I have a car that I'm interested in buying but the owner claims to have lost the title/pinkslip.to my knowledge it is currently registered in his name.should I be ok with a "paperless" title release from the owner???any knowledge or exprience with this type of situation please lmk.Thnx

 

Get the vin and run a carfax would be a start. Take the VIN to the local DMV or AAA and have it run to confirm ownership and what back fees you might be inheriting.

You don't need to thank me. Just giving me the RePu would be sufficient.

 

Thanks hozzman for the info,unfortunately the repu has gone to a new home...

 

LOL Then I take back all the advise I gave.

 

Jumbaco!!!

 

Having had to deal with the issues of Cali "back fee's" ... check that out first .. what a pita may help make your decision or at least a negotiating tool to perhaps get the price down to cover fee's

 

There should be no back fees,it is still registered til next month.its just the fact of either lost or misplaced the title...

 

selling a car with no title is no a problem as long as you are purchasing the car from the owner. just look at the registration papers and see if his name on it. if it is all you have to do is go to AAA or the DMV and sign the car over with this form.

http://dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg135.pdf

make sure to have this form filled out as well to release liability from the old seller.

http://dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg138.pdf

 

Thanks for the info Mazdaspeed00

 

But there could still be parking tickets. I don't think the DMV will charge you for the records check, so no good reason
not to.

 

so once title is done, WHEN WILL IT BE LISTED FOR SALE AND FOR HOW MUCH?

 

1.) Is it safe to buy a car without a title?.... No

2.) Can it be done though?.........Yes

Basically as mentioned by the earlier forum members you can buy a car without the title. Just make sure you run carfax on it first to clear of any lien or issue. Safest way is to just have the owner go with you to DMV to verify that it is his car. DMV will give you some form/ duplicate of title, release of liability/ owner transfer form. Fill those out and that's it...

A little bit of inconvenient, but it can be done.

 

Its actually not that big a deal NOT to have the title. I sold my last car without it. My ex GF took it with her by mistake when we split. All the buyer needed was a bill of sale from me to him and the registration. He filled out the form for request for new title and got it in 4 days. It was all very easy and smooth. Just be sure to get a bill of sale and make sure the seller is the registered owner/seller).