TLDR: Couldn't get to a DMV to do title transfer. Buyer told us to just sign the top, including sale amount, mileage and our printed name and signed name. They said they would take to DMV/Notary while on lunch break the next day.
I recently sold my 2005 Chevy Aveo, but I'm a bit uncertain if I've followed the proper procedure, and a bit nervous that this could come back to haunt me later.
First, this guy texted me last night and seemed really desperate to purchase the vehicle. It was around 9-10pm at night and he was asking to buy it that night. We told we could meet tomorrow where we would go to the DMV to complete the transaction. Also, I noticed English wasn't his first language (i.e. he said he was "interesting" in buying the car tonight)
So this afternoon, I met a man who was interested in purchasing my car after I got off work today, around 4:30 pm. We met in a public parking lot at a local grocery store, where the buyer checked out the engine, drove the car around the parking lot, and decided he would buy it. Also, not to sound racist, but guy was a 20's something Mexican who claimed to be going to work at a local Steel mill and was applying to work as a nurse here in Columbus, OH. I'm only mentioning this because a previous person who was interested wanted to take it through a "not so legal" circuit.
Anyways we go to meet his wife at the local DMV, but she told us they wouldn't do the Title Transfer. Since no other DMV's were open that we were aware of, she suggested we just sign our name, mileage, etc and she would have it notarized and finish it at the DMV the next day.
you are fine ... i have sold several dozen cars and never once met at a place to do a title transfer .. just signed the back of title and had them sign a bill of sale that i kept ...
you are fine ... i have sold several dozen cars and never once met at a place to do a title transfer .. just signed the back of title and had them sign a bill of sale that i kept ...
Well, that's the thing. There wasn't a Bill of Sale. What exactly is a bill of Sale? My mechanic told me I need to get a copy of the signed title. They haven't signed it yet, so I guess it's still technically an open title, and I technically own the car until they sign their name. I asked for a copy, and they said they could meet us on Sat to give us one.
your signature on the back of the title is a bill of sale ... even if they have not signed it yet ... if anything were to happen later and it end up at a wrecking yard you just state to them that you sold it off already to someone else and it is no longer your responsibility ... now if you left your license plate on there that is another story ... but there is still a form you can pick up from the DMV that you fill out that verifies through them that you have sold the car to a private individual.
from the sounds of it, they may not have been official citizens and were just wanting a car to drive for a while and get it registered later in a friends name that is a citizen .. at least that is what we see around here a lot ... them, and people buying up older cars to transport across the border to strip down and rebuild
Sounds shady to me. Many illegals try to buy cars without getting them in their name, so if they get in a wreck, they just leave the scene and abandon the car, and the plates don't track back to them, but you.
Your post is not clear, did you or did you not sign the back of the title? Did they or did they not sign the back of the title? Who's tags are on the vehicle now?
I would definitely not just assume it's all OK and forget about it. Look into it and make sure you are in the clear.
I would go to the DMV, explain the situation, and get it sorted out, if these people get tickets, get the car towed, or get in an accident, the car is going to trace back to you.
1 Who has the car now?
2 Who has the ownership now?
3 Did you get paid?
4 Do you have the personal/contact information (name, address, phone) of the other party?
5 Did you see their drivers license?
1 Who has the car now?
2 Who has the ownership now?
3 Did you get paid?
4 Do you have the personal/contact information (name, address, phone) of the other party?
5 Did you see their drivers license?
1. They do
2. I signed my name/mileage etc on the title. I'm hoping they signed theirs and they have ownership
3. Yes
4. I have the phone and name of the guy who originally contacted me.
5. No, I did not see that. I drove to the DMV. He drove a Malibu to meet us.
I'm hoping they signed theirs and they have ownership
Yeah, hope and $1 will get you a cup of coffee at McDonalds.
If they didn't sign the title, they are driving around in your car. If they get tickets, towed, in an accident, etc, it's all going to come back to you as the owner of the car. Sounds like you got taken for a ride.
Call the guy up and ask him if he will show you that he signed the title. I suspect he won't bother answering the phone.
Yeah, hope and $1 will get you a cup of coffee at McDonalds.
If they didn't sign the title, they are driving around in your car. If they get tickets, towed, in an accident, etc, it's all going to come back to you as the owner of the car. Sounds like you got taken for a ride.
Call the guy up and ask him if he will show you that he signed the title. I suspect he won't bother answering the phone.
I actually called the DMV and then the Title place in our area. The car is no longer in my name and they say the title has successfully been transferred. I don't think I have anything to worry about at this point. Also, they did communicate with me after I sold them the car and agreed to send me a pic or meet me to make a copy of the signed title. At this point though, I'm pretty sure I'm in the clear.
TLDR: Couldn't get to a DMV to do title transfer. Buyer told us to just sign the top, including sale amount, mileage and our printed name and signed name. They said they would take to DMV/Notary while on lunch break the next day.
I recently sold my 2005 Chevy Aveo, but I'm a bit uncertain if I've followed the proper procedure, and a bit nervous that this could come back to haunt me later.
First, this guy texted me last night and seemed really desperate to purchase the vehicle. It was around 9-10pm at night and he was asking to buy it that night. We told we could meet tomorrow where we would go to the DMV to complete the transaction. Also, I noticed English wasn't his first language (i.e. he said he was "interesting" in buying the car tonight)
So this afternoon, I met a man who was interested in purchasing my car after I got off work today, around 4:30 pm. We met in a public parking lot at a local grocery store, where the buyer checked out the engine, drove the car around the parking lot, and decided he would buy it. Also, not to sound racist, but guy was a 20's something Mexican who claimed to be going to work at a local Steel mill and was applying to work as a nurse here in Columbus, OH. I'm only mentioning this because a previous person who was interested wanted to take it through a "not so legal" circuit.
Anyways we go to meet his wife at the local DMV, but she told us they wouldn't do the Title Transfer. Since no other DMV's were open that we were aware of, she suggested we just sign our name, mileage, etc and she would have it notarized and finish it at the DMV the next day.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=409478
Well, that's the thing. There wasn't a Bill of Sale. What exactly is a bill of Sale? My mechanic told me I need to get a copy of the signed title. They haven't signed it yet, so I guess it's still technically an open title, and I technically own the car until they sign their name. I asked for a copy, and they said they could meet us on Sat to give us one.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=409478
from the sounds of it, they may not have been official citizens and were just wanting a car to drive for a while and get it registered later in a friends name that is a citizen .. at least that is what we see around here a lot ... them, and people buying up older cars to transport across the border to strip down and rebuild
Your post is not clear, did you or did you not sign the back of the title? Did they or did they not sign the back of the title? Who's tags are on the vehicle now?
I would definitely not just assume it's all OK and forget about it. Look into it and make sure you are in the clear.
I would go to the DMV, explain the situation, and get it sorted out, if these people get tickets, get the car towed, or get in an accident, the car is going to trace back to you.
1 Who has the car now?
2 Who has the ownership now?
3 Did you get paid?
4 Do you have the personal/contact information (name, address, phone) of the other party?
5 Did you see their drivers license?
1. They do
2. I signed my name/mileage etc on the title. I'm hoping they signed theirs and they have ownership
3. Yes
4. I have the phone and name of the guy who originally contacted me.
5. No, I did not see that. I drove to the DMV. He drove a Malibu to meet us.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=409478
Yeah, hope and $1 will get you a cup of coffee at McDonalds.
If they didn't sign the title, they are driving around in your car. If they get tickets, towed, in an accident, etc, it's all going to come back to you as the owner of the car. Sounds like you got taken for a ride.
Call the guy up and ask him if he will show you that he signed the title. I suspect he won't bother answering the phone.
I actually called the DMV and then the Title place in our area. The car is no longer in my name and they say the title has successfully been transferred. I don't think I have anything to worry about at this point. Also, they did communicate with me after I sold them the car and agreed to send me a pic or meet me to make a copy of the signed title. At this point though, I'm pretty sure I'm in the clear.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=409478