assume car runs ok, mechanic is ok, now the seller (not owner) says he could go to DMV to do the title transfer with us, does that make it ok?
i have looked at about 10+ cars now. not one seller is the owner. it makes me very frustrated.
assume car runs ok, mechanic is ok, now the seller (not owner) says he could go to DMV to do the title transfer with us, does that make it ok?
i have looked at about 10+ cars now. not one seller is the owner. it makes me very frustrated.
It's OK if the DMV accepts it and transfers the title to you.
Just make sure you don't pay him anything until that happens. Tell him you'll hand him the money at the DMV upon successful transfer of the title and see what he says about that.
If he's OK with that make damned sure you have insurance arranged on the car effective that day because the minute that title is transferred to you, it's your car and you are responsible for anything that happens to it (or anybody) from that minute forward.
If you end up in an uninsured accident, you're screwed.
I don't see how a seller (a broker for all intents and purposes) can sell a car on behalf of a seller who is not present. Unless that broker is legally acting as the agent for the owner, the titles car owner (not necessarily the seller) has to transfer the title.
Not legal, but it happens all the time.
In most states where the DMV doesn't require a bill of sale, all the buyer has to do is take the signed title to the DMV, keep his mouth shut and hope that a past owner hasn't filed a notice of sale to somebody else.
The buyer, of course, takes the risk that the DMV sends him back to the seller or the previous seller for more paperwork, but good luck getting that from anybody who has already got the money.
In our OP's case if he takes the seller to the DMV, hands over the title and they both keep their mouths shut, it's probably going to go through. But if he points to the guy and says "He sold me the car but he's not the owner on the title" the DMV is likely to require the current seller to first title the car in his own name and then retitle it to the buyer.
Some states (I don't know how many, but mine does) have largely eliminated title jumping by requiring the seller to remove and retain his license plates at time of sale. That compels the buyer to get a temporary tag (just to get it out of the driveway) and puts him on record with the DMV so he has no choice but to transfer title to himself in order to drive the vehicle.
If the title transfer is a success, does that mean the buyer is safe? I am at the DMV now still debating to get this car or not. :/