Illinois Lawyers

[till]

OK believe it or not, I have spent some time reading "625 ILCS 5/...." vehicle code. Man am I feeling fuzzy now. The jist of what I have found it that the darn thing is written in circles. What I have found is that the "Certificate of Purchase" I have can only be turned into a "Salvage Certificate" per the Illinois vehicle code. But trailers are somewhat exempt (this is where the circles get very hard to follow). A title can not be issued 'til a "Safety Inspection Certificate" has been given on the vehicle in question, but the code stated that the "Safety Inspection" does not apply to trailers. Also I will need a "Salvage Inspection" done. I plan on calling down to the state office to find out if I need to apply for a Rebuilders License (A whopping $75) and see if I can just run this thing through. Another thing is that the title (if I go through with all this) will then be a "Rebuilt" title and I am wondering if this will effect the "resale" value or how the trailer is looked at in the future. Not that I plan on doing a shotty job, but the next person in line does not know me from Joe Shmoe. So at this point I'm looking for a little input on if it is really worth pursuing this line of Airstreaming. I understand that this is a personal choice and I am pursuing a different trailer at this point that is of similar vintage so that the items I have accumulated thus far are worth something to me in case this turns out to be a total nightmare and I do give up on the Ambassador.

[Tinsel Loaf]

Copyright your rebuild if you do it. It should be worth more, one of a kind.

[overlander64]

Greetings Ted!

Don't be too quick to give up on your project because of the title issue. I agree, however, that it would be well-advisded to proceed with caution until this hurdle has been negotiated. Rather than jumping into the telephone "roulette" at the caplitol, have you tried a visit to your nearest Driver's License station? I have had good luck getting most title issues settled through my local office - - I suspect that if you have a choice of one in a more "rural" area they may be more familiar with trailer titling/licensing issues.

Quite honestly, I don't know how much impact a "rebuilder's" title would have on the future value of a restored Airstream. I know that it could tend to raise questions about why the rebuild took place (accident?, flood? storm damage? fire?, ect.) - - but with a restored Vintage coach it's hard to tell what might happen in the marketplace with a "branded" title.

Good luck with resolving the title issue!

Kevin

[Cedars]

This is one of those few, very rare, times I would ask: Have you thought about first registering in some other nearby state, then bringing it back to Illinois?

Elizabeth in Iowa

[norbert]

ted,
this is indeed very screwey, i agree with kevin, an eye to eye contact is better then the phone...i think you may be reading too much into the legaleze mumbo jumbo. just try for a title, after all it can be towed, then you are not rebuilding, you are just "fixing it up"
norby

[eljay]

Isn't Iowa one of those states that doesn't do the "salvage" title thing?

Originally Posted by Cedars

This is one of those few, very rare, times I would ask: Have you thought about first registering in some other nearby state, then bringing it back to Illinois?

Elizabeth in Iowa

[john hd]

hey tedd

your trailer was titled at some point, you should be able to find out who owned it last.

then you can place a lien on it for "storage". wait the required period, then apply for a title.

auto repair places do it all the time to secure ownership of vehicles that are never picked up after repairs are made. they charge 15 to 25 bucks a day until the "storage" fees are more than the vehicle is "worth".

if you feel uneasy about doing it this way, buddy up with someone who does it on a regular basis. small auto repair place, storage yard, whatever.

john

[till]

John,

I like your idea!!! I think I'll start off with a title search and talk to my old buddy with the auto shop down the street.

Major kudos

[till]

Well for kicks I used the Secretary of state web page to find out about what forms I would need and where to get them. This is what I got back today;

Thank you for directing your questions to the Office of the Secretary of State via the Internet.


The form you requested has been mailed out to you.


It has been a pleasure serving you today.