vikx, I called the man who sold the indemnity bond to my previous owner...funny it also staed he "sold " the camper to them...I'm guessing they lost contact with original, he might have passed away or something. Monday insurance agent will give me contact info. for po(like a complete idiot i lost her #). I'm going to call her and explain that I'm still redoing her, and that's why I waited to take care of this. Of course the po firmly believed there was no water damage,LOL! Then I'm going to BEG her to send in the idemnity bond(it's still in her husband's name) that she never filed and let me pay everything, get me the NC title, and then I'll get SC title, or.......ask her to use her NC Address and get my own idemnity bond and gon through the process as if I lived there, or....I guess my worst option would be to use one of these title companies that charge 500 bucks to get you a Maine title..then get the SC. The saddest part is, not only do I have the correct VIN, etc., I have almost all of the original paperwork for camper and it's stove, light, etc. but not a title:( Sc says title or origin of manufacture to get theirs and sadly ACE camper co is def. non existent now. Ughhhhhhh! Which option should I try? I'm losing sleep over worrying about my camper...I love her:)

[thehorsepeople4]

Start Monday morning with a call to AAA and see if they do trailer registrations. If they do...Join AAA...(you enjoy a year of peace of mind should you break down on the road or need gas, lockout, etc) Go to the AAA office with your paper work and start from square one. You will be amazed at how helpful and resourceful they are.

The easiest way to eat an elephant is to do so one bite at a time. Good luck and soon you'll have this resolved.

[vikx]

1. I agree, call AAA first. But also do your homework. Take clear photos of the vin showing location on the tongue. Do a pencil tracing of it too.

2. Call the PO and beg; never hurts to try.

3. Research the SC DMV. Can't be any worse than California. Find out what the rules are in advance. What are the requirements?

I doubt you'll have to go the 500 dollar route. If the above options don't work, we'll think of something....

[Bob]

Use Shasta tag for both.

[melissansc]

Should I join AAA first, then ask questions, or vice versa. Do I just tell them what's going on and ask if they can help? Yes, I am a complete idiot,lol....the Shasta is in a million parts and it'sd situation is not much better. SC told me that I could also use a MCO, which I assumed since Coachmen made Sasta not long ago I could do that. I have defenitely learned my lesson about buying without title,but I'm not giving up on the ACE, I love her.aybe I'll have to tepm move to NC,lol DEf. not! Any more ideas. I need to make friends with someone in NC ASAP, so I can get an address if PO isn't helpful:(

[melissansc]

Good news!!!!!! Just got off the phone with the po and she said to send in the bond in her husbands name to DMV, and hopefully they'll mail title to her...then she'll mail it to me. Keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have to have an inspection, cause her skin is still off,lol Then if all works well I can take that title to SC's horendous DMV to get a SC title......yay! I guess I should join AAA in case of complications:)

[thehorsepeople4]

Wow. Sure....you can call AAA and see if they will talk with you without joining. Mine...I have to give my members number over the phone. AAA is certainly an easier group to deal with then DMV and it won't hurt to make the call. Good luck.

[melissansc]

Thanks for everyone's help, and sorry to keep the thread lingering:) Update: (hopefully I'll only post once more when I get a ttle:) Some bad news......called NC DMV, acting like I was po's wife. I asked where to send indemnity bond and money. Guess what? I have to do it in person(which means po), show NC ID, pay, and oh...the best part....show proof of inspection by NC DMV inspector:( uggghhhhhhh. This means I have to rush the restore(which will be very difficult, I'm a full time nursing student), get her skin on, paint her, throw her new tires, and rims on, fix one break, and haul butt all the way to Charlotte NC(3 1/2 hrs. from me) before the nice po changes her mind about helping me complete all this. Wow, is right! God help me, please. Thanks to all you fellow camping enthusiasts:)...I'm defenitely checking out AAA, asap! and for anyone wondering there is no WAY to get your SC stuff w/out a title from po. I even tried to tell the SC DMV lady I thought I had a Manufacture's certificate of Origin, and she wasn't budging(thought I might get creative and go that route...nope)

[flashmastr]

I live in N.Carolina and the DMV told me about the same thing. Bond first than call this number for a inspector to come out and inspect the camper to see if it is road worthy Proper vin# and then take it to a trailer or camper place and get 2 statements from the company for how much the camper is worth, and then the DMV will take the highest price for title and tax on the camper. So this is what I have to do because I also have a bill of sale. But thanks for the info about AAA might check that out also because I really don't like the idea of paying a huge bond that the trailer company might put on the price of the camper after it is all fixed up. But road ready now which I taken it out all ready. I had a 1981 Shasta popup and using those tags now on it . Shame Shame lol

[65callie]

Wow, sounds like NC is taking pain-in-the-butt lessons from California DMV. We always walk away from trailers without a title but when the right one comes along, that's very hard to do. Luckily ours had a title from California because we probably would have bought it anyway.

Also some states will charge back registration fees if it hasn't been registered on a continuing basis. California does, Geogia doesn't. Ours came from California to Georgia 4 years ago and never registered in Georgia but we didn't have to pay back fees.

I hope you can find a solution. A real lesson learned for the rest of us.

[vikx]

Yes, it's my main rule: MUST HAVE A TITLE. Even my parts trailers have a title...

So sorry for all this hassle, MelissanSC. Since it's not done yet, keep doing your homework on the title thing and finish the Ace. There is a way but the trailer may have to be a roller before you can get the title.

Thank you so much for posting updates. It will help a lot of people!

[offspringin]

no title on mine but not needed in GA. the mistake i made with this one was gutting the inside before registering it. ( i just couldnt wait). SO... what this meant was had it been stolen etc etc the rightful owner would have been getting a gutted camper back OR i could have been out of money and out of a trailer. Who knows. Turns out the PO actual never registered it, the plate on it was for a car and the sticker was for 2007 flatbed trailer. I was able to do the break of ownership (or something like that) process and had officer come out to call it in. It all worked out in the end but i could have ended up in quite a pickle.

I hope all this works out for you. I feel the pain as far as the hassle with the government is conerned.

That should be a warning to everyone out there, get it registered, get a title, get whatever your state needs BEFORE starting work on it to avoid a headache later. I lucked out but could have been much worse.

My headache came when i built the carport for it

[pinky3303]

finally identified a vintage canned ham camper we purchased in the fall as an ACE. think it is 1964. our NY registration says 1968 sears which is wrong no such thing. camper has no tags or SN# on it. does any one have any info on ACE brand? or pics.