I purchased a 1970 Vette a few months ago and been doing repairs to it since and haven't been able to afford registering or insuring it yet. The car is going into storage for the winter.. My dilema is (if you could call it that) I found out that my girlfriend is pregnant and may have to sell it by spring... I have the signed title from the previous owner and wanted to know if I could re-sell the car without registering it first and getting a new title?
I don't want to spend $$ registering/insuring it if I'm not keeping it.. :(

Thanks!

 

In my state you would have to obtain a duplicate and start over , unless you know someone at the clerk's office ;)

 

you should be able to, but you need to let the previous owner know what you're doing. Also, if you haven't registered it, they might hassle you over not paying the taxes on the transaction. As far as your state knows, though, the buyer is purchasing it from the person you bought it from, so that may not be an issue. ...but the new owner will likely have to pay a penalty for not registering it promptly.


[Modified by Jeff 6T9, 1:48 PM 11/18/2003]

 

Legally, No you have to complete the process in Tennessee. It is illegal to just sign the title without filling it out fully. If you just have a signed Title, you can probably actually sell it w/o registering it.

 

Ok the answer is yes But you will be bending the rules a bit. When you sell it just give the new purchaser all the signed paper work from the orginal owner and make sure the new owner pays you in cash or certfied check and all should be ok

 

I bought the car from a dealer type place and it has the previous owners name on it.. the dealer just signed the back then I signed it when it was given to me. Can it just be signed again without any problem? I'd rather go the legal route and not have problems later.

 

When the new owner goes to transfer the title, He will have to pay both yours and his taxes.

Something else to always remember. The signatures must always match the printed or typed names EXACTLY. Don't ask how I know.

 

Ok, I don't want any problems so I will register it just in case I end up keeping it after all. Thanks for the help guys!

 

Dood... you dont need to register the car.

Just transfer the title to your name and sell it. You get your title before you can get insurance and you cant register the car without insurance. So just get your title and sell it without doing the other garbage. Atleast thats how it would work in NJ and I think we are probably the strictest state by any means for this kinda shiz.

btw: why wouldnt you put it in your name after you got the title from the original owner? Even if it was sitting in your garage for multiple years it should be in your name. God forbid your house burned down how would you claim that on your homeowners if you didnt actually own it? Guess its just something to think about.


[Modified by Spook, 12:50 AM 11/19/2003]

 

The reason for not taking title right away most likely revolves around paying state sales tax on the car price, and in Maryland, they go by the max allowable price listed in the NADA guides....retail....in spite of any other paperwork....so that may be as high as say a grand in his or most any other case....taxes being 5%.......that's a lot a bread for a simple pimple title transfer....

YMMV in any other state...but allmost bet not, they all need the bux and if they find a way to fist your wallett, they will.....

the only way around that now is for you to take title....you should have NEVER signed that paper....NOT untill you are ready to take title....

BTW, little known fact....DMVs do NOT have the manpower or care enough to check signatures....you could have anyone sign your name on a clear title and it's over....all you need is the car and a clear signed title, there is NO signature verification....especially between states....all they do is check NCIC for stolen car....then shred the old titles....

GENE

 

I paid all and all for my title something less than 100$. Simply because me and the guy I was buying it from agreed to a lesser value than the transaction was for. Works out for both of us, hes got more cash that doesnt need to be accounted for and I've got more cash come upgrade time.

Either way that still doesnt explain why someone wouldnt switch over the title in thier name. Like I said god forbid some tradgedy were to happen. How would you prove that you ever owned it if you didnt have a title in your name? Even if you went the next day and switched the title over. Im betting they would say it wasnt your car until that day not the day before when it burned to the ground. Then you'd have to get the original owner involved in the process. (not that I dont think you could get it all straight. Just that it would take alot more time and effort on your part with the possibility of not getting it).

1000's of dollars are a small price to pay ontop of your 10,000 dollar + classic vehicle and if you didnt think about the tax when you bought the car you shouldnt have bought it.

OH OH... I had a funny story about the signature thing. I had bought my 83 regal from some old lady whos husband died and she had control of his belongings but anyway I went to get a duplicate title and switch it over the same day with a single letter that stated very clearly I was permitted to do so (notarized and everything). Well the guy got all moody with me and said I could only get the title not switch it over. I needed to have the old broad sign it. After argueing and argueing, I got the dupe went outside dmv for about 30 minutes and signed her name on the back then went back in. The guy was like "That wasn't so hard was it" trying to be a peniz... I thought to myself "Yeah, jackass!" :blueangel: . But it all worked out.


[Modified by Spook, 12:56 PM 11/19/2003]