Car Title Recovery Bill of Sale Scenario # 2

Scenario Overview
So if you need to get a title for your vehicle, we’re gonna look at scenario number two where it’s a vehicle that was not legally titled in your name. Maybe you got a title signed over to you and you lost it. Maybe the person who you bought it from didn’t have a title to give you. Maybe there was some other transaction that got you the car but didn’t get you the paperwork.

Bill of Sale Importance
So the first question is, do you have a bill of sale? A bill of sale is a receipt, is something showing that an event took place of transferring that car to you. It’s not a full legal ownership transfer because a bill of sale can be signed by anybody. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the person who signed it to you is the legal owner. So you can’t use a bill of sale in most cases by itself in order to get a title.

Vermont Registration Ownership Document
Here’s one process that might work for a vehicle that’s 15 years old or older and you only have a bill of sale. In the state of Vermont, they will issue what’s called a registration ownership document. It’s not a title; they technically don’t issue titles for 15-year-old cars. They only issue a registration ownership. Matter of fact, when you get one, they’ll send you license plates. It’s a registration, but since that is their version of a legal ownership document, it is legally recognizable in other states.

How to Obtain Vermont Registration Ownership
They will issue that ownership document to you with only a bill of sale. You don’t have to be in Vermont, the car doesn’t have to be in Vermont, nothing has to be about Vermont except for you mail them a form with a copy or a bill of sale and you pay their fee, which is $72 or $76. They will then mail you back this registration ownership.

Converting Vermont Document to Your State Title
Once you get it, you bring it to your state. That’s your ownership claim and trade it in for a title. You may have to pay sales tax on the vehicle depending upon the transaction and what state you’re in, but the Vermont ownership registration document is a two-step process that many people use to get a title from their state when they have limited documentation with a bill of sale.

Completing the Vermont Application
The bill of sale can be handwritten; it doesn’t have to be in a particular form. But you do have to fill out the correct Vermont application form. It’s form number VD-119. You can download it from the Vermont website. They don’t charge for that. You can print it. I recommend printing a couple of copies in case you make a mistake, and making a photocopy of your bill of sale so that way you have your original to retain.

Contacting Vermont DMV
If you have any questions, you can call up the DMV. They’re glad to help you out. Remember, they’re not issuing you a title, so if you ask them about a title, they’re gonna tell you, “We don’t give you a title for that car,” which is true because they only issue a registration. It’s a process used; it may or may not be applicable in your particular case, but it is something to take a look at as an option if you have limited documentation from your purchase.

Visit Our YouTube Channel for more insights and discussions on various topics. Consider subscribing to our YouTube channel. Click here!