Selling a car without a title or pink slip can put both the seller and the buyer at risk. On the seller’s end, they will still be liable for the car after selling it to the buyer because the ownership is not legally transferred. For the buyer, they won’t be able to insure or register the vehicle without the title.
There are a variety of options available for sellers who are looking to sell their car without a title, which will be discussed below.
Request A Duplicate
If you plan on selling your car, it’s important that you prepare all the paperwork required, especially the title. The car title is an important piece of document. Without it, it’s hard to sell your vehicle and legally transfer the ownership to the buyer.
This is also the document that you’re going to receive as proof that you successfully paid off your car loan. Your lender will hold on to your car title until you completely paid off your loan.
As important car titles are, they are also susceptible to being destroyed, stolen, or misplaced. You can accidentally destroy it with a coffee spill, misplaced it, or throw it away by accident. In case you lost your car title, you can have it replaced before you agree to a deal with the buyer.
If you misplaced your title, you could request a duplicate from your state’s DMV office. Other issues such as incorrect names or addresses can also be corrected quickly through the DMV as well.
If you lost your title and are looking to sell your car to a buyer from another state, you’ll need to request a replacement with help from your state. Ask your state that you want to apply for an Application for Replacement Certificate of Title, which is a form that’s required to sell a car to someone who is from another state and is also used for assigning the ownership to the buyer.
You’ll also need to request an Affidavit in Lieu of Title to prove that you’re the owner of the car that you are going to sell. This will require you to provide other documents for proof of ownership. Once you finished submitting this, your requested car title replacement or duplicate will be sent to you after a couple of weeks.
Sell It for Quick Cash
There are companies out there that specialize in buying cars without a title. Although there is some extra paperwork for you to fill out, the process is still very easy and hassle-free. Not to mention that these companies will buy your car regardless of its current condition.
The only thing you need to do is to bring your car to these companies and show proof of ownership by presenting documents such as your driver’s license and vehicle registration.
The only caveat about selling your car for quick cash without a car title is that you won’t probably get much for it. Nonetheless, the promise of getting quick cash hassle-free should be enough to convince sellers to sell their cars without a title.
Request A Transfer of Ownership
Requesting a transfer of ownership from your state’s DMV office is another way of selling a car without a title. Keep in mind, though, that not all states allow this. There are also some requirements that you need to meet so your request can be granted by your state.
But if your request is granted, the new owner will be given a temporary permit to operate the car. As the seller, you’ll still be the one responsible for getting a car title replacement or duplicate before the temporary permit expires. The seller will also be required to perform a new inspection on the car as well.
Get A Bill of Sale
A bill of sale is also enough for selling a car without a title in some states. In some states, if you’re selling a car that is more than 35 years old, all you need is the vehicle registration and a bill of sale. In some states, a bill of sale is sufficient for selling a car, especially for older vehicles. However, you still need to make sure that all information is included in the bill of sale, such as the date of sale, price, VIN numbers, odometer reading, etc.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to sell a car without a title and knowing how to obtain a duplicate or replacement when necessary will give you an advantage when looking to close a deal. Whether you are negotiating for your used car or trying to trade it in for a new one, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that the proof of ownership which you and the buyer needs is in your hands.