He is stating flat out that he won't let it off his property until the car is registered.
I can think of a couple reasons why he would want that, but I can't imagine it is legal if the title has been signed over.
Thoughts on how to deal with it? Guy is adamant on this fact.
Sounds like more trouble than its worth.
If he sells it to you and you get the title in your name, then he has no say, legally, on what happens to the car. but if you haven't moved it until the title is complete he could claim storage fees etc.
If a bill of sale for him and another one for you and a signed title don't solve it, walk.
It just sounds too weird to me.
Edit: As I reread your post, did you purchase it already and he won't let you take it?
By law, at least in some states, the entire section of the title for private sale must be filled out. This includes both the sellers and the buyers printed names, signatures and addresses.
Almost everyone just signs them, and let's the new owner fill all that out. States don't like that, since the buyer can resell, without the state getting their cut!!!
As far as not letting it out of the yard... get the title in your name, and then you can have it towed home. Save ya a couple dollars not registering it, if you plan on stripping it.
Until the title is in your name, technically he still owns it, and is liable for it.
In the commonwealth I grew up in, as a seller, I have had problems come back on me. Nothing I was unable to get out of, but the potential IS there!
Or find another car... does not sound like our kinda folks!
In reply to Mr_Asa :
Pass. I could be wrong, but I don't think he has a leg to stand on. If he keeps the plates and pulls insurance and transfers the title, he doesn't have anything to worry about. Which is a long way of saying he's crazy and you don't want to deal with crazy. So, pass.
If you do want it, get a bill of sale when you take possession of the title (should always, anyway) with a notation added that you would not be liable to any storage fees, while you go to get title transferred into your name
In the commonwealth that charged personal property taxes on each car you own, that is flagged by the registration, not title for some of reason. Until the new owner registers it, the tax office still comes after last registrations as owner for their pound of flesh every six months, unless you can provide them with paperwork they will accept. And since you should have the new owners name and address from properly filling out the title...
So, he might be from one of the crazy commonwealths, and not actually crazy, himself.
I don't know if any of these actual laws apply in FL. I do know , when I bought a car in S. FL, and sold it up here in L. A. , from the AL side, a couple from N. FL. bought it , and had some hassle with whatever FL calls their DMV.
In reply to Bent-Valve :
Looking fwd to mr. A's answer to your edit.
From personal experience, not as weird as it sounds at first. Just different than car guys normally do! And a bit far, but within reason if declared up front. If after the sale, um, call the police and a tow truck!!!!!
Once the title transfer is done get it towed out. AAA membership or uhaul trailer worked for me.
Here in FL it's best to be sure the title is transferred to new owner so it can't come back to haunt you. A bud sold a car once and about a year or so later went to register a car or something at DMV and found the car he'd sold had accrued various parking tickets and towing/storage fees he was being held responsible for because the title hadn't been transferred.
Had a dude who wouldn't let me test drive a land cruiser once. I opened up the drivers door to look around and there was a big ruger redhawk in the door pocket. He pulled out some credentials to show he was some sort of federal cop and I should be ok with a dude who just randomly leaves guns places.
needless to say after the awkward test drive I decided to go another way with a car. Used car buying is the spice of life and there is always another car.
I sold a Prius back in January. This was an extra vehicle in the fleet and had not been used much recently, the plate on the car was expired. When sold, I told the buyer they could just keep the plate to drive it home (but they didn't realize it was an expired plate.) Anyways, about 3 months later I get a call from the police dept of the buyers town asking me if I knew someone named Alice???? I did not and then they said green Prius.
"Oh, yeah that the name of the person I sold a green Prius to 3 months ago."
I had taken a picture of the Ohio title which sort of reads like a bill of sale saying that on this date, I sold the car to this person of this address. I forwarded that picture to the officer. I never heard more.
I suspect it was maybe a shoplifting investigation where the parking lot camera picked up the plate. Or, something but I figured it wasn't anything that major.
About a month later, I was in that town so I went past the address of the bill of sale. I figured if I saw the car there with the plate still I'd then unbolt the plate (my property.) When I arrived, the car was backed into the driveway, pretty deep. I didn't think it would be wise to enter the property to see.
In reply to NOT A TA :
We had that but were able to produce a bill of sale and picture of signed title. Didn't owe anyone anything for it.
If you have the keys, and a clear line off the property just take off. Assuming you paid for it of course.
In reply to Bent-Valve :
Have not purchased, in negotiations.
In reply to Mr_Asa :
You're looking at it as a donor so you'd rather not title it? Honestly once you have signed title he can't really do anything.
In reply to Stampie :
Long term, definitely donor. Short-mid term, possible DD. Depends on how FUBAR it is.
Stupid question - did we ask the guy WHY he wants it this way?
In reply to Mndsm :
Have not, no. It was almost the first thing that came out of his mouth, so I didn't move past it. I can check.
Guy has probably been bitten by the "sold a car and the new owner never transferred the title and it came back to bite me in the ass" bug. Even if you want to use it as a donor you'll want the title in your name to dispose of the shell. Most FL junkyards want a FL title in your name to take the car. Have him meet you at the DMV (with the car) and sign the title over there into your name. Once that is done he is free of all responsibility.
In reply to Mr_Asa :
My guess is ignorance. Not so much intentional ignorance but rather a perceived ignorance of how the system works combined with a perception that the world is ou to screw him. For this kind of seller, it might be best that "the transaction" takes place somewhere "official" like the local DMV office. You two go to the office together and let the official people comfort him that the process has been done correctly.
Edit: Ha. I was writing at the same time Hobbie was writing.
I like the idea. I'll check in with him and see if he'll go for it.
In reply to Mr_Asa :
A sale is often made up of price and terms. In this situation, the terms are that he wants it done his way. This could mean he is unlikely to find a lot of buyers willing to do it on his terms. This means he's also highly unlikely to sell the car out from under you for a better price (because price is not his main focus.)
So, give in and meet his terms but also negotiate hard to get a better (great) price.
Not sure how it works in your state but here, on used car sales we often understate the sale price for a savings on sales tax. If it is the same there, just realize that this seller is very unlikely to play this game so factor that into your low price offer too.
When I was in high school, my mother sold a Dodge Colt (with the crazy 8 speed manual with two shift levers) and had the cops call about a month later when the new owner had been causing some sort of trouble and hadn't transferred the title. She had a bill of sale with the buyer's address to show them she no longer owned it.
I've taken that to heart and never done a private sale without one. And I've had two cases since where I needed that bill. Scariest was a call in the middle of the night where the cops had found a motorcycle I sold on the side of the road. The time and urgency of the call implied they didn't find it rubber side down.
I've since found that Georgia also lets you report a sale online to get you out of being sent a bill for the license plate renewal.
If he doesn't go for the meeting at the DMV, you could point him to the top portion of the title, which he retains after you take the bottom part. On the backside of the top, he fills in the sale information, along with your DL number and mails it to Tallahassee. That is the confirmation to the state that the title is no longer in his name. Pic of that portion below.
In reply to dyintorace :
Very helpful! Thanks!
You'll need to log in to post.
