When it comes down to deciding between a manual transmission or an automatic transmission, the decision is often one of preference rather than necessity. The difference between a manual transmission and an automatic transmission is all in the name. Manual transmissions require you to manually shift gears, while automatic transmissions shift gears for you automatically.
At the end of the day, it boils down to preference. However, there are some important things that you should know about both types of transmission and their pros and cons. Both are capable of getting the job done, it’s just a matter of what transmission works best for you.
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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+
When a loved one dies, questions can arise about what to do with their vehicle(s). Fortunately, most states have a process for transferring ownership of the vehicle to another party or for canceling the title altogether. While all states are different, there are general similarities that can help you get started on your deceased owner title transfer.
Before transferring a vehicle title from the deceased owner, you should check if the title has survivorship. If the title has survivorship, then the title is automatically transferred into the survivor’s name. If there is no survivorship, will the estate be probated? Meaning, has the deceased owner left a will that will go through the court system for the vehicle? If the answer is yes to either of these questions, you may be able to transfer ownership more quickly with official documents or a will from an attorney or bank.
If there is no will or probate needed, then you will have to seek permission from all other legal heirs before transferring ownership of any property into your name.
If the vehicle in question does not have a survivorship clause and the estate is not being probated, most states have a process by which one may obtain a title from a deceased owner. To apply for a new title from a deceased owner, you’ll typically need the following items:
Each state has a different application for title transfers. They can be found online or at your local Department of Motor Vehicles office. Before you begin, check with your state’s department to make sure you have all the right paperwork because there may be additional requirements in your state.
The inheritance affidavit is a document needed when transferring ownership of a vehicle from a deceased owner. This document outlines the ownership of the vehicle as assigned by all of the surviving heirs of the property/vehicle. In order to transfer ownership, all heirs must sign this document and it must be notarized.
The odometer disclosure provides a true and accurate statement of mileage at the time of sale. Some states allow for this to be disclosed on the bill of sale or the title application, although some states have a completely separate Odometer Disclosure process.
The bill of sale is written proof that you purchased the vehicle from the heir. Think of your bill of sale as a receipt of purchase. In many states, the bill of sale must be notarized for deceased owner title transfers. If it’s not required in your state, it may be beneficial to have the document notarized anyway to add extra legitimacy to your document.
If there is a lien on the vehicle, then the title is unable to be transferred until the lien is released from the lender. In some instances, for example, if the lien is more than 10 years old, the lender can send you a letter of non-interest in lieu of a lien release. This letter of non-interest states that the lender is no longer interested in pursuing the lien.
Not all states require the death certificate to be included in the application for title. However, be sure to check your state’s requirements prior to submitting your application.
Upon submission of the state title application for deceased owner transfer, make sure to include the appropriate title fees designated by your state.
The DMV title transfer process can be confusing and tedious, especially when you’re also dealing with the loss of a loved one. Remember as you are caring for your deceased loved one’s property you also remember to care for yourself. If there is an estate or survivorship, consider consulting or hiring a lawyer to assist you in this process. We always recommend getting good legal advice when transferring a title from a deceased owner, the DMV cannot provide legal advice.
The vehicle title, registration, and bill of sale are all very important documents to have as a vehicle owner. These three documents may seem similar, but they have very different purposes. In this article, we’ll explain the difference between each document.
The vehicle title, also known as the certificate of title, is a legal document issued by the department of motor vehicles in your state that assigns ownership over a particular vehicle. In addition to serving as proof of ownership, the vehicle title may also be used to transfer ownership of a car.
The registration document is required by law before you can legally drive a car on public roads. This document contains information about the vehicle’s make, model, year, and VIN (vehicle identification number). It also includes your name as well as any other individuals who are listed as owners of the vehicle. Since the name of the registrants does not equate to ownership, the registration by itself is often not considered sufficient proof of ownership.
The bill of sale is the receipt from the transaction of the vehicle. It states who sold the vehicle, who bought it, and for how much. The bill of sale does not assign ownership, it only serves as proof of the transaction.
The vehicle title, registration, and bill of sale together form a crucial paper trail for any vehicle owner. By understanding the distinctions between each document, you will avoid confusion should you ever have to refer to them again. And if you’re shopping for a vehicle, this background knowledge will aid in your decision-making process.
If you’re leasing a car, what should you do if that lease is about to end? Maybe you’re a few months away from your lease termination, maybe have a few payments left, or maybe it’s pretty much done. You have three options for disposing of that vehicle, in most cases. Every lease is a little different but this is how most lease contracts have been created over the years.
Option number one is you can bring the car back to the dealer, drop off the keys, and walk away. As long as you are under the maximum mileage and you have no major wear and tear or damage, you’re off the hook. You bring in the car, drop off the keys, and walk away. However, keep in mind if you do that, you might be walking away from hundreds or thousands of dollars in equity that you didn’t even know you had. The dealer is not going to tell you that though.
Option number two is you can trade it in for a new vehicle. Now, be very careful if you’re trading it in that you understand the difference between a trade-in and a turn-in. Here’s why– with automotive leases, the way it works is you have a guaranteed buyout at the end of your lease. You have a fixed price that you’re allowed to buy that car for at the end of your lease. That price served a few purposes. First of all, it was used to reduce the amount you had to finance. For example, say you bought a $30,000 car and the dealer figured in three years that car is going to be worth $12,000. What they would do is they would take that $12,000 and take it off of your financing right off the bat. They would basically give you a $12,000 down payment so you only had to pay the $18,000 difference between what you’re paying for it and what it’s worth in three years.
So you make payments on that $18,000. At the end of that term, if you wanted to pay the amount you could pay it and you’d own it, or you could just give it back to them and they use that value to pay the money that they reduced your price from the beginning. Now, how did they figure that value? What they did was they based it on what they thought the vehicle was going to be worth in three years and they’ve got to be pretty close. If they guessed too high, now they’re stuck with the vehicle. If they guessed too low, your payments are going to be too high and you won’t buy the car. So they have to be pretty accurate and they use historical records, book values, projected depreciation, and all kinds of factors. For the most part, they’re pretty good at this. However, in the last two years, vehicle prices and used car vehicle prices have skyrocketed. Many cars are actually worth more now than they were when they were brand new. We see cars selling all the time as used cars two or three years old with 20,000 miles for more than the original sticker price.
So if you have a vehicle that was leased, let’s say that $30,000 vehicle and they projected the value was only going to be $12,000. What happens now if the market has changed in your vehicles worth $20,000 instead of $12,000? Well, guess what? You still have the option to buy it for $12,000. Meaning that if it’s worth $20,000, you can buy it for $12,000 and either sell it for $20,000 and pocket $8,000 in profit. Or you can trade it in for $20,000 minus the $12,000, that would put $8,000 towards your next car, but don’t let the dealer swallow up that equity. If you just turn in and buy a new vehicle, they’re going to keep that $8,000, and they’re going to buy it for $12,000, let you buy the new vehicle just for whatever the price was, and not apply that equity toward your new car. Unless you really pay attention to the paperwork, you may not even know that even happened.
What happens if you want to keep your car? Well, that’s good because now you’re buying a car for $12,000 that if you went somewhere else to buy it is worth $20,000 in today’s market. So pay very close attention to your lease. Look at your contract. More than likely you have a firm option fixed price to buy that car at the end of your lease that was in your contract. Can’t change it. It doesn’t matter the mileage condition if you’re buying it because it’s your car. Now the other advantage of buying that car is you’re buying a used car that you know the history you know the prior owner, you know everything about it. How lucky is that? Most times you buy a used car you’re buying a pig in a poke. You don’t know where that car’s been. This car you know where it’s been, plus if for some reason you are over on mileage or there’s damage, you buy it that doesn’t come into play. You don’t have to pay a penalty if you’re buying the car. Now, there may be a couple of things to keep in mind.
First, some leases require that if you’re selling it at the end of the lease you have to buy it. You can’t sell it to somebody else right away. You have to buy it first and then resell it. You know, that’s a little bit scammy but if that’s in the contract that’s what it is. You may also have what’s called a disposition fee meaning that you have to pay $200 or $300 to dispose of the car to buy it. Your contract will determine that, if it’s not in your original lease contract a dealer can’t add it later. So make sure that if the dealer is adding fees for you to buy your own car that they were in the original contract. If they’re not in there they can’t add fees. Some dealers even will go and say they have to certify your car because you’re buying it from them. They claim they have to make sure it’s safe for the road so you end up paying them $1,000 to give you a certification. Check with your local statutes to find out what the laws are in your state. There have been many dealers who have tried to mark up cars for people to buy their own cars and found out you can’t do that. But once you do it, you’ve agreed to it, you may not be able to get that money back. So check your contract.
Start doing this early start doing this month earlier than the lease ends because if you’re pressed for time in the end you may have to accept a contract that maybe you don’t have time to research. Also, look at financing. If you go to the dealer, they might hit you with higher financing than if you go to your own bank or credit union to buy your car and you might be able to do it that way. Make sure that if you do buy out of your own car, you get the title transferred because that lease car is not titled in your name. It’s titled in the name of the lease company. So once you buy the car you want the title to be transferred from the lease company to you as the owner, make sure you get that title in your hands. We get a lot of people that contact us that say, Hey I bought my vehicle and I never got the title from the lease company. Now it’s a hassle because what if the lease company is out of business three years later or they don’t know about it? You want to get that title transferred immediately into your name. Let us know your questions, and put your message in the comments, but this is a good way to get a great deal on a vehicle that you already know a lot about.
Are you faced with the challenge of a missing vehicle title certificate? Whether it’s lost, defaced, or you simply need a replacement, filing for a duplicate title is the solution. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the process using an example from the state of Pennsylvania. Keep in mind that each state has its own specific form, but the principles discussed here can generally be applied nationwide.
Begin by obtaining the correct form for your state. In this example, we’ll be looking at Pennsylvania’s MV 380, which is their duplicate title form. Remember, every state will have a similar form, so you can adapt these guidelines accordingly.
Every DMV form includes a section labeled “Department use only.” This is where the DMV adds stamps and notes. Avoid placing anything in this section, as it may lead to form rejection.
Ensure that the form you’re using corresponds to the state where the vehicle was last titled, not necessarily where you’re currently located. Be aware of the fee associated with the duplicate title; in Pennsylvania, for instance, it’s $58, which is relatively high compared to other states.
Here’s a breakdown of crucial sections on the form:
When submitting the application, it’s advisable to mail it to the designated DMV headquarters rather than visiting a local branch. This ensures a smoother process as not all branches may have blank title certificates readily available.
In some cases, you can perform a vehicle transfer simultaneously when applying for a duplicate title. Check for a relevant section on the form.
Filing for a duplicate vehicle title requires careful attention to detail and adherence to specific guidelines. Any deviation from the process may result in rejection, leading to additional delays. If you have questions or need assistance, reach out to the DMV or consult our website for more information. Remember, a well-prepared and accurately filled-out form increases the likelihood of a swift and successful duplicate title issuance.
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