Problems with the Michigan Secretary of State

Background: Back in early September I bought a 94 Z28 for extremely cheap off ebay. The car had been in a very minor accident with a gaurdrail, and just needed a fender and hood. The guy I bought it from had bought it at an auction in Massachusetts.

In the past few months Ive been doing all the body work and prepping the car for paint, and yesterday i went to register it so I could drive it to the shop thats painting it.

The SOS office told me there was some sort of hold on the title, and that I wouldnt be able to register the car. They told me that since the car had a salvage title, the previous owner would need to apply for a salvage title, send it to me, then I would have to have the car inspected by a Wayne County police dept who would then issue a certificate of a reconstructed salvage. Then I would take that to the SOS and would be able to register the car.

Whats got me confused is that the previous owner didnt have to jump through any of those hoops-he just took the MA title and transferred it to his name in MI. He had current plates and insurance on the car, and the title that I recieved from the sale doesnt in any way indicate that the car was salvage.:confused:

My question is-Does this sound like standard procedure, or is someone at the SOS office on crack?

Also, do I need to mail the actual title back tot he previous owner for him to ber able to apply for the salvage title? Would a photocopy suffice? Or would he not even need the actual title, just the VIN and the Title #?

I know the best solution here would be to call the SOS but dealing with those people is more trouble than its worth most times:rolleyes:

Thanks to anyone who can help here:)

he shouldn't need the title if you haven't registered it in your name yet. All he will need is his plate number from twhen the car was last registered.

As an aside, I think I would talk to him about the car beign a "salvage" title if you were not previously informed it was such. Typically you can expect a reduction up to 50% of the car's book value just for that word salvage on the title. The car can be perfect otherwise, but that word kills it

Thanks for info about the title:)

And I hear ya about the salvage titles killing the car's resale value. But thats what makes this so strange. The title they issued him doesnt say salvage on it anywhere. Where should I be looking in case its there but I missed it?

I even ran a carfax on the car a few days ago, and it mentioned the accident, but it never indicated that car was declared a total loss or anything about a salvage title issued.

Sounds to me like it isn't a salvage then...

What made the SOS aware that it was salvage? Did u tell them (god I hope not :( )?

Also try going to another branch and just walk in like u know nothing about it being salvage. I think u were just getting hassled because someone of authority had the upper hand on you and they needed to push their weight around.

is your Title Green or Orange?
Go to SOS that does that Title Transfer while you wait, (Extra $15) and just Tell them you Want To Transfer The title and it should be done :)

My title is green. I didnt tell the SOS anything about the car being salvage, they told me that once they started entering info intot he computer to start processing the transfer.

Im seriously beginning to wonder if they were actually just hassling me since Im young and they think I wouldnt know any better and they wanted to throw their weight around a bit.