RE: title
California DMV folks are happiest when you bury them in an avalanche of forms. Gotta have front and rear plates and they have to be current. The only way I know of using my bumper numbers is if I got a set of personalized plates with that number/letter combination on them. I was told; 'you can run military markings but have to have the civilian plates displayed'. However, the interpretation of 'displayed' seems to differ from clerk to clerk and LEO to LEO. For the in-the-field final say, I usually go with the guy who carries his ticket book in a fast-draw holster.
Personally, I'm not bothered by a scrap title. I know it can hurt the value of something newer like a Lexus or Mercedes; but most of my rigs are keepers and if I drive 'em 'til the wheels fall off, I don't care.
If I'm selling one, the buyer usually has personal knowledge of that particular truck and is most interested in how it runs and has been maintained, and what additional "goodies" go with the deal.
I'm most insistant that a truck I'm buying comes with a bill of sale and a way to get ahold of the seller afterwards. No "meet me in the Wal-Mart parking lot, and only bring cash" deals please.