Anybody dealt with "Title Skipping" when buying a car? My story.

[E30 Wagen]

Had this happen to me with a car I bought on ebay from California. Had a bill of sale but that didn't seem to matter to my Michigan dmv. Ended up having to get a surety bond ($100) and have a cop come and check the car out and run the VIN. Pain in the ass.

[Vincent Brick]

They don't want to pay the taxes and/or registration fees since they know they're not going to be keeping it.

And when they are trying to stay under the minimum transfers before a state requires a dealer license. More than 5-7 cars per year and they want you to be a legit dealer, depending on where you are.

Its not even necessarily for profits, my buddy used to have to do that stuff and flipping cars wasn't even his goal, he was just always picking up cool stuff for cheap and offloading other projects for room.

[3toedshewie]

If they have 2 areas, they're typically only allowed to be used by legit (registered) car dealers, NOT individuals.

Sounds like the OP knows what needs to be done and how to do it, just have to get Bob to go along with the plan.

exactly! thank you ringmaster

[3toedshewie]

looking to motivate Bob with the law. going to call the tax collector and the Florida department of Revenue. Thanks E30 Wagen, that surety bond sounds like and option too.

[e30austin]

In OR, at least, you're fine with just a bill of sale with the appropriate paper trail. Had Bob been smart, he would have just gotten the original bill of sale from Steve and had him leave it blank, then you fill out your information on it, so it would appear that you just bought the car from Steve directly.

[flyboyx]

i can't tell you how many cars i have sold in my years and not transferred the title. perhaps 40 or more. to my knowlege, no one has had a problem with it. had there been an issue, i certainly would have taken care of it as a matter of principle.

[McGyver]

Hmmm, this is an interesting thread to read. I never signed the title to one of the convertibles I bought because I intended to sell it as fast as possible. I was told that even if I titled it ($80) I would have to get tags to park it on the street ($50) and it's either a $500 fee for no insurance or $140 for 6 months of insurance for a vehicle that I never intended to drive. Hopefully the DMV doesn't dick me or the buyer over because of this shit.

[e30vert]

Huh, "curbstoning" ! You learn something new everyday. I am going to remember this term because if someone did that to me I would want to "curbstomp" him. :)


I actually went through this with a vehicle that I purchased from Indiana. Im on the west coast and not only was the vehicle not transferred properly there was not title ever sent to me. I had the vehicle shipped and in my possession , but no title.

It was a nightmare to try and handle it from across the country.
It took me many many months to sort it all out. What I finally did was go into see a lawyer that wrote out a declaration to the DMV in the state where I wanted to register it. The lawyer never even reviewed the documents I had accumulated as his clerk just looked them over and he just signed some paperwork. Took that to the DMV and they gladly accepted them and issued a title in my name.

Never again! The title is actually more important that the vehicle!

Now I have the person selling the vehicle fax or copy and email the current title before even looking at the vehicle. If they wont or have some bullshit excuse- Im done - next vehicle.

People dont get in this situation as it really sucks down your time and energy tracking this down.

[e30onBBSs]

Steve really screwed you over

I will tell my story since you asked for our experiences

So my friend Bob bought the car off Steve. I later bought the car off Bob. Steve didn't tell the DMV, and Bob didn't sign the title. When I walked into the DMV they said that bill of sale means nothing, and just to see the title. The title said Steve's name on it and the price he Sold it to Bob. Bob paid him the amount on the title plus a bit extra later because they made a deal. I paid the same final price, but since the price on the title was lower they calculated the sales tax off of the price sold from to Steve to Bob. To the DMV they don't know and don't care that Bob ever even owned the car, at least in MA (according to the insurance woman).

I dodged the bullet you are having because insurance was like "I hope Bob didn't sign the title!" or else they are going to have to go get it registered before they can legally sell it to you!

Moral of the story, if you are going to keep a car for a short or long amount of time and it's not going to be legal under your name, DON'T sign the title, otherwise you are going to have to pay registration fees before you sell it, which is a waste of $, and the buyers and sellers time. (at least in MA)

[AndrewBird]

since you have no bill of sale - go to the DMV and say you bought the car from Joe instead of Bob?

What I'm saying is, as far as the state knows the car was never sold to Bob in the first place because the title never got transferred and he couldn't have registered it. Unless for some reason you can register a car with no title..

I don't see why this wouldn't work. Unless Steve told the DMV he sold it to Bob. Then you're boned.

[slammin.e28]

OP, have a friend in another state?

Title is signed by Steve?

Bob never touched it with a pen?

Have friend transfer title out of state, then sign title over to you, you transfer in your state and done.


I float titles all the time. I'm not transferring a car into my name and paying taxes on it until I'm ready to drive it. My e30 isn't even mine, legally, as we speak.

[McGyver]

...My e30 isn't even mine, legally, as we speak.

dibs once you get it running!

[slammin.e28]

I will hand deliver it to Vintage.

[dannyyisntt]

I've had a similar issue. I won't go into details as the member is a forum member. Like others are saying, bill of sale is what you want. Made by you or him.

[McGyver]

I will hand deliver it to Vintage.

But i'm not paying you, since you technically don't own it. I just called dibs on it so i can take it. But thanks for going out of your way to deliver it!