How-To
8 articles in this category
How to Sell a Car You've Never Registered in Your Name
Buying a car and flipping it before registering it in your name is more common than most people think. So is inheriting a vehicle, receiving one as a gift, or winning one and deciding to sell before ever putting your name on the title. The situation sounds complicated but it's actually a specific and well-understood scenario that most state DMVs have a process for. The key is knowing what that process is before you try to sell, because getting it wrong can create a chain of title problem that takes months to untangle...
How to Sell a Car You Won or Received as a Gift
Winning a car or receiving one as a gift sounds like a straightforward windfall until you try to sell it. The title situation on gifted and prize vehicles is different enough from a standard private sale that sellers who don't know what they're dealing with often run into problems at the tag office. Here's what you need to know before you list it...
How to Sell a Gun Privately Without Breaking the Law
Private firearm sales are legal in most states, but the rules around them are specific enough that getting it wrong can cross the line from a simple transaction into a federal offense. This isn't an area where figuring it out as you go is a good strategy. Here's what you actually need to know before you sell a gun privately...
How to Sell a Car to Someone in Another State
Selling a car to an out-of-state buyer is more common than it used to be. Online listings reach buyers everywhere, and plenty of people are willing to travel or arrange shipping for the right vehicle at the right price. The sale itself isn't dramatically different from a local transaction, but there are enough extra considerations that going in without a plan tends to create problems...
How to Transfer a Boat Title in Florida
Florida has more registered boats than any other state in the country, which means boat title transfers happen constantly. The process is more involved than most buyers and sellers expect going in, and the steps are different enough from a car sale that it's worth knowing exactly what you're dealing with before you show up at the tax collector's office...
What's the Process When Selling a Deceased Family Member's Car?
Handling a loved one's affairs after they pass is stressful enough without running into unexpected roadblocks at the DMV. Selling a deceased family member's car is something a lot of families have to navigate, and the process is more involved than a typical private sale. How complicated it gets depends on the state, whether there was a will, and whose name was on the title...
How to Tell If a Private Seller Is Hiding Something
Buying a car from a private seller is almost always cheaper than buying from a dealer. It also comes with fewer protections. There's no warranty, no certified inspection, and no recourse if you drive off and something immediately goes wrong. The burden is entirely on you to figure out what you're actually buying before you hand over any money...
How to Sell a Car That Still Has a Loan on It
Selling a car you still owe money on is more common than most people think. It's also more doable than most people assume. The process has a few more steps than a clean title sale, but none of them are impossible as long as you know what order to do things in...