Lively thread. I hear a lot of good points and history, but personally I don't see what the SF-97 really does to help your home state generate a title. The "Paid" invoice printed off your account has all the needed info my state requires but lacks good proof of authenticity. Why couldn't the GL people sign and notarize a fresh copy of the paid invoice to prove you are the owner? You could pay the notary directly right then if you planned on putting a title on it. The notary could double check the VIN to the invoice too since the load out guys I had at Barstow couldn't even get the 4 digit lot number right. I felt like I was missing something driving away with nothing but a ratty, printed invoice with no signatures or official looking receipts. If I got caught speeding up the hill and pulled over I would have had a big story to tell how I got this truck.
Simple answer about SF-97 vs Paid Invoice...
FACT: ALL US Government Data Plates state:
PROPERTY OF U.S. GOVERNMENT
- GL NEVER owned these vehicles. The Federal Government DOES own them before AND through the auction process!
- GL is ONLY the contractor the handles the LIQUIDATION (conversion to cash) of GOVERNMENT PROPERTY (NOT "GL property" - ever!).
- ONLY the Federal Government can release the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT's PROPERTY to the ownership of ANY other entity.
- The Federal Government uses the STANDARD FORM - 97 (SF-97) as their OFFICIAL RELEASE OF OWNERSHIP and authorizes the property to be transferred to PRIVATE OWNERSHIP.
Pretty simply really.
The old saying "YOU CAN'T FIGHT CITY HALL" applies quite well here. Their game - THEIR RULES ! ! !
. Read about it in this thread:
