eBay

rand_7639 · ‎10-29-2025

I had purchased a vehicle awhile back through face to face contact. The title was signed over to me but I haven't got around to switching it over into my name. Time passes and I end up having to sell the same vehicle with the title still not switched over. Can I still hand the title over when it sells or do I need to do something else.?

tinsoldierunderground · ‎10-30-2025

This is just a bad situation ALL around. On top of all the pitfalls everyone has mentioned, because the title has never been transferred, any accident occurring during a 'test drive', could result in civil liability for the previous owner of the vehicle. In the eyes of the law, that person is still the owner.

redlinear · ‎10-30-2025

@rand_7639 wrote:
I had purchased a vehicle awhile back through face to face contact. The title was signed over to me but I haven't got around to switching it over into my name. Time passes and I end up having to sell the same vehicle with the title still not switched over. Can I still hand the title over when it sells or do I need to do something else.?

1) When you bought the vehicle, IF the owner/seller signed the title in all the places where it says SELLER...AND you did not sign any place that says Buyer? You can then sell the vehicle, and sign nothing.
We call this an "open" title. Extremely common with older project cars
2) However, IF you signed/filled out the Buyer info on the title with your name when you bought it? You will then need to license the vehicle prior to selling it.
3) There are other methods (affidavits/forms for mistakes/corrections), but they tend to get a bit "messy" and stand a good chance of turning off potential buyers.

NOTE: Number 1).... If this has been done, you have a title that has all the sellers signatures on it, but none for a buyer. Whoever / somebody / anybody's name gets filled out in the buyer section? It's legally their vechicle. So be careful with that one.

worldcoinauctions · ‎10-30-2025

I used to buy cars to flip, you can have the seller fill out a power of attorney giving you the right to sell their car, have them sign and not date the title and you can then flip it without the wait for your state DMV. Doesn't seem like it would help in this case though.

janet9988 · ‎10-30-2025

@tobaccocardyahoo wrote:
@janet9988 wrote:
just put the title in your name BEFORE you sell. It is very simple.
A reasonable suggestion but often the reason owners do not register the transfer of title is that they do not wish to pay the transfer fee. This is part of why I would walk away from the transaction. It would make me wonder what other necessary action was not taken, relative to the vehicle.

The OP is the seller who wishes to avoid fees.