So You Bought A Car With No Title Here’s What To Do Next
So you bought a car with no title and now you want to get a title in your name. Maybe you’ve been the victim of title jumping. What do you do?
If you can’t get ahold of the seller, you might think you have no options left.
You aren’t stuck yet. You might be able to get a bonded title.
How Do I Transfer My Car Title Registration When I Move States
Youll need to update your license, car insurance and registration when you move states. Although you dont have to update your car title when you move to a new address, it might make it easier if youll be selling your car in the future.
Complete A Bill Of Sale
If you don’t want to wait for the new title to arrive, you might want to complete a bill of sale. The Bill of Sale is an essential part of the sales process for any vehicle sale, but it is undoubtedly crucial if there is no title for the seller to hand over. Before you pay for the car, write out a Bill of Sale that includes the sale’s details, including the VIN, sale price, and the car’s odometer reading. Be sure to include that the seller will supply the title on the bill of sale and have complete information on yourself and the seller. That consists of all contact information, including full legal names, driver’s licenses, addresses, and phone numbers.
If using a bill of sale, ensure that you pay the seller with a method that can be easily proven later on. Use a check or bank draft to pay for the vehicle, as these are written records of the purchase and can be used later to prove your purchase. Alternatively, you can make a sales agreement that places the vehicle funds in escrow until the terms of the sale are met.
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Design As Of February 2016
Nevadaâs Department of Motor Vehicles has taken steps to make vehicle Titles more secure and less vulnerable to fraud. DMV began issuing a new style of vehicle Title in late February, 2016.
The new Title incorporates a smaller size while containing more vehicle information. Multiple security features have been added to the new Title to better deter vehicle Title fraud.
Lost Or Duplicate Title
If youve lost or misplaced the certificate of title that you got from the seller or former lienholder, you can apply for a new one at your local DMV office or transportation agency. What youll need to get a replacement car title can vary by state, but heres an example.
- Sign it
- Have the application notarized, if required by your state
- If your state doesnt require notarization, youll usually need to include proof of identity like your state drivers license
- Submit your application by mail, in person or online, depending on your states requirements
- Pay the application fee
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Duplicate Title When Theres A Lien On Your Vehicle
If your vehicle was financed, you probably have a lien on it, which stops you from selling the vehicle before its paid off. Your auto loan company can take back the vehicle if payments arent regularly made. If the California car title was lost or stolen in this case, only the lienholder could request and receive the title replacement.
If you paid off the auto loan, eTags will need proof that you satisfied the lien before sending you a duplicate title. You could submit a notarized lien satisfied letter or complete the Lien Satisfied/Legal Owner/Title Holder Release REG 166 form. REG 166 cant be used for an electronic title or for a vehicle thats two model years old or newer.
Obtain A Surety Title Bond
In some states, its possible to get a Surety Bond to obtain your new title. The Surety Bond is a financial security measure and a declaration. Its your guarantee that the car is truly yours and your monetary bond ensures that, if financial penalties result, the bond provider is covered.
Step 1: Check if there is a lien on the car. If there is a lien, dont complete the purchase until it has been cleared by the seller and lifted.
You can check for a lien by contacting the DMV and providing the VIN number. If no lien is present, you can continue. If a lien is registered on the car that the seller wont deal with, walk away.
Step 2: Locate a Surety Bond company in your state. Once you find a bond company, determine their specific requirements for a Lost Title Bond.
Most states are similar, requiring proof of purchase, proof of residency in your state, proof that the car is not junk or salvage, and an accurate valuation.
Step 3: Have a vehicle valuation performed. Based on the bond companys requirements, have a vehicle valuation performed.
This is used to calculate the amount of bond required for your Lost Title Bond. The bond is typically between one and two times the value of the vehicle.
Step 4: Purchase the Lost Title Bond. You dont pay the whole bond amount.
Rather, you pay a portion of the bond amount. It can be as little as a few percent of the bond amount.
Once youve obtained a duplicate or bonded title, you can register the vehicle as your own.
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Other Steps For The Seller When Vehicle Ownership Is Transferred
- Disclose odometer mileage reading on the title or on a Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment form* , unless the vehicle is:
- 10 years old or older.
- Commercial with a GVW or CGW of more than 16,000 pounds.
- New and being transferred prior to its first retail sale by a dealer.
Once the seller gives the buyer all required documentation and DMV receives the completed NRL, the sellers part of the transaction is complete.
*If the vehicle has been sold more than once with the same title, a REG 262 is required from each seller.
What Is The Difference Between A Car Title And A Vehicle Registration In Indiana
The main difference between Indiana car registration materials and a title certificate is that a title is a legal document which establishes proof of vehicle ownership, while car registration certificates show that vehicle owners can legally drive the vehicle on public roads. The motor vehicle registration process includes the issuance of license plates, plate stickers, registration certificates and payment of all applicable registration fees.
To get car registration in IN, vehicle owners may complete the process online if they register their vehicles within 60 days of submitting their vehicles title application. If applying for vehicle registration documents after 60 days of titling a vehicle, motorists must visit a BMV office to register their vehicles in person.
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Out Of State Title Replacement
If your California registration card says Nontranserable/No California Title Issued on it, you have to get the vehicle title from the state it was last titled in. For a CA title replacement under this scenario, you cant use the Application for Duplicate Title or Paperless Title REG 227 form
If you cant get a title from that state for any reason perhaps you cant find the seller, or the local DMV cant locate the title you have to provide documentation that proves that state cant provide the paperwork. You may have to get a vehicle bond, depending on the value of the vehicle, which the CA DMV could help you with.
Key Information To Verify During A Title Transfer
The title also provides valuable information when youre buying a car. When you are in the process of transferring a car title, take the opportunity to verify the following information before money changes hands. The outcome could affect whether or not you want to follow through with the purchase.
- Check the vehicle identification number to ensure the vehicle you receive is the one you were sold. Compare the VIN on the paperwork to the VIN on the vehicle.Tip: In modern vehicles, the VIN is usually located in one of two places: on the frame where the drivers side door opens, or on the drivers side dashboard where the windshield meets the body of the vehicle.
- Verify whether there is a lien on the vehicle. In other words, youre ensuring that the current owner does owe a bank money for the vehicle.Tip:You can check the lien status of a vehicle by entering its VIN number into your local DMV website. You can also call or visit the DMV and provide this information so they can check the lien status for you.
- Along the same lines, after confirming that the seller is the owner of the vehicle, youll also want to verify that there are no additional owners on the title. If there are, youll also need their permission to effectively transfer the title to you.
- Document the vehicles mileage so that you can complete and submit an accurate odometer disclosure.
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How To Get A New Car Title In Pennsylvania
A Pennsylvania car title is a certificate of ownership issued by the state that provides information about the vehicle and its owner and can be used to prove car ownership, when needed. A new car title must be issued or an old one updated any time a vehicles owner changes, whether due to purchasing, gifting or inheriting it.
Residents new to the state must apply for a vehicle title transfer and then apply for new car registration within 20 days of moving into the state. In most cases, title and registration transactions can be performed simultaneously at one location. For more information about the types of car title transactions in Pennsylvania, review the following sections.
Why Is The Title Missing
There are a few reasons why the seller of the car may not have the title. Some of them are legitimate reasons, while others may be downright criminal. In any case, however, it should raise a flag.
The seller could have misplaced the seller, or it could have been damaged or destroyed. That’s a relatively simple fix that they can remedy at the Department of Motor Vehicles or similar vehicle authority in the state where the vehicle is currently registered.
But the title could have been stolen, or the vehicle itself could be stolen. A missing title could also indicate that the car has sustained significant water damage and branded by an insurance company as a flood car in a specific state. Some vehicles have salvage titles, but that encompasses a broad range of conditions and isn’t immediately a warning sign.
Another possibility is that the seller is participating in what is known as title jumping. That involves two or more individuals selling cars without going through the title process, generally to avoid the payment of sales tax. Title jumping affects buyers by making it difficult to reach the seller and obtain a complete vehicle history report. It ultimately makes it almost impossible to transfer the title into the buyer’s name. The practice of title jumping is illegal in every state, but it still happens.
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Can I Transfer My Car Title Online
The exact process for changing ownership on a cars title varies by state, but many states will process online or mailed title applications. You can check with your states DMV website or customer service for that process.
For example, the state of Georgia allows sellers to start the application online and then contact the local county tag office for instructions. New York accepts applications at the DMV or mailed directly to its Title Bureau.
When A Car Is A Gift
When a family member gives someone a car, the family member should provide a gift letter stating the giver’s and recipients names and addresses. The giver should also provide the relationship between the two individuals the year, make, model and VIN of the vehicle and a statement as to whether the vehicle will keep its current plates. Some states, like Rhode Island, require that a gift letter from a non-immediate family member be notarized, and the recipient sign a gift affidavit.
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Making The Actual Title Transfer
Transferring a car title to another owner is a relatively standard process across the country but exact laws vary by state, so be sure to confirm the process with your local DMV. First, request that the seller assign the current title to you with a notarized signature. Youll need to submit this along with a completed title application and an odometer disclosure agreement. You may also be charged a fee. Then, use the following details to help you correctly maneuver the title transfer process.
When buying from a dealership, the dealership will locate the title for you. If you are paying for the car yourself, the dealer will provide you with the title and coordinate the rest of the paperwork, like the odometer disclosure. If you are financing the vehicle, theyll send the title to the lender.
When buying from a private seller, expect a slightly more complex process. If the seller has paid off the vehicle and has full ownership, the steps are simple. You just need the owner to sign the sellers section of the title and give you a bill of sale, then submit the necessary paperwork to the DMV. If youre financing the vehicle, see Buying a car with a lien below.
When you’re the seller
- Provide a copy of the title to confirm lien and ownership status
- Assign the title to the buyer, providing a notarized signature if necessary
- Give your contact information to the buyer, and quickly respond to their inquiries
How To File For A Lost Title
To replace a lost title, check out this resource from Finance and Insurance Tools. It provides the links to state applications for replacement titles plus the cost. According to the F& I, the cost will range from $2 to 95, depending on the state where you live.
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An Owners Due Diligence
The worst thing is, if there is an active title in your state, your state is not going to issue two titles, Andrews said. It never hurts to run a title check before seeking a title, if not before buying a car, he added. After five or seven years, most states purge their records of unregistered cars, so if a car has not been registered or titled in that length of time, its not likely to be in a states records. New registration or a new title will be required.
To run a title check, view all of the vehicles serial numbers and compare them throughout the car do they match each other? Since engines can easily be swapped, its best to use the numbers on the chassis. If the serial numbers are satisfactory and do not appear to have been meddled with, then ask your local police department or department of motor vehicles to verify that the serial number is not listed in a stolen vehicle database or is connected with a current title. Before sealing the deal, get every piece of available ownership history from the seller, and have the seller write up a bill of sale that includes the cars VIN, sale price, date of sale, etc.
Its best for to get everything they can, Andrews said. If a car is from a non-title state, get the guy to register it in their state. Get a notarized bill of sale and a registration. I am not going to take your money if you can get it for free.
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What Is A Missouri Car Registration
A Missouri car registration is a document issued by the MO DMV that verifies a vehicle is safe to operate on the states roads and highways. Vehicle registration is renewed annually or bi-annually, depending on the type requested.
The car registration process includes the issuance of license plates that must be displayed on the vehicle at all times. To maintain DMV car registration safety standards, the state has an odd/even system for requiring safety inspections linked to registration approval.
Drivers must provide proof of proper auto insurance before auto registration certificates can be issued or renewed. Missouri motorists may get car registration applications processed at the same MO DMV offices that handle car titling procedures.
