If you’re planning to sell your car or vehicle, how do you write a bill of sale to accurately describe the transaction?
A bill of sale for a car is proof of the transaction. The bill of sale is a written agreement between buyer and seller to transfer ownership of a vehicle. It’s an important legal document that can protect both buyer and seller. If you’re selling your car, it’s wise to have the bill of sale on hand. If you’re buying a used car, you’ll need the bill of sale before you can register the vehicle in your state.
Most states do not have an official bill of sale document required for private vehicle transactions. It is up to you, the seller and buyer, to ensure that your bill of sale not only is part of the transaction but includes the following nine components:
*Only the current titleholder or power of attorney for the titleholder is permitted to sign the bill of sale.
In most states, a bill of sale that includes the nine components above is generally accepted by the state’s DMV office. However, there are 5 states that require your bill of sale to be notarized by a public notary to be valid. The states that require a notarized bill of sale are Maryland, Nebraska, West Virginia, Montana, and New Hampshire.
Are you looking for a free PDF download bill of sale for a car or motor vehicle? Check out OnlineBillOfSale.com for more information about bills of sale and to get your free vehicle bill of sale download.
https://cartitles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/free-bill-of-sale-download-240×300.pngBill of Sale without Notary Spacehttps://cartitles.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/bill-of-sale-free-download-pdf-240×300.pngBill of Sale with Notary Space
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For as little as $159 for most processes, we will save you the headache and prepare all of the car title paperwork needed to get you a new title. Simply choose the title recovery method you’d like to use and we’ll get started!
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Order Vermont Title LoopholeOrder Deceased Owner Title TransferOrder Bonded Title ProcessOrder Abandoned Vehicle ProcessOrder Prior Owner ContactOrder Lien Release Request LetterPGlmcmFtZSBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vYXBwLmFjdWl0eXNjaGVkdWxpbmcuY29tL3NjaGVkdWxlLnBocD9vd25lcj0xOTQ4ODEyNiZhcHBvaW50bWVudFR5cGU9MjMwNjY0MTAiIHRpdGxlPSJTY2hlZHVsZSBBcHBvaW50bWVudCIgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iODAwIiBmcmFtZUJvcmRlcj0iMCI+PC9pZnJhbWU+PHNjcmlwdCBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vZW1iZWQuYWN1aXR5c2NoZWR1bGluZy5jb20vanMvZW1iZWQuanMiIHR5cGU9InRleHQvamF2YXNjcmlwdCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+
Filing for an abandoned vehicle title with the DMV can be a challenge. It is often difficult to get a vehicle declared abandoned, and even more challenging to complete the process of applying for an abandoned vehicle title. If abandoned vehicles are a safety hazard and a liability, why does the DMV make it so difficult to go through the abandoned vehicle process?
Imagine a scenario where you walk out of your home to start your day, and your vehicle is missing from your driveway. No signs of a break-in, or theft, just simply missing. You call the police to report your car as stolen, but you’re shocked when they tell you that you can’t file for a stolen vehicle because your vehicle is no longer in your name.
This is exactly what happened in Virginia back in 2018 to unsuspecting vehicle owners in a quiet neighborhood. According to an article by Karina Bolster from NBC12, Richmond police responded to a number of reports regarding abandoned vehicle fraud. Due to relaxed abandoned vehicle laws at the time, it was much easier to file for an abandoned vehicle. A group of fraudsters went around Richmond neighborhoods, writing down the VINs of certain brand vehicles, and reporting them as abandoned. Once the abandoned process began, the DMV would send notices to the vehicle owners, but unfortunately, not all of them received them in time only to find that their vehicle was stolen right from under their noses. For the vehicle owners who contacted the DMV to stop the process, their vehicles were safe. For those who did not stop the process because they were unaware, the fraudsters would get new keys created from dealerships in order to simply drive away with the car once the process is finished.
The DMV makes the process of filing an abandoned vehicle difficult to prevent title fraud and situations like this one. An abandoned vehicle process is much different than title recovery or applying for a new title. If you are applying for an abandoned vehicle, you do not have a bill of sale, prior title, or any other ownership documents available, so the DMV is essentially just taking your word for it. Because of this, they now require certain procedures to be completed prior to the approval of the process. The typical abandoned vehicle process can take 30 days to up to 6 months or more to be completed.
An abandoned vehicle is one where the vehicle owner has dumped the vehicle with no intention of returning to claim it. Typically, if you know where the vehicle came from or who it belongs to, it’s not an abandoned vehicle. There are many ways to claim a vehicle that is abandoned on your property, the first thing to do is to avoid calling the vehicle abandoned. Depending on the jurisdiction, referring to the vehicle as abandoned to the DMV or law enforcement will automatically trigger the removal and disposal of the vehicle. In many states, you cannot get a title for an abandoned vehicle without going through an auction process.
If you’d like to title an abandoned vehicle, you may want to consider other title recovery methods before proceeding with an abandoned vehicle process. Depending on the amount of paperwork you have, one of the following title recovery methods may be available:
A court-ordered title may be a valuable alternative to an abandoned vehicle process. A court-ordered title can be applied for by filing a court case with your local county or circuit court to declare you as the vehicle owner. This is often the last resort title recovery method, but it is a great choice if you are missing most or all of the ownership paperwork. This is not legal advice, before using this method, be sure to obtain good legal advice for success in your county and state.
A bonded title may be a valuable alternative if you live in a state that allows for this method. A bonded title requires you to obtain a surety bond to secure the title of the vehicle. Obtaining the surety bond releases liability from the DMV in the event that there is an ownership discrepancy over the vehicle.
There are situations where it’s necessary to file for an abandoned vehicle title and others where another form of title recovery may be better. If you’d like to keep the vehicle, consider looking into alternate methods of title recovery such as the court-ordered title or bonded title process. CarTitles.com takes the hassle out of applying for a title for your vehicle. Our team of title experts can help prepare your paperwork for any title method provided.
Order Vermont Title LoopholeOrder Deceased Owner Title TransferOrder Bonded Title ProcessOrder Abandoned Vehicle ProcessOrder Prior Owner ContactOrder Lien Release Request Letter
Was your car title lost or stolen? If so, you may need to obtain a duplicate title to prove ownership of your vehicle. A duplicate title is a document that’s needed when the original title is lost, stolen, damaged, or mutilated. It’s imperative that your vehicle is titled in your name because if your name isn’t on the vehicle title, you don’t own it.
The first step to applying for a duplicate title is determining who was that last titled owner. If it’s your name, you can apply for a duplicate title. If your name was not on the original vehicle title, you will not be able to obtain a duplicate title.
Each of the 50 states will have its own set of fees for duplicate title processes. If you are applying by mail, it’s important to check your state fees prior to submitting your paperwork. Most state DMVs accept checks and money orders, but do not mail cash. Many states offer this process for a very small fee, for example, in Minnesota the duplicate title fee is $7.25, while in Texas the duplicate title fee is a mere $2.00.
Once you’ve located your DMV and have your funds, you can prepare your application for a duplicate or replacement title. Many states, such as Colorado, require that your duplicate or replacement title application be notarized prior to submission, be sure to check with your state regulations prior to submitting your application.
If you’ve recently moved to a new state and need to get a duplicate title, you will need to apply for a duplicate title in the state where the vehicle was last titled. For example, if your vehicle was last titled in Florida but you now live in Georgia, you cannot get a duplicate title from the Georgia DMV. Similarly, if your vehicle title shows a lien, you will first need to get your lien released before you are able to apply for a title.
If you’re the legal owner of a vehicle and simply need to get your lost title replaced, the duplicate title process is likely for you. Be sure to check your state’s fees and document requirements prior to submitting your application to get a title. Click here for more information on this title process and how CarTitles.com can professionally prepare your title documents.
When you’re buying a car from a dealership, should you sign a power of attorney? A power of attorney is a legal document that is designed to grant another individual the authority to sign certain documents on your behalf. In the context of car dealerships, a power of attorney gives the dealership the authority on your behalf to apply for a title, place a lien, and sign any other documents regarding the titling and financing of the particular vehicle.
Signing a power of attorney with a car dealership may actually be beneficial in many instances. In the event that you are buying a car out of state or from a distant dealer, you will likely not be present to sign additional paperwork that may have been missed or to resign documents that may have errors. A power of attorney can allow the dealer to handle all of these details for you. This is especially helpful if you live in an area where there are limited dealerships, and it’s more convenient for you to buy from one far away. However, it’s important to note that this signature gives the dealer power to do anything that needs signing in relation to your vehicle purchase. You’ll want to make sure that you’ve read any documents they present to you thoroughly before signing this document.
While power of attorney shouldn’t be taken lightly, it’s very commonly used by dealerships as a convenience to its customers. By signing a power of attorney with a dealership, they can obtain all of your tag and title documents on your behalf to keep you from having to go to the DMV. They’ll also sign the original title over to you and then process the paperwork so you can drive off and enjoy your new car or truck. For most people, this is simply a matter of convenience, but there are some things that you should take into consideration before signing any documents.
Do they have a good, longstanding reputation with their community? While a brand new car dealership isn’t a red flag by itself, it could be if it’s in combination with other factors. For example, all vehicle dealerships have to be licensed in their state or jurisdiction. If they’re not licensed, or claim licensing to be in progress, do not sign a power of attorney.
If you’re signing a power of attorney, it’s important to know who is behind the dealership with this authority. You can research any business through your Secretary of State’s website, or the Secretary of State’s website in the state where the dealership is located. Most SoS databases will provide business names, addresses, principal names, registered agent names, and annual filings. With this information, you can cross-check the history of the owners and directors.
Most dealerships request that you complete a power of attorney for your and their convenience, but it’s important to know that it is not required. You are not required to sign away power of attorney to a dealership if you do not feel comfortable doing so. If you trust the dealership and would like to have this convenience, then it is up to you to decide if the power of attorney is necessary.
A power of attorney can be a great convenience in certain situations, but it is not required. Before signing a power of attorney, make sure you thoroughly read through the fine print and conditions of the document. If you are concerned about signing a power of attorney, consider getting legal advice before proceeding. The dealership may be asking for power of attorney, but you have the power to approve or deny it.
If all other methods of title recovery fail, you may be required to obtain a court-ordered title. If the vehicle’s title is missing, it’s too new for the Vermont title loophole, is not eligible for a bonded title, or current ownership status does not match the correct owner, obtaining a court-issued title is required for transferring the vehicle. The main purpose of the court-ordered title is to establish ownership rights in a vehicle that is missing a title, or one that doesn’t have a clear chain of ownership.
Getting a court-ordered title for a vehicle is different from getting a regular title through the DMV. The process can vary greatly from state to state and county to county. However, there are similarities across all state’s procedures. Here are the 5 general steps to obtain a court-ordered title:
To get an order for a court-ordered title, you must first file a petition with the court. In some states, this is done in probate court because cars are considered personal property under the jurisdiction of probate law. In other places, you may need to file in small claims court or district court.
The petition should be as thorough as possible, including all available information from your research on who owned the car before you. There is not a standard type of petition or template to follow when filing. Before filing your petition, get legal advice on the proper formatting and contents.
Since the original certificate of title is not available, you’ll need to contact the current registered owner and lienholder of the petition for vehicle title. Driver records are private information that is protected by the DMV under the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act. To obtain this information from the DMV, you’ll need to submit your state’s DPPA request form and state your reasoning for the request. If approved, the DMV will provide you with the registered owner and lienholder information.
Each state will have different timeline requirements for notifying the registered owner and lienholder of the petition for the court-ordered title. Using certified USPS mail, send the registered owner and lienholder an official notice. The registered owner and lienholder will be provided a period of time to come forward to claim the vehicle, typically 30-60 days. After this time period with no response, you may proceed with the next steps of the process.
Once you’ve filed your petition, contacted the registered owner and lienholder, and completed any additional tasks required by the court, schedule a hearing with the judge to review your case. At this hearing the judge will determine the validity of the case and if it warrants a court-ordered title.
If you are granted ownership via a court-ordered title, the final step is to take the court order to the DMV to apply for a new certificate of title. The court order provided by the judge will require the DMV to issue you a new title with your name.
A court-ordered title is a time-consuming method of title recovery, but it is a valid option if all other methods fail. If it’s your car, you deserve a title in your name. CarTitles.com takes the hassle out of applying for a title for your vehicle. Our team of title experts can help prepare your paperwork for any title method provided.
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