Title Transfer
20 articles in this category
How to put a car in a living trust
You retitle the car to your trust with you as trustee, or skip the trust and use a transfer-on-death title in states that offer one. Here is how each works.
What is a manufacturer's certificate of origin and when do you need one?
An MCO is the ownership document for a vehicle, trailer, or boat that has never been titled. Here is how it is signed over, what replaces it, and what to do if it goes missing.
What to do when the seller never gives you the title
You paid, you have the keys, and the title never arrived. Work the remedies in order: chase the seller, check for a lienholder, then bonded title, court order, and the deadlines that quietly close each door.
How to transfer a title on a non-running project car
A car that does not start transfers exactly like one that does, because a title records ownership rather than roadworthiness. What changes is the towing, the inspection, the VIN verification, and the wording of the bill of sale.
How to title a kit car, replica, or custom-built vehicle
A vehicle built from a kit or from parts has no factory title. States issue a specially constructed or assembled title after an inspection, a receipt review, and a state-assigned VIN. Here is the process and how to sell one later.
Selling a car with two names on the title: 'and' versus 'or'
One small word printed between two names decides whether both owners must sign or either one can sign alone. Here is what the conjunction controls, how survivorship fits in, and what to do when a co-owner is unreachable.
Antique and classic vehicle registration requirements by state
Antique registration is its own class, with its own age threshold, its own plate, and real limits on how far and how often you may drive. Here is how the major states define it, and what changes for inspection, insurance, fees, and resale.
The Chain of Title: Why a Car's Full Ownership History Matters
A car's title is only as good as the unbroken record of owners behind it. Here is how the chain of title works, what breaks it, and why a clean history protects you.
Buying a Car With a Salvage or Rebuilt Title: What You Are Really Getting
Salvage and rebuilt titles are not the same thing. Here is what each brand means for safety, insurance, financing, resale, and your bill of sale.
How to Sign Over a Car Title to a Buyer
The car title is the legal proof of ownership, and signing it over the wrong way can stall a sale or leave you liable. This guide explains each field on the seller assignment, where notarization matters, and the mistakes that cause the most trouble.
The Car-Title Deadline That Ranges From 7 Days to 180: What Your State Really Gives You
We reviewed all 50 states and DC. The deadline to transfer a car title after a purchase runs from 7 days in Georgia to 180 in New York. The 30-day rule of thumb is wrong in more than 20 states.
When You Need a Vehicle Appraisal, and How to Get One
States, insurers, and lenders sometimes refuse to accept the price on a bill of sale. Here are the five situations that trigger an appraisal request and what the report has to show.