Well I finally found a car (240sx) that I want to buy. It's just that it's a bit of a goofy situation that makes me nervous. Basically the guy has had the car for only about a week and a half, but I guess found a different car that he likes more so he is trying to sell it. The only problem in my mind is that the title won't be in his name. Is this risky? I did a title check with the VIN number and it came out alright. But I was thinking about calling the P.D. to make sure that it isn't stolen. If it isn't stolen could there be any other problems? How do I find out if there is an oustanding loan due on it or something like that?

The dude that I am buying it from seems alright, but a little strange cause he isn't very good about making his mind up.

I need your help cause he wants to meet up tomorrow and I want to buy his car!

 

Now someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think their is any way to sell a car if the title is not in your name. If he is on the level, he will wait for the title to complete transfer to him, and then you can do the deal. I wouldn't give him a red cent beforehand. That being said, if your willing to throw cash at someone "selling" a car, I got a 22B, and a skyline gt-r, and a rs200 to sell ya

 

if your going to meet him up tomorrow why dont you just ask him the questions instead of just guessing and worrying? or you can check out carfax which just so happened to have a banner while im responding to this thread.

 

Lol, I already got a carfax report, and it came out alright. I don't want to ask the seller about this stuff cause he's just going to say it's alright.

I want to find out about this stuff from someone with expirience. I don't know anything about the legalities of used car buying.

Obviously I am not going buy a car without a title, but what if he has the title, and hasn't filled out the transfer of title part on the back.

 

I would highly recommend reading up on the applicable laws and stuff about all that before purchasing anything. You don't want to do something then later have it bite you in the **** because it was something that you didn't know about.

Here is a decent starting place

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/faq/faqbuysell.htm

 

yeah hes 'skipping title' Ive dont this the last couple times Ive sold cars. You do this mostly so you dont have to pay for registration and smog again on a car your planning to sell, theres even a spot on the back to add a second new owner and Ive never had a problem doing it that way. But the bigger problem with skipping title is WHY hes skipping title. Hes most likely giving you some BS about wanting another car, hopefully hes just a guy whos trying to make some side cash buying cars off Craigslist and turning them back around for an extra few hundred bucks. Otherwise theres some other prob with the car he doesnt want to deal with, usually smog. Sorry this doesnt help much, but to answer your question, skipping title in itself is not your biggest concern, good luck!

 

Thanks for the DMV site, I'll check that out.


Krinkov, yea that makes sense. The dude had an add up on a website selling 2 240's, so I wouldn't be suprised if he is selling both of them for a bit of profit.

 

It's pretty simple really. Just make sure he has his stuff sorted out, and then sort your stuff out. If, for any reason, he doesn't want the title in his name before it's in your name, you have to wonder why. It's not a big deal, but if you're like me (and I know I am) you like to complete your transactions before you involve other people (ie: I would never ask someone to finish a transaction that I started). You can go to a DMV agent like MVD in Sunnyvale (used them many times, they are GREAT) who will sort all of this out for both of you and give you that warm fuzzy feeling. I am about to make car purchase #31 and so far have had no questionable issues even with things similar to what you mention.

The last car I bought from a person I knew for a year from work. It was a '72 BMW 2002. He had driven it to work as long as I had known him, and got a newer 318ti (for whatever reason). When I got it, he gave me a CO title in someone else's name (Signed off) and a bill of sale (the car had CO plates). Apparently he bought it from someone in CO but never registered it in his name (of all the crazy things). I went to MVD with an explanation, a letter, and a signed off title, and I was sorted out with no issue whatsoever.

As strange as it sounds, just play it safe and go with what you know. But then, I am **** drunk - so what do I know. Feel free to PM me with q's as I should be sober by work time on the morrow.

 

Lol, that is a very coherent response for being drunk

What is MVD, is that like AAA? I am a AAA member, so I was going to pop into their office tomorrow to see what they say. This situation would be easier but he lives and hour and a half away.

 

Just be careful, be smart, and be Legal.

 

I'd check if it was stolen first then if he has title on hand but hasnt registered it yet I dont see any problems just make sure you write out a bill of sale get the pink slip that you could show the dmv that he is the owner now and he hasnt registered it yet and you bought the car off of him. I had to do this once before when buying a bike.

 

Hahaha you're lucky my pc is slow enough to make me be here until you replied. <-- that rocked. Here is MVD: http://tinyurl.com/ap7v2

I know there are others in other locations, but I do not know how to find them. Listen to mcdrama - be smart and legal. Honestly, just pay attention and keep your wits about you, although having the seller be a long ways away only makes it harder (that is nearly obvious).

Cheers.

 

Also, don't forget to draft up a bill of sale. Have him sign it. Not sure how much protection it will give you. But it's something.

 

A bill of sale will just add to his safety of buying the car so that he has that guy's info since it isn't on the pinkslip. The pinkslip will have the former reg. owner and the price sold at, dates, and the car's info. So the bill of sale should have both names and addresses, ph#'s, dates, signed, and each should have a copy. That's what I had when I bought my 240.
Oh yeah, side note: some might think that you just jumped on the 240 bandwagon...when you go on the forums...sorry I don't mean to get off the subject...

 

Wow, I have a headache. MVD is an agency that does your DMV work for you. There is a day delay, but you bring all your stuff to them and they go to the DMV and do it all. The benefits are no lines, questions that actually get answered and the aforementioned warm fuzzy feeling. Low prices as well.

Bill Of Sale is not just a good idea, it's required. Document everything, and make photocopies if possible.