My brother-in-law had a stroke, but is able to function, is increasingly improving, and has moved to a homeless shelter. He can communicate somewhat through texting, notes, and very limited orally.
He has a 20-year-old vehicle that my other brother-in-law has been having to move around his neighborhood to prevent it from being towed away. It has not been insured since September, and not licensed since November. The title may or may not be in a storage locker 800 miles away. We do not want to give the keys back to the brother who has had the stroke unless he is medically cleared to drive. This vehicle is his only material asset. He bought it new. He doesn't want to sell it. We feel that if we move it to the shelter parking lot, it would be unbearable for the brother not to be able to drive it, and it would be a constant source of frustration to everyone, the shelter included.
We are at a loss as to what to do with this vehicle. But this craziness has to stop.
Please advise, you had a lot of good information the last time I wrote in.
Thank you, so much.
It may be getting a stat dec from brother that he is ill, homeless, unable to drive it for the foreseeable future, doesn’t have the title documents but wants to transfer it to you. It's his responsibility, whether or not he really wants to sell. Or if he wants you to hang on to it, and you have the power, you could rent it out for a few weeks. Perhaps you could put an ad on Craigs List looking for someone to have it parked on their block a way out of town.
You can’t be the first person with the problem, there has to be a way, like there was for me. It’s just a pain in the neck. My DH says next time we get ownerless stray sheep, he will shoot them all and put them down the gully. Unfortunately you can’t do that with a car! Good luck, Margaret
DMV can give a replacement for lost pink slip. There are ways. This can't be the first lost pink slip ever. DMV deals with this all the time. Go visit a DMV and ask.
Cars are expensive, especially now. Even a 20 y.o. cars can be worth thousands. Sell it if you/BIL can't keep it.
Placing the car in a Storage Unit might be an option, but that will cost monthly. Some storage places have outdoor spots that might not cost as much. There are other places that will allow parking for extended periods of time but all these options will cost, some more some less.
Have you talked to your brothers doctor? What is the possibility that he will medically be cleared to drive again? And will adaptations need to be made to the car? If so is it possible on a 20+ year old car? If there is little chance he will be cleared to drive I think the best option is to get rid of the car.
Drop the car off at the same homeless shelter he got dropped off in. I'm sure living in a homeless shelter after having a stroke is far more heartbreaking to him than the possibility of not driving his car.
The state's Department of Motor Vehicle can do a title search and get a new title issued if the original one is lost. It's not a free service though.
That's why I suggested that if you can afford, offer him money "for the car." The car may well be an incidental priority to getting him home to his services. The car itself symbolizes the burden, the truth, that he'll always be looking to you as a tether as he has no one else in the country. You've set boundaries, but there will always be something and he'll always want more.
That's why I'm saying perhaps the payment is worth it...for both of you
I would NOT sell his vehicle or encourage him to, not since he is making progress. Vehicles are waaaaaaaaaay over priced right now and he will need transportation soon at the rate he is improving and will not be able to replace it.
Can the family get it licensed and insured for him? Would this stop it from being towed? A 20 year old vehicle with state minimum liability insurance wouldn't be to expensive. Maybe do it for 6 months to give him time to recover. This would allow it to be legally parked at the shelter.
I guess I consider a vehicle a safe place for a homeless man to lay his head down, so I am hesitant to take that kind of security away. Especially with someone that has a history like your BIL.
Best of luck getting this sorted out.
ps: I worked with a lady that had a stroke, a pretty bad one, she was restricted from driving for 6 months, by law, then released to drive. So, it is entirely possible that he can't drive right now, even if he wanted, suspended license.
A 20 yo vehicle that probably hasn't been maintained in any sense of the word won't bring much. Is BIL hanging on to this for 'memory' reasons? If he is as poor as you say, he won't be capable of fixing this and a harder time getting a license to drive it.
Actually, it's really not your responsibility at all.
My suggestion would be to either store yourself somewhere within the family OR tell BIL he will have a month to find shelter for it or you will park in the lot there. This will, of course, result in being hauled. Given storage fees by city the vehicle is then good as gone. Only you can decide for yourselves.
Your BIL cannot afford this car. I would get a duplicate title and sell it.
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