Home / Guides / No Title? Illinois and Indiana Are Different
No Title? Illinois and Indiana Are Different
A missing title is the most common reason a dead car sits for years. It is a real complication, it is frequently workable, and the answer depends on which side of the state line the car is parked.
First, identify which problem you have
'I lost it', 'it is in my late father's name', 'the seller never gave me one' and 'this car is not mine' are four different situations with four different answers. Be specific and you will get a straight answer faster.
Illinois
If you are the registered owner, the Illinois Secretary of State issues duplicate titles, and that is usually the cleanest path. Check current forms, fees and processing times with them directly, since those change.
Indiana
Indiana handles titling through the BMV and the requirements are not identical to Illinois. If your car is in Gary, Hammond, East Chicago or anywhere else across the line, say so on the first call — it is the first thing that determines what we need.
What helps when there is no title
Photo ID matching the registration, the old registration card, the plate, a bill of sale — anything connecting you to the vehicle. The VIN from the dash or door jamb is needed either way.
Vehicles in someone else's name
If the registered owner has died, moved or cannot be found, requirements get more specific. Do not guess, and do not let a buyer wave it away.
Be wary of 'paperwork does not matter'
A buyer happy to take any vehicle with no questions is not doing you a favour. Documentation protects you as much as them — you do not want a car still legally attached to your name after it leaves.
Afterwards
Take the plates before it goes on the truck, then cancel or transfer the registration with the relevant state.
Want a figure on your car?
We are at 3916 S Lake Park Ave and the phone is answered 24 hours: (224) 591-5855. Free tow across Chicago, the south suburbs and northwest Indiana.
Get a cash figure
A few details and a phone number. We come back with a figure.
Tell us what you have
One call, one figure, one truck. We are on Lake Park at 39th and we run around the clock.