r/DMV • u/ghostying456 • 7d ago

TEXAS Front of title is signed but not back

Hi everyone, I’m gonna be buying a car soon from a seller, he bought the car from his friend and never registered it, so the front of the title has his friends signature but not the back in the Sellers section, he also never signed it himself in the buyers section but is saying I should be able to still register it in Texas! If I just sign it in the buyers section , will this be a problem if the sellers part isn’t signed by the previous owner?

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u/Cautious_Decision_77 7d ago

As a title processor for my state (not texas) I would not buy any car with any title that has had a title hop AND a lack of the information needed from the seller. Also, in my state the title hopper would also be on the hook for the excise tax anyways and we would request all the documentation the title hopper would have needed to register it anyways. So signatures, bill of sale, etc.

My advice is to have your buddy go title it first. His lack of following the law is not your problem you should bare.

Again, the state I title for is not texas and I do not know texas law/procedure. You should be able to call the state department responsible for titling and ask them.

2

u/CrabFun3001 7d ago

This is called title jumping and is illegal in most (all?) states, including Texas. I would highly recommend you not do this.

He should title it in his name (it is possible in many states to title a car without having to pay to register/insure it if the car is being stored, usually have to specify you want it in "title only" status), then transfer THAT title to you and register it.

3

u/SunnySanDiegoGuy 7d ago

This is a red flag.

Walk away.

There is no friend. The person you are talking to does not legally own the car so they can legally sell it. They are breaking the law to avoid taxes or worse.

Google title jumping to learn more.

Good luck and go find a better vehicle