Questions about selling a vehicle.

bonz

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Joined
Oct 22, 2015
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Charlotte
So I just bought my first vehicle ever via a private party transaction. Easy enough, we met at my bank, they cut her a check from my account and she signed over the title and the bank notarized it.

Now, I'm selling a vehicle to a private party, to a friend of a friend. It's different Ina few ways and I have some questions I'm hoping someone can answer. I own the car and have the title in hand.

1. The person I'm selling to is from Georgia. We are supposed to meet this weekend, probably in Asheville or Greenvile. She has a check from a lender, so the title will go to them I assume. Do I just go sign the title and get it notarized? Obviously the lender isn't here to sign in the place they are supposed to. Not sure how that would work. Or does the person taking the vehicle sign? Even then, not sure I can find a notary on Saturday where ever we decide to meet.


2.My registration expired. The vehicle has been parked for a few months now, and the registration was due in Nov. Do I need to register before I sell it?

Thanks for any replies.
 
Both of you sign the title as if there wasn't a lender involved, it's her responsibility to take the signed title to her lender so they can record their lien. You need to find a notary and you don't need to register it before sale. I hope she's a good trustworthy friend, I take checks from no one (not even bank or certified) unless we meet at their bank.
 
^these 2 got it.
The burden is on the buyer to get the paperwork squared away, but you're doing good making sure you understand the process. It sucks when the seller comes back to you needing something else.
UPS/Kinkos/FedEx stores usually have notaries, but I would rather do it at a bank. They may be more familiar with title transactions. Bonus points if you or the buyer actually bank there; they may even waive the nominal notary fee, plus as BW said, you can confirm the check.
One note...do not sign the title ahead of time. Just hand the notary the title, they'll tell you where to sign, etc.
 
This thread brought up a question in my head.... since I may be selling my car in order to get out from under a car payment...
What if the person selling the car still owes on the car? Say, you sell your car to a private party for 10K, but you owe 5K on it... Still the same go to the bank process?
 
How do you guys deal with the title issue on a car that isn't paid off if the title isn't physically sitting at a local bank (I walked away from a deal once where the title was held at a loan company out west so was going to be on faith to pay it off and hope they sent the title - Fuck that). Seems totally archaic that titles aren't digital with the DMV's across the country.
 
benmack1 said:
How do you guys deal with the title issue on a car that isn't paid off if the title isn't physically sitting at a local bank (I walked away from a deal once where the title was held at a loan company out west so was going to be on faith to pay it off and hope they sent the title - Fuck that). Seems totally archaic that titles aren't digital with the DMV's across the country.
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If you're at the institution the title is held with, along with the seller,(or at a dealership) you will be filling out the paperwork, a bill of sale, and they will mail you the title. It's not that complicated.

Now, I would never hand an individual cash with THEIR promise of paying off the title and mailing it to me, but at the financial institution the title is held at, there is no issue. Titlework can take up to 3 weeks. Hence why you get a 30 day tag.

I paid cash for my TJ at a dealership in Delaware, they didn't have the title on site. It was still in transit from being traded. I got a 30 day tag, signed a bill of sale, and brought it home. 2 weeks later I was mailed the title. I've done this many times, with motorcycles, cars, trailers...etc without a single issue
 
If another state does not require a notarized title but NC does, does the title have to be notarized to register it in a non-notary state? I've never sold to an out of state buyer but have bought plenty out of state.

Duane
 
RenegadeT said:
One note...do not sign the title ahead of time. Just hand the notary the title, they'll tell you where to sign, etc.
Click to expand...


And if Officer J. Whilhite of the DMV finds out you've got an unsigned title, (i.e. you got a notary to seal it with JUST the sellers signature so MAYBE you can resell before ever turning it into the DMV) he'll put you UNDER the jail

Nevermind how I know this o_O
 
CasterTroy said:
And if Officer J. Whilhite of the DMV finds out you've got an unsigned title, (i.e. you got a notary to seal it with JUST the sellers signature so MAYBE you can resell before ever turning it into the DMV) he'll put you UNDER the jail

Nevermind how I know this o_O
Click to expand...

The notary can lose their license as well, sometimes worse depending. Wasn't there a John Fuller "I never sign titles to the vehicles I buy" thread..?
 
I also learned the hard way about not signing a title before hand and not just accepting a signed title. When I was young and ignorant I bought a car from a guy that was selling it for his friend. The title was signed by the owner. I paid cash and got the signed title, and off to the DMV I went. The lady behind the counter told me that was an open title and was illegal, she said legally she was supposed to confiscate the title. I pled ignorance and she let me keep it. Tracking down the actual owner was a PITA, but I did, and fortunately he was cool about it, and thank god the car wasn't stolen. Live and learn! Now I go to a bank, or better yet straight to the DMV (make sure to bring cash to pay the DMV notary).
 
Fabrik8 said:
Technically (legally) the notary can't notarize unless it is signed in their presence, else the notary isn't fulfilling their legal obligation.
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CasterTroy said:
And if Officer J. Whilhite of the DMV finds out you've got an unsigned title, (i.e. you got a notary to seal it with JUST the sellers signature so MAYBE you can resell before ever turning it into the DMV) he'll put you UNDER the jail

Nevermind how I know this o_O
Click to expand...

You guys are missing Tony's point.
He is saying dont sign the title at home and walk into the notary with it already signed, technically then the notary hasnt SEEN you sign it. When you hand it to them unsigned they will say "Sign Here" then you sign there, IN THEIR PRESENCE.

No chance in hell Id take a check however. They would be bringing me 100's. And yes it can be done with a bank. Ive carried $15k in cash to a deal before from a bank with a note.
 
CLRracer said:
If another state does not require a notarized title but NC does, does the title have to be notarized to register it in a non-notary state? I've never sold to an out of state buyer but have bought plenty out of state.

Duane
Click to expand...
Yes, if it is a NC title it must be notarized regardless of what the laws are in the other state.
 
Ron said:
You guys are missing Tony's point.
He is saying dont sign the title at home and walk into the notary with it already signed
Click to expand...

I didn't miss anything. My comment was "In addition" to his point


seewhatyoudid.jpg
 
DON'T ASSUME THE NOTARY WILL TELL YOU WHERE TO SIGN. they're idiots and don't know a damn thing about titles. There have been SOOOOOOO many times where I've bought a car and the title was fucked up because the notary told them where/how to sign. A notary knows ZERO about a car title. Just because they can notarize doesn't mean they know where and how to sign.

On an NC title you print and sign your name exactly the same as it appears on the front. First middle and last name. If you have a JR as part of your name and it's on the title, you better sign that too. Only sign where it says seller signature. Print your name where it says seller printed name. The buyer writes their name and address. Name must be exactly as it is on the drivers license. Buyer then also prints and signs name too. Buyer doesn't have to be present to get title notarized because only the sellers signature gets notarized
 
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