How do i get a title put in my name if the guy who sold it to me didnt have it transferred in his name?

Question

A friend of mine bought a car from a salvage yard he put money into it to fix it up and sell it. I bought the vehicle from him and it came with a title but the title was never transferred in his name. the last person on the title is the salvage yard so how do i get it in my name

Answer 1

you have to get the last owner of record to sign off on the thing.  Jez - hope you can do that!  That all should have been taken care of when you gave the guy money for the car  - title up front.  Don't take any bullsh*t stories.

I got stuck on one of those too - I guess that's how learning takes place!  I had to go back two owners to find somebody who had actually owned the car for real.

Answer 2

I'm sure each state has their own regulations regarding this.  In Pennsylvania, the Salvage yard would actually have to pay for the title transfer and have it transferred into their name (unless their a dealer, which I doubt.)  They can't just sign off on the title.

Answer 3

You don't.  The guy who bought it from the salvage yard is required to put the car in his name before selling it to anyone.  What he did is illegal and is called "jumping the title".   It is  usually done to avoid paying sales tax and registration fees.  You have to get a merchantable title from the guy who sold you the car before you can legally own the car and can register the car