Duplicate Titles.
By Christopher Morabito, J.D. | August 3, 2008
Duplicate Titles
If you didn’t buy the vehicle at an auction, then you should call the dealer that
you got the car from or, if you bought the car from a non-dealer, you must ask
that entity to obtain a duplicate for you.
A word here about the loss of titles and obtaining duplicate titles. If you lose or destroy a title as all car dealers occasionally do, don’t panic. Just follow these steps:
1. If the title was in your name simply apply at motor vehicle fro a duplicate title (called a “dup” by car dealers). The cost will probably range from $5 to $25.
2. If the car was titled in someone else’s name, you can either: (a) call the auction where you bought the car and they will arrange to get the duplicate title for your or (b) call the dealer yourself and request that the dealer get a duplicate for you.
In order to quicken the process you may ask any one of the above; auction/dealer/private owner to give you written permission to obtain a duplicate title on your own. Be sure to have the letter notarized and bring copies of your bill of sale with you to the motor vehicle department. I advise you to try to get the duplicate yourself because you are the one with something to gain, whereas any other party has absolutely nothing to gain. Use common sense - don’t rely on others if you don’t have to, especially where the other party has nothing to gain by getting their title for you.
AN Every single time you receive a title for a car, make
IMPORTANT a photocopy fo it. This is so easy to do and will save
NOTE: You major headaches if for some reason you lose the title.
So far in the transfer process we have the title (a.k.a. certificate of ownership) and assignments/re-assignment papers. These are enough to consummate a deal between you and another dealer. Usually dealers don’t require a bill of sale from another dealer. If, however, asked, simply write one out on a form which can be gotten from a stationery store.
When you sell a car to a non-dealer, you should always include a bill of sale with your back-up papers.
When selling at an auction, your title and back-up papers must also be accompanied by the auction invoice slip. Once you have all three, you are ready to hand in your paperwork. You do so by going to the appropriate “window” in the auction. Each auction varies as to whether you go to the same place where the buyer paid for it, or to another window altogether, but a simple inquiry should be enough. In general, the windows resemble those windows at a bank.
Topics: sell at auctions |
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