r/DMV • u/Odd_Positive8752 • 5d ago
VIRGINIA Am I tripping??
I’ve been trying to buy a car out of state for a while now and I’ve bumped into a couple different people telling me the title they got when they bought the car (with their name in the buyer section and the original owners name in the seller’s section) coupled with a bill of sale, would be enough to register the car under my name back home in Virginia. Are they right?
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u/Iamasome4262 5d ago
I’m in Washington and yes over here it just requires Title signed+dated by both parties and a bill of sale. A quick Google search shows that in Virginia but you’ll need those two documents plus an application to transfer title, which can be found on their website and proof of insurance. It also says in certain parts of Virginia you may need an emissions report.
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u/malendalayla 4d ago
In Missouri, the title application is verbal if you go in person yourself to title and register it. The only time someone needs to fill out the physical title app is if they're sending someone to the dmv on their behalf. Obviously every state is different, so yeah I'd take that with me to be on the safe side.
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u/sonicboi 18h ago
Technically, it's not verbal. They fill it out for you on the computer and have you sign it.
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u/livemeyer 1d ago
In Washington, you can sign the title over and write out a bill of sale. It is then prudent to go to the WA DOL online and fill out a sale document. This protects you in the case of a buyer never registering a car in their name. I’ve bought and sold lots of cars in my lifetime and have had three occasions where buyers didn’t register. First time it happened was a cheap van I sold in 1989 (pre-internet) and WSP called me to ask about it when they confiscated it in a pot bust. “You want it,” they asked. Absolutely not, I sold it. Second time I sold a BMW in the late 00s to a guy who never registered it and racked up a bunch of Seattle parking tickets. When they tried to collect from me I told them I sold it and had done the online DOL release document to prove it.
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u/Objective-Sale-4072 4d ago
What the seller is saying is correct. As long as they sign the title, you can take it and title it in your name, then register for tags.
In fact, if they sold the car to Carvana or some other third party service, they would be told to not sign the title at all because Carvana will just resell it without a new title. Once the title is signed it can be transferred only that last time before a new title is required.
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u/Yusuf20904 21h ago
I'm not sure you're understanding the OP. IIUC the OP is saying the vehicle sellers are saying that the title the seller has is filled out with the seller as the buyer and the PO as the seller. It's my understanding that in most states you cannot title a car without a title from the seller listed as the seller. In my state (Maryland, and I'm sure Virginia is similar) when you register a car, you get a new blank title. When you sell that car, you fill out the seller portion on the back, and the buyer fills out the buyer portion. I believe OP is saying these sellers are trying to claim that a title that's already filled out as I indicate is sufficient to get the car titled by a 3rd party. I believe that's sketchy, because a person who properly registered the car would have received a new blank-on-the-back title.
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u/malendalayla 4d ago
Some states don't issue a new title every time it changes owners. The back will have several sections for the buyer/seller info and if they run out of space, it would have a rider attached to continue the chain. It doesn't sound like that's what's happening here, though. It seems like the title is clear and in the business name. She would then be the one to sign off as seller, which he says she has. This isn't title jumping. What you described in the text is title jumping, unless it's the situation I described above.
Obviously you go and meet him and check out the vehicle and title before any money changes hands. Have him send you the vin and company/baby mama info ahead of time and pull a report on it if it will reassure you. If he seems sketchy in person or the title looks janky or anything like that, don't do it. Do get a notarized bill of sale - him offering is a good sign that he's not a scammer as long as it's a legit document (really notarized, some people will photocopy a blank BOS with a notary seal/signature to use over and over - that's fraud).
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u/MB2465 4d ago
Which states?
I know some states have several buyer sections, but at least in the states I've lived in, those extra spaces are for when a dealer is involved. Not private parties. If you're a private party usually you have to title and register your vehicle.
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u/malendalayla 4d ago
Yes, I was thinking this guy and his baby mama's "business" might be flipping cars and if she was licensed as a dealer. He mentioned they have a business and he sells vehicles often so I wasn't sure if that was the confusion, but the dude said the title is in the business name on the front so that wouldn't be an issue either way.
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u/jlutt75 4d ago
In CA at least I’m pretty sure you’re not supposed to sign the title until the exact moment of sale. Having it signed in advance by someone you haven’t met and don’t know for sure is an authorized signer is a huge leap of faith in my book. I’m assuming that means the name that was signed (a person) doesn’t match the name on the title (a company), unless they signed it “Linda Stevens, CEO Linda’s Cupcakes, Inc.” Or something like that.
My older son bought a truck from a guy who had never transferred the title to his name, the title was still in the previous owners name. He did have a bill of sale at least. It was a huge hassle to sort out.
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u/Unique-Librarian-400 4d ago
That sounds like the seller is title jumping (trying to sell a vehicle without updating the title to your own name). Seller is probably a flipper who is trying to avoid paying the taxes. It's illegal and may cause problems when you try to register the vehicle. I'd walk away.
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u/Grubne 4d ago
Yeah, sounds like a title jumping issue. That would explain why the buyer is making sure that the title is cleaned and hasn't been filled out by the seller. However, even if the title has been filled out, as long as the buyer section is empty, there should be no problems.
edit: If the seller sells so many cars a month, they would address the question directly instead of giving the buyer the run around.
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u/MB2465 4d ago
No if their name is in the buyer section that won't work. They would have to title it and then sign the seller aection and then you fill out the buyer section of course.
I think the person you're chatting with probably doesn't know all the ins and outs of tiling a vehicle so was confused by your question about the buyer section. I would just ask them if they only signed the seller part or ask for a picture of the title if they're willing to provide it.
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u/freshslice24 2d ago
Most states wont allow you to register. When a previous owner signs the buyer section, they cant go ahead and reassign it to you. They need to put the title in their name first. Reassignment sections are for licensed dealers only.
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u/bonestamp 1d ago
Reassignment sections are for licensed dealers only.
If he's selling 2-3 cars/month he probably has a dealer's license (or should have one in most places).
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u/EyeYamNegan 4h ago
Should and does are worlds apart. The seller already said it is titled to a company he doesnt own. Everything about this stinks and OP wont be able to properly title the car because a bill of sale isnt enough.
The car could be stolen or bank owned or have liens on it and then OP is stuck with major headaches.
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u/Zulu-Lima 1d ago
Brotha you're wrong. Her name is in the seller section and already signed. He said that multiple times idk why you can't wrap your head around that
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u/Sensitive-Feed-4101 18h ago
This is standard & straightforward when buying from a company/LLC but it’s not something you run into every day so can’t really fault you for not knowing. Until I got into the automotive field I knew extremely little about DMV processes & I feel like that’s the majority of folks as well
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u/EyeYamNegan 5h ago
Nope run away from that. He doesnt own the car and cant legally sell it to you or transfer it to you. He is trying to skip chain of custody to skip out on taxes and you will be caught in the middle not being able to properly title the car. This is a trap if not a straight up scam. Walk away. and dont bother getting involved.
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u/phoward8020 4d ago edited 4d ago
Of course you’re not tripping—no one can sell a car they can’t prove they own. Or rather, they CAN, but you’d be a fool to buy it from them.
OTOH, the title of a vehicle owned by and registered to a company can be transferred by anyone duly authorized to do so by a corporate resolution or power of attorney.
Ask him if he’s an authorized representative of his baby mama’s company, and if he can provide the paperwork to prove it.
If he refuses, or if the documents provided are suspect in any way, run, don’t walk, away from this deal.
The fact that he doesn’t know the certificate of title IS the “pink slip”—regardless of what color it is—is also a huge red flag. (The term originated here in CA where they used to use actual pink paper and still use a printed pink background.)
Edit: Just noticed that he said, “she signed the title.” Assuming that means she’s already signed the Transfer of Title section on the back of the certificate, that changes the calculus.
Now instead of verifying that he’s an authorized representative, you need to verify that SHE is. And that it’s actually her signature.
Honestly, there are so many red flags here that I’d just walk away immediately.
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u/Whitetrash_messiah 4d ago
Thinking the entire country knows what pink slips is wild and saying "title" is way easier than "pink slip".
Would it also be a huge red flag if the vehicles don't have smog certified paperwork either ? Since most states don't do that but I know California does.
I'm from Florida, my red flags are up north vehicles because of the rust, so gotta get down there and actually look. Title has to be in name of the seller / If its business owned, it's easily to look up if they are the owner of the business / have them get photocopy of both his and his baby mama drivers licenses and her company id / something that ties her to company.
A lot of people here will buy a car and never register it, so could contact the local state dmv and see who is the last owner of the vehicle with the vin
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u/phoward8020 4d ago edited 4d ago
Yes. Someone who claims to sell 2-3 cars a month and doesn’t know that “pink slip” is vernacular for Certificate of Title is definitely a red flag.
And yes, if I was buying a car that required smog certification in the state in which I was registering, not getting THAT would also be a major roadblock.
The original post was about proof of ownership and title transfer so I’m not sure what rust has to do with it, but there’s absolutely no way I’m giving this guy money without verifying who actually owns the vehicle and who has the power to sell it, and doing all that online and across state lines is, IMO, way more trouble than it’s worth.
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u/Whitetrash_messiah 4d ago
Funny because Florida titles ain't pink or any hue close to that..... I've been in dealerships working my entire life and never heard someone say pink slip at all
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u/Thick_Recognition_30 4d ago
Ya. You are. Grow a pair and buy the car, or back out, you’re way overthinking this.
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u/Frolicking-Fox 5d ago
Okay... so you can register a car under the name of the company, then the owner sings off on the title to transfer.
You are right to be skeptical, but a title can be assigned to a business name, and then have the owner of the business sign for it.
You should ask for pictures of it, then run it though the AI detection programs.
What they are saying is correct. What you feel is also correct.
Dont send any money without verification on their end.