Trying to Buy a car, title issues

[Bruzilla]

I just went through this with my road runner. I bought the car from a guy here in Florida who bought it from a gal in North Carolina, but he had never retitled the car. The car had a North Carolina title with the previous-previous owner's name and signature on it, but nothing in the Purchaser field.

I signed my name in the Purchaser field, took the title to the tag agency, and had no problem transferring the title since the car was so old. Had it been a newer car, I would have needed a notarized statement of the odometer mileage, but since it was a 74 it didn't need it.

I would say you have two options: either pay the guy, take the title, enter yourself as the buyer, and just go through the process, or go to the guy with the purchase price in cash and say you're ready to buy if he gets the title. The sight of cash in hand tends to motivate guys like this.

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I would walk away, and keep looking.

I think that's great advice when a seller has no title at all, but I've seen lots of folks with older cars who buy the car and never transfer the title. The main reason is the fees, and they don't want to pay them if they bought the car for parts or with the intention of restoring it but they never got around to starting the project.

For me, as long as the titled owner signed the title, and the intermediate buyer hasn't signed as the purchaser, I'm good to go. As for stolen titles/vehicles, if you title a car from another state here in Florida, you have to either have the DMV or a cop do a VIN verification, and when they do that they also run an NCIC check to make sure it isn't stolen. I don't know of any states that prohibit cops from doing a VIN verification on a car purchase, so all you have to do is call them up and ask for a cop to stop by. Takes five minutes and then you know for sure.

 

[godfatherofchry]

X2!!!!!!!!!!

 

[747mopar]

Keep in mind that at least here in Ohio the DMV and Sheriffs office purge they're files every 5-7 yrs meaning if they run the Vin it doesn't mean it isn't stolen just not in the last 5-7 yrs. The State Troopers are the only ones that can truly tell you if it is or isn't and here in Ohio you can forget that unless you take it in for an inspection. Good Luck

 

[wannadrag]

if the title is not in his name he doen't legally own the car,people like him are the reason the car hobby is going downhill.

That's got the dumbest thing I ever heard.

 

[tallhair]

That's got the dumbest thing I ever heard.

That is hyperbole wannadrag. I have heard WAY dumber things and let's not call people dumb, dummy.

 

[747mopar]

That is hyperbole wannadrag. I have heard WAY dumber things and let's not call people dumb, dummy.

"Way to go tallhair" I get tired of people making these kinds of comments "who are you to call someone dumb"?. I've actually heard that from many people that it isn't legally yours until you get the title "TRANSFERED" if it isn't transferred then it hasn't been taken out of the previous owners name. I honestly don't know what the law says in regards to it so I can't say. Lets just be nice to our fellow Mopar maniacs.

 

[BeastlyBirdie]

In states that require a title, unless your name is on it, the law views the car as belonging to the last titled owner. Hence, they require a title for proof of ownership (and the governor's hooker fund). In those states, selling a car without possession of the title would be akin to going into Walmart and trying to sell a display television to a customer while saying 'I bought this, and I've decided to sell it to you...' In states like Georgia, that don't use titles, it is completely different.
Some states (PA) require a notary to sign, and they are supposed to see both the buyer and seller's information.

 

[440+6]

I would ask the guy for a copy of the title front and back and take it to your dmv and ask if there is a problem with transferring to you.

 

[petieg383]

I have a copy of the title already, that's how I found out his name is not on it. My bank required me to send them a copy of the title prior to issuing me a check. Now having said that, there is no issue technically with the title for the state I'm buying it in. No notary needed to PURCHASE. When I bring it back to PA, then I'll transfer the title over to PA and go from there. The DMV recommends I get a copy of the person's drivers license that is on the title, but not necessary.

I'm thinking about doing it. It really put the work back on the seller because the check will be made out to the person on the title. He said he knows them, and will get the the $ from them.

This is why some of the guys were saying earlier that the car game is going downhill. People are shady and can be distrustful. But in reality it's always been like that. Just have to look out for #1 and not step in #2.

 

[roadrunnerman]

Had a junkyard do something like that to me years ago. Had a 71ish international 4 door p/u that I junked out. signed the title and junking certificate, drove the truck to the junkyard, got my money and forgot about it till a year later when I went to the courthouse to update some other cars and saw my old p/u still on the DMV computer list under my name. Told the gal I junked it a year ago. Went to the junkyard that same day and told them they either officially junk the truck out or i'm taking it with me now and they don't get their money back that they paid me. They were using it for their yard truck as well as driving it on the street. The owner was a bossy bitch but she didn't have any room to argue.

 

[petieg383]

OK well I went to look at the car, and it was good. I ended up working a deal with the guy. VERY happy. I'll work the title details out. It's worth it.

Here's a quick pic of my big butt sitting in it yesterday while out on a test drive:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/735785_622615854464067_680048886_o.jpg

 

[BeastlyBirdie]

Awesome!!! Nice looking car.

 

[MNBiker]

Looks good. Glad it's working out!

 

[Budnicks]

Triple A can help with title transfers, or at least they used to...

they do all mine

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OK well I went to look at the car, and it was good. I ended up working a deal with the guy. VERY happy. I'll work the title details out. It's worth it.

Here's a quick pic of my big butt sitting in it yesterday while out on a test drive:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/735785_622615854464067_680048886_o.jpg

cool car congrats on the new purchase, looks like a happy new owner behind the wheel & going thru the hassles to get it in your name & garage... If there's a will, Then there's a way... I've bought several cars like that here in Calif. {pretty **** DMV}, as long as the DMV had received the release of liability form, from the original seller, even if the new owner didn't ever register it, I never had any issues registering any of them, I have a car in my garage just like that now... If the title comes up clean sometimes it's worth the hassles for the right car or deal, people selling cars have always been a little different, especially if you buy a project car that's been sitting for years, that's now out of the DMV system altogether.... I'm not really sure what it's like in other states, especially the East Coast, but done allot of Nevada, Oregon & Calif. purchases, even an Alaska, Minnesota & Idaho purchase like that... Cars that were going to be race cars & never were titled by the party I purchased them from, got all of them titled, thru AAA...

 

[440+6]

That car rocks, get up more pics when you can.
Congrats!