tractors and titles

[jpat34721]

I bought a used MF 1260 from a seller in Oregon (I live in CA). He inherited the tractor from an uncle and doesn't have a title. He inquired at the dealership where he thinks it was purchased new but their records don't go back that far (I verified this - they had a fire before they computerized their records). The guy at the dealership I talked to said its pretty common for tractors to be untitled if they haven't been registered for street use. Hmm.

This is my first tractor so what do I know? The seller is definitely legit. I had him checked out, he's a contractor with a long history in the county and no complaints. Anyone else run into this? What happens if I want to resell it?

Thanks for the help.

Jeff

 

[Tnbilly]

Tractors aren't titled here in Tennessee........

 

[Gary Fowler]

Tractors arent titled in most states. A few are starting to title them to help prevent theft or at least make it more difficult to sell them. You should be ok with just a bill of sale especially on an old tractor that even if the state now has titles, they likely didnt use them when that tractor was sold.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Tractors in Oregon do not have a title, they did issue a title for the RTV though.

David Kb7uns

 

[Piston]

I've never heard of tractors around here having titles either, I would think that chances are good that even if a stolen tractor was sold to you, or someone, that you would never know it. I wish there was a better system for this as I worry about mine getting stolen, but I take precautions against it.

 

[bp fick]

A title might sound good, at first, but really, it has also been yet another form of taxation. Lots of valuable things do not have titles and sadly, they get stolen. I'm not sure I'd want to pay a title fee on all those things. Just saying.

My dad used to say that locks only keep out the honest people.

 

[ken4831]

I agree with BP Once the Gov. gets a line on new method to tax they just have to increse the fee for doing so.
In Ark used vehicles are taxed the same as new.
Titles can be forged as easy as a bill of sale.
If you are concerned the tractor will be stolen stamp your name into the frame where hard to see unless looking.
or using welder mark the frame with identifying marks.on the FWL or lift link draw bar.
Has some one ever tried to get the sherrif to come and try to locate a stolen tractor? Was it sucessful?
ken4831

 

[TripleR]

A title might sound good, at first, but really, it has also been yet another form of taxation. Lots of valuable things do not have titles and sadly, they get stolen. I'm not sure I'd want to pay a title fee on all those things. Just saying.

My dad used to say that locks only keep out the honest people.

I agree completely. In my state, tractors are taxed as personal property, but there is no way to track them. I recently spoke to some farmers and according to tax records very few farmers in my county actually own tractors. Apparently fields are worked at night by elves.

 

[ken4831]

I agree completely. In my state, tractors are taxed as personal property, but there is no way to track them. I recently spoke to some farmers and according to tax records very few farmers in my county actually own tractors. Apparently fields are worked at night by elves.

Tell the assessor no more than what you want to pay for with annual increases in value.
My 20 year old pull trailer is valued as much as the newer tailer.
Mt 2005 Dodge truck went up in value the last assessment.
The Gov. of county or state never lowers the cost of resenting you.
ken 4831

 

[k0ua]

Yep no title here in Mo. but you get to pay for your tractor the rest of your life in the assesment each year. I look at it as a little punishment for being honest.

James K0UA

 

[fredhargis]

If you have ever looked at some of the tractor scams that show up on CL, many of them will say "I have clear title to this tractor". There may be a state or two that insists on titles for tractors, but from what I gather here almost all of them do not.

 

[TripleR]

Tell the assessor no more than what you want to pay for with annual increases in value.
My 20 year old pull trailer is valued as much as the newer trailer.
Mt 2005 Dodge truck went up in value the last assessment.
The Gov. of county or state never lowers the cost of resenting you.
ken 4831

Pretty much, I don't really own anything, I just get to rent it from the government state or local.

 

[Milton Burro]

Yep no title here in Mo. but you get to pay for your tractor the rest of your life in the assesment each year. I look at it as a little punishment for being honest.

James K0UA

I've heard mention of Missouri doing away with the personal property tax. I doubt it will ever happen.
I bought mine used, all I got was a bill of sale at my request.

 

[jpat34721]

Thanks everyone for the great info - really puts my mind at ease. And I'm with all y'all - the less I have to deal with the gubment the happier I am. The more I have to deal with them the poorer I am.
Jeff
Cloverdale, CA

 

[HiTechTed]

My dealer said that quite a few new tractors get stolen around here every year, either from dealerships or from people's homes. In Indiana they aren't titled or taxed that I know of (mine hasn't been taxed anyway), so I guess the only way to track them is via the serial number. I think newer heavy equipment comes with some kind of satellite tracking device so it can be more easily recovered if stolen. I'll bet that there's something aftermarket that a guy could install to do this, but I haven't looked into it. They can put sensors under the skin of your pets to track them if they run away, surely there's something you could put on a tractor somewhere!

TripleR...time to set up a game camera. I want to see those elves for myself!

 

[TripleR]

My dealer said that quite a few new tractors get stolen around here every year, either from dealerships or from people's homes. In Indiana they aren't titled or taxed that I know of (mine hasn't been taxed anyway), so I guess the only way to track them is via the serial number. I think newer heavy equipment comes with some kind of satellite tracking device so it can be more easily recovered if stolen. I'll bet that there's something aftermarket that a guy could install to do this, but I haven't looked into it. They can put sensors under the skin of your pets to track them if they run away, surely there's something you could put on a tractor somewhere!

TripleR...time to set up a game camera. I want to see those elves for myself!

I've tried, must be like vampires; no reflection.:laughing:

 

[rookiefred]

Here they want to know how many dogs, dirt bikes, four wheelers, tractors, cars and on and on to tax you. Call your homeowners insurance and at least register your VIN or model and serial number with them whether they insure it or not under your homeowners policy. Obviously, also keep your bill of
sale(s) easily available for the sheriff.

 

[Johndeere3720]

Yes, tractors out here do not have titles. When I got my tractor, I didn't do a search on the seller, he was a fair honest gentleman whom just had too many tractors (IMO you can never have enough tractors) and had to sell a few. He also had an old Ford 8n for sale. He gave me the whole run down for operation, knew the little tractor like the back of his hand. He had maintained it very well and it had been serviced within a few months. Yeah, you need to be careful when purchasing things off craigslist, ebay, etc. but for the situation I had it was all good.

 

[Don87]

No titles for tractors here in Pa. or in Wv.

 

[Rocksprings]

None in Texas either.