Lost Title
 

Hey all,

What started out as a motorcycle trip by motorbike to Chile has ended up as a van trip to Panama, and now I'm in Costa Rica a year later with a slight hiccup. I've had the van broken into and (among other things) the title stolen as it sat in my journal.

The van is registered in my name in California under a friends address, and I'm an Australian citizen.

I've applied with the DMV for a lost / replacement title and been given the response (after a $170 bill for express couriers each way) "You must come to the DMV in person to complete this application"

So I find myself quite trapped. I was hoping to end the trip in panama as is and selling the vehicle but that's an impossibility without the title so now it seems my remaining option is trucking / shipping the van back to the States, flying up, sorting out the title and selling it in California.

Does anyone have any suggestions about either shipping / trucking by land (if it's possible without the title) to USA, or any ideas about replacing the title?


Thanks all

Steve

Have you asked if the friend in CA could do it on your behalf with a power of attorney from you (although I guess that might be hard to arrange unless they would accept a poder drawn up where you are but it would be in spanish. Easy to believe that they wouldn't be too inclined to make things easy for you. If the registration has elapsed or they haven't had a declaration of non-operation it would make them less cooperative too

Can't see a reputable shipper getting involved with shipping a vehicle with no proof of ownership although if you had the registration papers from CA DMV that might suffice. There is also a security certificate that has to be lodged in the US by the shipping agent and there might be problems there too.