Bus Title Help!

[Eric]

AHHH!!! we've owned ours for nearly a year and this shows up! We purchased our bus on ebay from a person in Colorado, we fulltime and everything we own is through South Dakota...Well we sent our title in had it changed to an RV and such however now the prior owner skipped title on me and never paid tax! Now South Dakota says either get him to pay it or I have to pay book value tax....so what would book value on a 1984 Neoplan AN440 w/ 534k be? If i don't they revoke my tags ..wich expire in 2 weeks and they won't renew till it's resolved.

[Lin]

There might not be a book value.  Perhaps you could get an appraisal for $500. or so if that is not to high.  Can you do that Montana LLC thing and register it there?

[BG6]

I don't really understand what the problem is, but it seems that A), you are titled and registered as an RV, B), the title is in your name, and C), the PO owes the state some money.

If this is all correct, then there are two separate conditions -- first, that the transaction and transfer from PO to you is complete, and the other issue is between the state and the PO.  Tell them that you are not in contact with the PO, and that you don't understand why they are bothering you about it.

If the title is NOT in your name, you may need an attorney.

[Eric]

There might not be a book value.  Perhaps you could get an appraisal for $500. or so if that is not to high.  Can you do that Montana LLC thing and register it there?

State is holding everything I can't transfer the title and I can't renew tags...

I don't really understand what the problem is, but it seems that A), you are titled and registered as an RV, B), the title is in your name, and C), the PO owes the state some money.

If this is all correct, then there are two separate conditions -- first, that the transaction and transfer from PO to you is complete, and the other issue is between the state and the PO.  Tell them that you are not in contact with the PO, and that you don't understand why they are bothering you about it.

If the title is NOT in your name, you may need an attorney.

Everything stated here is true however since the po jumped title to the state of colorado, south dakota says the entire deal was invalid... so I either track him down or they make me pay tax on book value ...

Thanks for the ideas though!

[loosenut]

Do you know the book value, what they base it on and the next step to find wiggle room?

I had the problem several years ago, not with Colorado or S Dakota, but the process was cheaper than tracking down a so-an-so in another state.  Of course it was before governments budget issues.

Mike

[Busted Knuckle]

Book value on a wore out transit bus that is no longer manufactured or even has customer support in the US is going to be pretty low. Around $1000 or less would be my guess.

And since it was a wore out shell when you bought it , that would be all they can charge you for. Not the time, labor and expense that you have spent converting it to the RV it is now. (which is still not worth much in your eyes unless you can straighten out the title )
(Don't let them know that it's everything you ever dreamed of and and nicer than their bosses house!)

But if they insist that you pay "book value" have them show you in a "book" what a wore out 26 yr old out of service, striped out shell from a manufacturer that has since closed up it's US operations and moved back to Germany is worth!
If they insist on book value, make them show what it's worth!
 BK  

[HighTechRedneck]

BK beat me to posting that.  But that is what I would suggest, ask them for the "book" value.  If you have a photo of it from when you got it, bring it along for the discussion to prove its condition at that time.  Also cite the miles that were on it.  Sounds to me like they are thinking in automotive terms, so if it had typical bus miles on it, that may help drive down their "book" value.  You may end up with an amount smaller than what you actually paid on it.  In any case I think it will be cheaper than trying to track down the other fellow and then trying to make him do the right thing.  And it will definitely be faster.  The latter is a factor based on you soon to expire tags.

[BG6]

Print out the page on that bus currently at a $100 bid, and take that in as the proof of value.

Make sure that you point out that the comparison is with a bus which is years newer than yours, and that yours was in similar condition when you got it.

If they try to sandbag you, SANDBAG BACK! 

[Eric]

I love you guys LOL~!

[4104GA]

Have you contracted Ebay about this?  May be some help there. ??

[fe2_o3]

  Show them this. Yours is older and not finished...Worth less?...Cable

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Used-1996-MCI-MC12-Coach-Bus-4-RV-Motor-Home-Conversion-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem414f51eba9QQitemZ280503643049QQptZBuses

[Chopper Scott]

Having fun with titles can really suck. I had some issues with a boat title that I had purchased on Ebay from Nevada. After several months of trying to get it resolved I talked to my lawyer. I should have done that from the beginning!  It may cost you $50 but it might save you a lot more.

[bottomacher]

Why don't you ask them what they expect to charge for tax? You might get a pleasant surprise.

[gumpy]

Contact the sheriff in the county where the previous owner lives. Have them make contact and inform him that he needs to pay the the tax to complete the transaction or you
will press charges for fraud. That should take care of it.