I have been calling the DMV but it is almost impossible to talk to a person there any more, and my particular question is not one they answer on their website, so I am turning to WACCO to see if anyone knows the answer.
My friend who is out of state wants to sell her car which is here in Sebastopol. The pink slip is here. Do I have to mail it to her so she can sign it off, or is there a way to do it remotely? If she does sign it and then the car does not sell, then anyone who got hold of the pink slip (including me) could just register it in their own name. On the other hand most people who are buying want to get it taken care of right away, and would probably not want to wait around for the pink slip to be mailed back and forth. Would a power of attorney be the way to go?
Thanks in advance for any enlightenment.
Patrick
Bryan
04-29-2011, 09:48 AM
If you have AAA, they can answer this question and help with title and registration problems. DMV is almost impossible unless ou have 2-3 hours to spare...
CSummer
04-29-2011, 10:35 PM
I would send the title to the owner so she can sign it and send it back. You could wait until you have a buyer, and let them know it will take a few days to get the title signed. If someone really wants to buy the car, I don't think having to wait a few days would be a big problem. (I've personally dealt with much more difficult transfers.)
Come on now, would you steal your friend's car? :wink:
I doubt if you can transfer ownership without the title being signed off by the owner, if she/he is alive.
Another thought: If you were to go to the DMV and speak to the person at the desk near the entrance, they could probably answer your question. Usually doesn't take long if it's at the right time of day.
Good luck!
I have been calling the DMV but it is almost impossible to talk to a person there any more, and my particular question is not one they answer on their website, so I am turning to WACCO to see if anyone knows the answer.
My friend who is out of state wants to sell her car which is here in Sebastopol. The pink slip is here. Do I have to mail it to her so she can sign it off, or is there a way to do it remotely? If she does sign it and then the car does not sell, then anyone who got hold of the pink slip (including me) could just register it in their own name. On the other hand most people who are buying want to get it taken care of right away, and would probably not want to wait around for the pink slip to be mailed back and forth. Would a power of attorney be the way to go?
Thanks in advance for any enlightenment.
Patrick
Imagery
04-30-2011, 02:51 AM
Personally, I'd send her the title to hold. When the car sells, she signs the pink slip, send it to you via overnight mail, at which time you fill out the release of liability form that comes on the pink slip to transfer title. You'll need to either mail or visit the DMV to turn in the release of liability slip within 10 days of the sale.
When I bought my last car, the seller wrote out a "Bill of Sale" which included the date of purchase, the amount paid, the mileage, her phone number for verification purposes, and signed it. She waited until the check cleared, then brought me the signed pink slip.
Flexible
04-30-2011, 07:21 PM
The DMV has a process for dealing with a missing Pink Slip. I was sitting there (for just under 3 hours) and heard an interaction with a seller, who had a bill of sale showing he'd bought a car he now wanted to sell, but didn't have the sign-off from the previous owner that he'd bought the car from! So he was party to a private transaction that the DMV didn't know about. I believe the clerk said there was a form ... or a process. But I was there for almost 3 hours ... on a different matter.
CSummer's suggestion is probably the most efficient!
I would send the title to the owner so she can sign it and send it back. You could wait until you have a buyer, and let them know it will take a few days to get the title signed. If someone really wants to buy the car, I don't think having to wait a few days would be a big problem. (I've personally dealt with much more difficult transfers.)
Come on now, would you steal your friend's car? :wink:
I doubt if you can transfer ownership without the title being signed off by the owner, if she/he is alive.
Another thought: If you were to go to the DMV and speak to the person at the desk near the entrance, they could probably answer your question. Usually doesn't take long if it's at the right time of day.