[gallenhelp]

Perhaps this is a more appropriate post for the legal page, but possibly someone here has any advise?

My 17 year old stepson purchased a car earlier this year through a private sale. As stated on the bill of sale, signed by both parties, the price was $500 with $250 paid that day and the remaining $250 to be paid upon receipt of the title. My stepson took possession of the vehicle that day and has retained possession ever since. Meanwhile, the seller has apparently fallen off the face of the earth. No title has been provided, therefore the remaining balance has never been paid. My stepson is more than willing to uphold his end of the deal, but without any title and no luck attempting to contact the seller, he is stuck. The vehicle has been sitting in his mother's driveway for months now, it cannot be driven because it cannot be registered. He had tried to be proactive but we don't know how to proceed. We live in Idaho, but the seller is from Oregon. He did contact the Oregon DMV at one point and from the VIN was able to find out there were no liens attached to the vehicle. We don't understand why he would be so shady about not providing the title.

Obviously, this is the exact reason 17 year olds should not attempt to buy cars on their own, and why the title should be provided at the time of the sale, but those mistakes have already been made and I've promised his father I would try to help clean up the mess. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.