I'm looking at an 85 but have a question about titling it. The owner has the title signed to him but never registered the car. It's still registered with the previous owner. How would I go about registering the car? Is the unregistered signed title and bill of sale enough? This would be registered in GA, for what it's worth.

 

In Washington, you would need a signed title, and a signed bill of sale for BOTH transactions in this case. One to show the sale to the "owner" that never registered it, and one to show sale to you. Hope that helps.

~T.J.

 

You can own a car without registering it, @ least in Canada. Ownership is one thing; registration is for licensing.

In Saskatchewan you basically show a piece of paper, whether a legal contract or a napkin with pen on it, roughly stating the owner sold you the car. Of course, the only crimes committed here are some of the fashion choices made by misguided hicks, and you rarely have to lock your car...

 

In NJ, when the registration expires, the car is no longer registered. So, if the previous owner's registration expired, then you can go ahead and register it without a problem. However, before you register it, you have to transfer the title into your name. They'll print a new title for you and register the car at the same time, while you pay both fees.

 

Yeah, most states are like NJ. If you have a title signed by the previous owner, then you have to sign it and when they print you up a new one, its your to do as you please. Like I could register my truck tomorrow, and sell it sunday. You could take the title to the motor vehicle department, or courthouse, (how ever your state handles motor vehicles) and they will title it to you and you have to register it. Any thing previously done no longer matters once its in your name.

 

Cool. Thanks for the help. I'll get with the DMV and see what they say about GA.

 

Check the GA DMV for acuracy. in GA cars 85 and older do not need a title to register for a tag. You only need a Bill of sale. The reason is GA did not title cars until 86.
Of course this will not help you if you change states.

http://www.dot.state.ga.us/


http://www.co.gwinnett.ga.us/cgi-bin...cle%2FAuto+Tag