I just sold out my car. How can I know if the buyer has changed the title or not?

Question

If the buyer doesn't change the title, what could be a bad result for me? For example, if the car is involved in an accident, I should be responsible.??? Thank you guys and girls.

Answer 1

You need to fill out and send in a release of liability. I didn't do that and now a car I sold a year ago for 600 dollars I'm having to pay to get it out of the impound because the car wasn't registered and the driver had no license. The registration hadn't been changed and since I forgot to mail in the release of liability my name is what comes up as the owner. It doesn't even matter that we have a bill of sale or anything. Fill out that paper ASAP otherwise you'll end up paying 1300 dollars a year from now like me.

Answer 2

Have you filled out the little sales slip that's attached to the title yet? Most states require the seller to fill out and send in a little form attached to the title to notify the DMV of the sale. If you've already done that you'll be fine.

Also, if you took down all of the buyer's information you'll have something to prove that you sold it. The following story illustrates my point.

In 1995 my dad sold a truck to a woman on a Friday; less than 48 hours later at 2:00 AM on Sunday she got drunk and ended up hitting another vehicle with the truck and driving off. My dad obviously didn't have time to send in the slip to the Delaware DMV yet. Apparently witnesses had taken down the tag number so the cops ended up calling my dad about the accident in the middle of the night. He gladly provided them a copy of the bill of sale and a copy of the personal check, including her address and phone number, the woman had written out in payment for the truck. My dad had also taken down her driver's license number as a form of verification. The state police went right to her home and arrested her a few hours later! Talk about a dumb criminal!

Answer 3

It's the registration you need to worry about most. If the registration is not changed out of your name and the vehicle gets in an accident, you will be the one held responsible. If you know the VIN & or license plate number, you can go to the DMV & have a clerk run the numbers.The clerk can tell you if the vehicle has been taken out of your name.  

Answer 4

The registration is part of it but even if she didn't have time to swap it over before she smashed it up. you have the bill of sale which is dated with both signatures on it.   Proving that you are not the owner of the vehicle.   There is the paper trail.

Answer 5

If your state has a form to fill out to report a sale, you should do so, even if not required (and especially if it is required).

Also you should never leave "your" plates on the vehicle (except California where plates stay with the vehicle).

Keep a copy of the bill of sale signed by both parties and address/phone of person you sold it to.