Trading in car--title question

My Brother in law has basically given us his old car. His old car is a piece of junk. We're probably trading it in, and he is ok with that.

Can we have him sign the title, and then we do not sign it, and they trade it in? Or does he need to be at the dealership when we trade it in as well?

maybe just call the dealer in question? My guess is that since titles are official paperwork and at the end of the day the dealer is putting it's own neck on the line, some dealers are probably very straight and narrow and others might be more loosey goosey.

Also, whatever you do, do NOT cross anything off on the title. I've made that mistake in IL and getting the title fixed and then transferred adds about 10 extra levels of crap to the process.

Thanks--no particular dealer in question yet. We'll probably just have BIL meet us at whatever dealer we end up at.

In Wisconsin, I'm pretty sure I've seen one of the check-boxes on the contract, regarding a trade-in vehicle, "Do you own the vehicle being traded?" Now, I don't know what happens if the answer is, "No" but, I'm betting it's a whole mess of other paperwork.

ATLjunkcars wrote: In reply to mtn: I don't know how it works in your state but when < link removed > the owner has to be there or you have to get the title changed into your name.

ummm, is canoe?

I can't believe no one has asked yet; What kind of car is it, MTN?

Three pedals?

200k mile solara coupe automatic that smells like monkey butt.

Fresh monkey butt, or old stale monkey butt?

Old stale monkey butt.

Dealership doesn't care who's name is on the title, as long as it processes clean. Nothing new or novel about someone proving a trade in car for someone else, especially a family member.

Yes, technically, because the car has been given to you, you are supposed to do the whole title transfer to yourself. That's the proper legal thing to do, generating revenue for the state in the process. I certainly wouldn't.

At the worse, the dealership might want to actually see your brother in law.

In Texas they need who is on the title to be present when selling the car. Unless you get a power of attorney, then you can sign the title on his behalf.