How To Avoid Scams And Fraud When Selling Your Car
The internet is a fantastic tool, but it can also invite scams and fraud, just as people can. If you have questions or suspect fraud or scams when selling a car yourself, please email . Or call the Fraud Prevention Team at 1-877-210-5209.
You can also check out our tips for avoiding scams and fraud.
My Car Title Was Signed But Never Transferred What Do I Do
In some states, it is the buyers responsibility to notify DMV of the sale of the car. However, in the state of Virginia, both the seller and the buyer have to notify DMV that the vehicle has been sold. This helps to ensure that the seller does not sign the car title and then have the buyer fail to register it.
In the State of Virginia, you can notify DMV online, by visiting a customer service center or via phone call that the vehicle has been sold.
Duplicate Va Title Certificate
What if you’re selling a car in Virginia but the title has been damaged, obscured, misplaced, or stolen? You’ll want to get your hands on a duplicate title in order to pull off the sale. You can do soonline, or by the VA DMV.
You can also apply for a duplicate title certificate in person at a DMV customer service center.
If there’s an active lien on the vehicle, the lien holder will need to submit the application and receive the replacement title. If the lien’s been satisfied, you’ll need to include proof of that fulfillment.
There is a $15 fee for a duplicate title certificate.
For more information, visit ourReplacing a Lost Title in Virginia page.
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What Buyers Want To Know
Buying a used car , whether its from a dealership or a private seller is an investment for anyone. Before making a purchase, they want to know all they can about the vehicle and the seller. Here are a few ways you can help them:
- Vehicle History – If your car is an older model, or if youre not the original owner, consider obtaining a Carfax report. This will provide information about the cars history, any accidents, and its maintenance records.
- Why you are selling – Buyers will be curious as to why are you are selling the car. Think about how youll answer and be ready for their questions.
- Respond quickly – When you receive a call, text, or email that the buyer is ready to make a purchase, respond quickly with your acceptance or a counter offer. If youre slow to respond, the buyer may perceive it as disinterest or that you dont want to sell.
How Do You Transfer A Title On A Car In Virginia
The car title transfer process varies slightly depending on whether motorists are buying or selling a new or used vehicle. In most cases, motorists must perform title transfers in person at a DMV customer service center, as drivers cannot complete a title transfer online in VA through the state DMV.
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Get A Vehicle History Report And Inspection If Applicable
To make the selling process go smoother, you can get a Vehicle History Report from CarFax. This can show a comprehensive vehicle history and include things like any accidents or major repairs, previous sales, and more. The vehicle history report will help the buyer get a good idea of the cars history and provide info they should know before making the purchase.
On top of that, a prospective buyer may want to get the car inspected by a mechanic. If thats the case, theyll pay for it and likely go somewhere they feel comfortable with. It can add another layer to the process, but it means theyre serious, so be open about getting one scheduled if youre asked.
Remove Your Plates And Cancel Your Insurance
The seller must remove their license plates before handing the vehicle over to the buyer. If you do not do so, you may be liable for any violations after the buyer has taken possession of the vehicle. After the sale is complete, you can file a Sold Vehicle Notice with the state via form DMV-1-S, but it is not mandatory. Make sure to cancel your insurance as soon as possible after youve removed your plates so you dont continue paying to insure a car that you no longer own.
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Hacks To Sell Your Car For The Most Money Instantly
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Because of your work-from-home setup, you may have just saved some money to replace your old car. But, if you can sell your old ride, you can have more money to pay for a better model.
If you are not a car enthusiast, it may take you many hours to research which car can fit your taste and model. Aside from worrying about the proper car specifications, you would also have to think about which dealership you will buy from.
Another thing that you should be thinking about is how you can get the most value out of your current car. Some car dealerships can rip you off if they see through you, not knowing the actual state of the vehicle. It is why you should exert every effort to ensure that you get the most out of selling your old car.
Here are some tips from renowned car dealers to follow when selling your old car for top dollar.
Have A Car Photoshoot
You know the saying a picture is worth a thousand words? Well, its true especially when it comes to selling a car. When your car is clean and ready, take photos at various angles and viewpoints.
Let a prospective buyer see the inside and outside and take any photos of parts of the car that may have some damage. You want to sell your car and make sure your photos look good but you also want to be upfront to avoid wasting anyones time.
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Obtain Your Emissions Inspection
Depending on what part of Virginia you reside in and what type of vehicle you drive, you will likely need an emissions inspection to sell your car. This is a legal requirement for all gas-powered cars that are less than 25 years old and for most diesel vehicles as well.
If a vehicle was produced in 1997 or later and is registered in northern Virginia, youll need an inspection. Northern Virginia refers to Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, and Stafford counties. It also includes the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park.
Hybrid vehicle owners are subject to slightly different requirements. Most hybrid vehicles are exempt from Virginias standard emissions inspections – instead subject to the RAPIDPASS system.
Take Precautions With The Test Drive
If the caller seems legitimate and ready to buy and wants to set up a test drive, pick a safe, central meet-up location in a public place, ideally near a relaxed test drive route. Always plan ahead and ask a friend or family member to join you for the ride.
Meet prospective buyers during the day in a public area . Park the car in a high traffic area where people can see you.
Plan a test drive thats short and sticks to populated areas. Most buyers dont expect an extended test drive. If your buyer wants more time, let the person ask you for it.
Before the drive, dont forget to ask to see the prospective buyers license. Typically, its advisable to accompany the driver on the test drive regardless of what kind of collateral they offer in exchange for driving it. However, due to COVID-19, be sure to agree to health and safety precautions ahead of time. That helps to take the guesswork out of the test drive when it happens.
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Virginia Gun Bill Of Sale
In Virginia, permits are not required and only fully-automatic firearms require registration. As such, a gun bill of sale for firearms is not required by the state, and there are no official forms.
Gun bills of sale usually include the following:
- The buyers and sellers names, contact information, and signatures
- The make, model, caliber, and serial number
- The purchase price
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List Your Used Car On Several Car Marketplaces
Now that you have the photos to entice prospective buyers, you want to put those pretty photos on various car marketplaces. Put your images up, write a thorough yet succinct description of your car and press publish. Make sure that you include the year, make, and model and be honest about any potential issues with the car.
You can list your used car on Autotrader, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and other local car sites in your area.
After hitting publish, you want to respond in a timely manner to prospective buyers and answer their questions.
Used Cars For Sale In Virginia
Search our inventory of used cars for sale in Virginia at Enterprise Car Sales. Used car listings in Virginia include photos, videos, mileage and features. Every used car we sell in Virginia comes with our no-haggle pricing. The price you see is the price you pay. All of our Enterprise used vehicles in Virginia have passed a rigorous inspection by an ASE-certified technician.
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Can’t find your vehicle? Let us help you.
Use our easy online Vehicle Locator form.
Used vehicles were previously part of the Enterprise rental fleet and/or an affiliated companys lease fleet or purchased by Enterprise from sources including auto auctions, customer trade-ins or from other sources, with a possible previous use including rental, lease, transportation network company or other use.
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Deal With Potential Buyers
A well-crafted, high-visibility ad should attract interest in short order. But there are a few things you need to know about vetting, communicating with, and meeting prospective buyers.
How to Communicate With Prospective Buyers
These days, its more common for potential buyers to email or text sellers than call them. Respond to each buyers initial outreach at your convenience, preferably in written form so theres a record of your communications.
During the initial exchange, ask the buyer:
Are You Licensed to Drive in the United States?
This is obviously a must. Depending on the laws in your home state, you could face fines or even jail time if youre caught allowing an unlicensed driver to operate your car. Your car insurance premiums could increase as a result of the incident too.
If the buyer is licensed but doesnt have valid car insurance, check with your insurer before allowing them behind the wheel. Many insurance companies are OK with policyholders supervising uninsured drivers, but you shouldnt assume yours is.
What Kind of Car Are You Looking For?
You dont have to ask the buyer why theyre interested in your car, and they certainly dont have to tell you, but you should ask what theyre looking for in general terms.
Its possible theyre not experienced enough to know theyre not interested in the right vehicle or theyve misunderstood something important in your listings content.
Are You Buying for Yourself or Someone Else?
How Soon Are You Looking to Buy?
Where Is The Best Place To Sell A Car Privately In Virginia
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What Do You Need To Transfer A Car Title
In order to transfer the title, you will need some items supplied to you by the buyer, and other items that are your responsibility to supply. Knowing what the title transfer requirements are helps to ensure you have everything you need with you to successfully complete the DMV title transfer process.
The buyer will need to provide you with a valid safety inspection sticker, a Virginia car title with the assignment of title by owner section filled out and the proof of the sale price, like a bill of sale.
If there are any questions on how to fill out transfer of title form, be sure to carefully read the form, as it will tell you how to fill out the form.
If it is incorrectly filled out, a new one may need to be ordered. If you are taking over a lien that the seller has on the car, a transfer of certificate title with lien form is also required.
As the buyer, you must provide the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles with all of the information the seller was required to provide above as well as proof of your Virginia address, an affidavit of the vehicle purchase price and the title transfer fees and tax payment.
Below, we explore how different types of title transfer transactions are handled in the state of Virginia.
How Much Does It Cost To Transfer A Car Title
One question that is often asked by used car buyers is how much is a title transfer. In the state of Virginia, there is a $10 fee to transfer a car title.
There is also a $10 fee to make changes to a title, such as changing a name, address or removing a lien. And there is a $10 title replacement fee. In addition to the title transfer fee, you will need to pay either 4.15 percent of the vehicles sale price or $75, whichever amount is higher, for the motor vehicle sales and use tax.
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How To Transfer A Car Title In Va
When you’re selling a car in Virginia the DMV title transfer process will involve signing your title in the right spot. If you sign your title in the wrong area you could end up doing more paperwork than you want to. Luckily, we’ve create a few title examples for the Virginia car title transfer process so you can see exactly where to sign, and what to do.
Virginia Dmv Hours And Contact Information
For more information on questions specific to your title transfer scenario, clarification on the title transfer process in the state of Virginia, or for VA DMV hours and to find the DMV location nearest to you, visit the official Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles website by clicking here.
Common Questions About Virginia Title Transfer
Are there any questions about transferring a car title that we didnt cover?
We are constantly updating our content and welcome your feedback. Leave us a comment and let us know any other questions you might have regarding how to transfer a car title in the state of Virginia.
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How To Privately Sell A Gun In Virginia
wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, volunteer authors worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 142,264 times.Learn more…
Privately buying and selling firearms is completely legal in the Commonwealth of Virginia however, it’s important to know the laws before going forth with a sale. This article will give you the basic rundown of standards and practices for a successful and legal transaction.
Sell Your Car In Virginia
When you’re selling a car in Virginia, turn to the expert car buyers at We Buy Any Car VA. Whether you’re looking for cash for cars or a fast, safe and fair alternative to trading in or private sale, trust We Buy Any Car VA to make your car selling experience a breeze. Our friendly and knowledgeable branch managers and conveniently located Virginia car buying centers make selling your car in VA fast, safe and fair.
Step one is to get a free, online valuation right on our website. Answer a few questions about your car and in as little as 60 seconds you will have a personalized valuation for your make and model. Once complete you can schedule an appointment to sell the car same day. We buy any car will inspect your vehicle, process the paperwork and send you on your way with a check you can cash or deposit immediately.
With a 5-star customer review grade and an A+ rating with the BBB, we buy any car has helped thousands of people sell their car and leave with a smile on their face. Find out what your neighbors already know, webuyanycar.com is the convenient way to sell your car in Virginia.
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How To Transfer A Car Title To A Family Member In Virginia
When someone sells a car to a qualified family member, sales tax is not owed on that car.
When transferring the title to the new owner, all of the same documents are required with one addition. The seller will have to complete a purchasers statement of tax exemption to ensure the family member is not charged tax on the used car.
