Sometimes I find, when dealing with the Illinois Secretary of State's office (issue titles and plates in Illinois), that ignorance is the way to go. If you just play dumb (easy for me), then that allows the beaurocrats to feel sorry and they just do what you wanted in the first place. Since you do not deal directly with the decision makers, only the counter staff, once they submit your application half the battle is won. In the event that something does not pan out in the main office, they will always send you documentation on what further documents you need to satisfy them, albeit stupid, then you "sort of give them" what they want, and they are happy. Sometimes frustrating and it may take a few rounds of funny papers, but eventually they come around. I find that once you either have a Title (from any State, or V5 even) , just an official looking document, then the Illinois title is issued pretty quickly, within a month. If you only have a Bill of Sale, or Custom Entry Form, Illinois now have a criteria that the new owner must either have a bond (surety or cash) of twice the stated value of the vehicle, and the title is issued and the bond is returned in two years if no previous owner is found and/or complains. Would this happen - I don't think so, for how would a previous owner know that the State had issued another title? Just paperpushing covering their derriers. Once you have the Illinois Title, I have never had a problem obtaining plates for it. Sometimes the Titles have peculiar descriptions on the Make of car. I have an Austin A30 which came with title from Missourie, and the name was badly printed, even though on the application I put down clearly Austin, the new title reads make of car, "TIN" model "A". It did take me over two months recently to obtain a Title for my Mini Comtess, with only a scrawled note in French, with my own translation copied onto it, and the Customs Entry document. Their problem was the Vin (chassi s) number was only something like F26, and after verification by my friend, the local police, the title was issued. I have never had a problem obtaining Illinois plates, either regular or "antique" once you have the Title. Remember, in America, the Title is proof of ownership, and the plates are bought and issued separately. The plates are not part of the history of the car, only the right to drive it much as your Tax Disc. The other requirement for plates, is that you must list the insurance carrier on the application. Confusing......simple, just go with the flow and don't make waves. Remember that Illinois will not give a title for a grey market imported car without the Customs Entry doc, the HS7 (EPA) and the 3520 (safety)forms but these requirements are waived on the form, if the car is older than 21 years and 25 years respectivley. However, an authentic looking document from US Customs, may not put up "red flags" on needing these forms if it is a Bill of Sale issued by the US Customs or Treasury or whoever sold the car to you. If in doubt, bluff, or plead stupidity - ignorance is not a defense! Last year, on importing several cars, The Secretary of State was a royal pain for they insisted on having copies of the HS7 and 3520 forms, which Customs keep, and I finally received a letter from the Customs stating that if the Entry Summary is issued by their department, then all the other forms such as the HS7 and 3520, are in order and the State does not need them. It also stated that the Customs department does not issue letters of compliance, that if it is alowed entry, then all requirements are met. I recieved my titles with a week after faxing them that letter. I talked to the gal in the head office and she said that the person who used to issue titles for privately imported cars had retired, and so this new person was going by the book, and this new person did not understand the complexities of US Customs and the inference of Entry. I will be hoping that this will not happen again this month when I have some more coming in. Sorry for the rambles...Ian.
