Is it safe to buy a car without a title?

Question

he says he has the bill of sales, yeah im kinda slow this is the first time im buying a car

Answer 1

No !  It is not safe, nor wise to buy a car without a title.  A bill of sale does not a title make.  Walk away from the deal now !!!!

Answer 2

First off - It's not illegal to buy or sell a car without a title.  However, without the title you will not be able to purchase licenese plates.

1)  The care could have been stolen.

2)  There still could be a lean against the car which if you bought and the police found you or they found that the car was registered to you - you could be charged with grand theft.  Even though you have a buy sell paper (how do the police know you didn't make it up)

Stay clear!!!  That's why the car is so cheap!!

Answer 3

NEVER buy a car without a title. It is the document that proves legal ownership and whether there are any encumbrances (liens) against the vehicle. A bill of sale only shows condition of the sale.

Answer 4

ummm....NNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Answer 5

Depends on the State & the car.  In my State, DMV will NOT issue a title on any vehicle over 10 yrs old.  If this is not the case in your state (check with your DMV), then you need to have the owner get a duplicate title, then sign that over to you, do not pay anything until he has the title in hand.  If your state does not issue titles on cars over a certain age, look at the registration & be sure that it is registered in the person's name that is selling it, & ONLY in their name.  If there is more than one owner, they all have to sign the bill of sale.

Answer 6

Bill of sale is meaningless.

The title is the document that says you are the owner of the car.

If he can not provide you with a clean title to the car -- don't buy it.

Answer 7

Hey That One Kid,

I would keep looking if I were you!  Check out http://www.cheapcarhunter.com  You just might find a great car at a huge auction discount!  Good luck to you!

Answer 8

Vehicles are sold by title.  Land is sold by deed.  Don't buy a vehicle without a title, or land without a deed.  Period.

Why not, you ask?  The title proves ownership.  Is the guy selling it the owner?  Is there some bank listed on the title as legal owner, and therefore lien holder?

I'm sitting here in my office.  Across the street I see my neighbor's car, nice car, blue sedan of some kind.  I don't own it.  Want to buy it?  I'll draw up a bill of sale for you.

When you go to the DMV and tell them you want to transfer a car into your name, guess what they ask for?  Right, the title, not a bill of sale.

Even the junk yards --ooops. sorry--automotive recyclers--want a title these days.

No title, RUN.

Answer 9

If the car legally belongs to the seller he can go to the Dept of Motor Vehicles and request a new one.  DO NOT buy that car till seller produces the title.

Answer 10

most of the time no.  if the guy does not own the car then i would not buy it because getting a hold of the original owner mgiht be really tough.  but if he is the owner i dont see why he just wont get you a new title.  its probably only going to cost him 35 bucks to get a new one from the dmv and then you just take that and turn it in no need for a bill of sale after that.  but if he is not the original owner i would be very weary and try to get info on the OG owner, because you will have to get that guys info to have him sign a release saying that the car is not stolen and you will allow you to buy the car to get a new title