Selling your car, van, SUV, motorcycle, even recreational vehicle means you’ll be transferring the ownership to a buyer. This transfer is called a title transfer, which means you need to have the vehicle’s title. Some drivers have had their vehicles for so long, they can’t find the title. It could have been lost, stolen, damaged, or perhaps even just misplaced. Some people have the title, but it’s filled with errors, such as signatures in the wrong place which makes the paperwork invalid or inadmissible for the transfer of ownership. In other cases, there’s a lien on the car so the lienholder holds the title.
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A cars title is the proof of its ownership, tying the name of the seller to the vehicle
A car title has basic information about the vehicle you own: make, model, year, mileage, license plate number, and the owner’s personal info such as name and address. An untitled vehicle can’t be registered, insured, or legally driven. In most states, it’s also illegal to sell a vehicle without a title, since you can’t really prove you’re the owner without the paperwork.
Title replacement or duplicate title
If you can’t find your vehicle’s title, you can contact a company like eTags and order a title replacement which is also called a duplicate title. eTags processes title replacements online, so there’s no in-person visits or waiting in line to get your title. You could also get this done at your local DMV, just check to see if you’ll need an appointment since some offices haven’t returned to “normal’ business hours since the pandemic. With eTags, you can apply for a duplicate title for a variety of vehicles, from camper vans to pop-up trailers to motorcycles, fifth wheelers and electric vehicles.
If the vehicle is financed or has a lien on it, you need to get a copy directly from the lender, which eTags can help with and print out for you. Some states also require you to hold a title for a certain period, such as 30 days, before transferring ownership. Once you get your duplicate title, know that it will void the one it replaces. Should you ever find the original one later on, destroy the title so as to avoid issues later.
Some states didn’t title vehicles until 1975, so a bill of sale, may be enough proof of ownership
Classic vehicles titles and bill of sale
Some states have different rules for classic vehicles and antiques, but it’s important to note that different states have different designation for cars. For example, a street rod in Florida is a modified motor vehicle manufactured before 1949. An antique vehicle in Florida is one that’s been modified or not, manufactured in 1946 or later AND is 30 years old or more, AND equipped with an engine of 30 years old or more.
New York doesn’t require titles for vehicles from 1972 and older
When it comes to classic cars, collectibles or other, many states won’t issue a title if the vehicle is more than 15 to 25 years old. In this situation, you can use the bill of sale, which buyers can then use to register the car. New Hampshire doesn’t issue titles for model dated 1999 or older. Connecticut doesn’t require vehicle titles for model years more than 20 years older than the current year. In that case, the last owner’s registration, a Supplemental Assignment of Ownership Form Q-1, and/or Bill of Sale Form H-31 are all a buyer needs to register a non-titled car in Connecticut.
Notarizing the bill of sale document adds an extra level of legal protection
Out of state car buyer
If you want to sell your vehicle to someone who’s out of state, but in your own state the vehicle was exempted from needing that paperwork, you may have to provide more documentation. Even with a notarized bill of sale, you may have to show a copy of your registration in your very own state so the buyer can get a new title and register the vehicle.
There are other things to consider when buying out of state including emissions check and state inspections. You may have owned your vehicle in Florida, but if you’re selling to someone in California, they would need to get a smog check unless they’re exempt California has strict emissions rules. For most vehicles that have under 7,500 miles on the odometer, it is considered new in California.
Good luck on selling your vehicle!