I just bought a used car from a private seller. She just paid off the loan and the lienhold is going to send her the title. She said she is going to sign on the title and send it back to me for the transfer of the ownership. I already got the car. As she is in England right now and I'm in California, I couldn't reach her oftentimes. I would like to know what would happen if she doesn't send me the signed title? I got a bill of sales and I bought insurance on the car. Can I get a title on my name later even if she doesn't send me the title? Im confused. Thank you!

I had a similar experience. But, I live in Illinois.

I sold a van to someone, but could not find the title. The option to get a new title was given to the buyer by the state. However, it was going to cost him about $80.00. Because I was the one who could not find the title, I offered to pay the cost, and did for the new title.

It's possible but most states require you to jump through a lot of hoops and sometimes pay fees you normally would not have to pay, perhaps even purchase a certificate of title surety bond. It's best always to hand them the cash for the veh, get a bill of sale, let the seller purchase a cashier's ck or other type instrument if the lienholder has no local office for you both to go to, you watch the seller drop the ck in the mail to the lienholder with a letter that they mail the title to you, the purchaser. If the LH has a local office, both of you go, do the transactions there paying the lien off, etc.

Same situation. I had to pay a lost title fee to the state almost two years ago. It still hasn't came.

My boyfriend bought a car from our neighbor who was moving back to Washington. He lost the title, so filed to get a duplicate from the Washington dmv. However this was 5 months ago! The car is just sitting.. we have a bill of sale, is there anything we can do to get the title? We live in California and have the bill of sale...

Thanks!

Hi, brily67!

This is the very old and now archived thread of someone else. It's no longer visible on the list of currently active threads.

If you have a separate question, it would be best if you would start a new thread so that your question will get the most exposure. Also, this place doesn't work the same way that a chat room does. New questions are supposed to be asked by starting new threads.

Thanks!