buying g body from out of state - seller has title in someone elses name

[paradigm]

I am from NY and I was looking to buy a grand national from NJ. The car is non running and I met the seller at a yard behind a mechanic's shop where the car is stored.

The seller provided what appears to be a clear title, however the title is in a former owner's name and show's a 2015 issue date, and was never re-titled since even though the car passed through several hands since that owner. The CARFAX came back clean although the carfax had almost no information.

The NJ DMV website shows you can do a title search after filling out a form and paying a fee, however this service is only available for select use cases such as by another government agency who needs the title info, a shop who needs to contact the title owner about impound fees, private toll transportation facilities, etc.

Have you guys bought these cars with title registered in someone's name other than the seller? Anyway to validate it? The piece of paper looks real, but it could always be a fake.

 

[ELCAM]

Several options .

If you choose to buy it on the open title( Open titles like this guy has is pretty common in the old/junk car world.) have an NCIC check done on the VIN to see if it was ever reported stolen. Also check to see if the VIN tag looks original and check the other VINs/ partial VINs on the car. If NY is like here they will want a signed title and bill of sale, you won't be able to do that unless you can find the titled owner and get them to sign. At best i can see you having to get a NJ title in your name. Open titles are best kept local with no interstate deals.

Tell the seller to get the title in his name or you won't do business. Keep in mind they usually want a title transferred in 10 -30-60 days kind of thing and there is a penalty if not done so, this guy is passing that cost on to you.

If it is a duplicate title be very suspicious, there could be a "real" title out there. In court the "real" title will always beat the duplicate, and some previous owner gets the car back for free.

Lots of other potential problems but hard to know since every states laws are different.

 

[Ribbedroof]

Jumping title is illegal in a lot of states. Govt wants their fees, ya know.

Here, even if you dummy up a bill of sale with that old date, they'll want 3years back tags + current fees and penalties ($1/day, capped at $100 year).

Generally not worth it unless it's a knockout deal....IMO

 

[86LK]

as ELCAM says, check NMVTIS theft records. also, the issue with cross-state lines and multiple owners? unless you can get a clear answer from the local taxing authorities or DMV I would stay away.
the one exception which I noticed you mentioned is that it was at a mechanics shop. you may be able to acquire it via a mechanics lien in which case that would all be spelled out in state law and you should be covered.
I actually bought a truck at tow auction last year and the yard had gone to the extent of sending registered mail to the registered owner and the lien owner of record. turns out they didn't own it anymore. I found the original title for them showing they had sold it to someone else who never bothered registering it in his name. so the guy who never registered it ended up losing it, the original owner never reclaimed it, and I've got all the legal paperwork to show it's mine 😀

 

[Ribbedroof]

as ELCAM
I actually bought a truck at tow auction last year and the yard had gone to the extent of sending registered mail to the registered owner and the lien owner of record.

Typically, this is required of tow operations when cars exceed a given number of days for them to sell as abandoned

 

[08Malibu]

I am from NY and I was looking to buy a grand national from NJ. The car is non running and I met the seller at a yard behind a mechanic's shop where the car is stored.

The seller provided what appears to be a clear title, however the title is in a former owner's name and show's a 2015 issue date, and was never re-titled since even though the car passed through several hands since that owner. The CARFAX came back clean although the carfax had almost no information.

The NJ DMV website shows you can do a title search after filling out a form and paying a fee, however this service is only available for select use cases such as by another government agency who needs the title info, a shop who needs to contact the title owner about impound fees, private toll transportation facilities, etc.

Have you guys bought these cars with title registered in someone's name other than the seller? Anyway to validate it? The piece of paper looks real, but it could always be a fake.

My GP was last titled in 1993. I bought it from the guy that bought it from the previous owner. The title was signed, but never dated by the seller, so it was no issue. NJ title by the way.
Doesn’t matter when the title was issued, it matter when it was sold. I have the title from my beetle to worry about next. My old boss took it as payment for storage, and the PO died. 🤞it’s not going to be an issue.

 

[Ribbedroof]

If it is a duplicate title be very suspicious, there could be a "real" title out there. In court the "real" title will always beat the duplicate, and some previous owner gets the car back for free.

Lots of other potential problems but hard to know since every states laws are different.

In Oklahoma, once a duplicate title is issued, the original is no longer recognized as valid.

But, doesn't mean sombody wouldn't try to pull a fast one to the unsuspecting buyer...and by then it'd be too late for the buyer

One should defintely know the laws in the states involved

Things get interesting here, since a signed title requires a notary seal/date to be recognized by the state. Makes weekend buys.....interesting

 

[paradigm]

Several options .

If you choose to buy it on the open title( Open titles like this guy has is pretty common in the old/junk car world.) have an NCIC check done on the VIN to see if it was ever reported stolen. Also check to see if the VIN tag looks original and check the other VINs/ partial VINs on the car. If NY is like here they will want a signed title and bill of sale, you won't be able to do that unless you can find the titled owner and get them to sign. At best i can see you having to get a NJ title in your name. Open titles are best kept local with no interstate deals.

Tell the seller to get the title in his name or you won't do business. Keep in mind they usually want a title transferred in 10 -30-60 days kind of thing and there is a penalty if not done so, this guy is passing that cost on to you.

If it is a duplicate title be very suspicious, there could be a "real" title out there. In court the "real" title will always beat the duplicate, and some previous owner gets the car back for free.

Lots of other potential problems but hard to know since every states laws are different.

I went on the NICB website and the vin # doesn't show up as being stolen

VINCheck® Lookup | National Insurance Crime Bureau

About VINCheck

www.nicb.org

 

[paradigm]

as ELCAM says, check NMVTIS theft records. also, the issue with cross-state lines and multiple owners? unless you can get a clear answer from the local taxing authorities or DMV I would stay away.
the one exception which I noticed you mentioned is that it was at a mechanics shop. you may be able to acquire it via a mechanics lien in which case that would all be spelled out in state law and you should be covered.
I actually bought a truck at tow auction last year and the yard had gone to the extent of sending registered mail to the registered owner and the lien owner of record. turns out they didn't own it anymore. I found the original title for them showing they had sold it to someone else who never bothered registering it in his name. so the guy who never registered it ended up losing it, the original owner never reclaimed it, and I've got all the legal paperwork to show it's mine 😀

Looks like NMVTIS relies on 3rd party reporting services like Bumper, Autocheck, VinAudit, CARFAX, etc to run reports. I ran a report with CARFAX and it came back clean.

I also ran a check on NICB and it came back clear too - https://www.nicb.org/vincheck

 

[Bonnewagon]

Normally an unsigned title is a good thing. Just fill in what you need. Have someone besides you fill out the tax form and title so the signature matches. NY DMV can be good or bad depending on what day of the week it is. Do this: call NJ State Police and see if it is stolen. Then call the NY DMV Title Bureau and talk to them. 1-518-486-4714 is the number. Get it from the experts, they will tell you what you need. I have bought Jersey titled cars with no problems. I also bought my Bonnewagon from a dead guy. That was a nightmare.