Can I Register A Car Whose Title Is Not In My Name?

Title Jumping – When the seller's name is not on the championship

Crystal Ignatowski
July 26, 2017
No Comments

Title jumping is the act of buying a vehicle and selling it without registering the vehicle in your name. The championship "jumps" from ane possessor to the next, without any tape. Title jumping is also known equally a jumped title or floated title.

Formerly, championship jumping was a practice used by car dealers to avert having to pay taxes on vehicles. Today, though, title jumping is not limited to just car dealers. People title jump for many reasons, but mostly to avert paying sales tax and to avoid the actual title process.

Championship jumping is illegal in every state.

Even if yous buy a vehicle and plow effectually the next day and sell information technology, you are legally required to transfer the title into your name. There are exceptions to this rule, though, such as when a title owner is deceased and the adjacent of kin wishes to sell the vehicle.

Title Jumping - Dangers to sellers

You are title jumping if you sell a vehicle without transferring the title into your name.

Most states require yous to transfer the title into your name within a specific time period. But even if you miss the time period, you are still required to put the title in your name.

Sellers who practise not transfer the championship into their name earlier selling a vehicle technically are non the legal owner of the vehicle. Risks include penalties, fines and/or jail time.

Title Jumping - Dangers to buyers

If y'all purchased a vehicle from someone whose proper noun was not on the championship, you take chances many possible headaches.

Headaches include:

• Bug with transferring the title into your name at the DMV

• Lengthy back-and-forth with the seller/original title owner

• Not knowing how many people the vehicle was endemic by. Potential vehicle issues, etc.

In many cases, prior sellers and/or the original title owner cannot be located. This means you are stuck with the burden of figuring out what to do on your own.

If You Are The Victim Of Title Jumping

If you bought a vehicle and the seller's name was non on the title, you have a few options:

1. If you bought the vehicle from a private seller, you could try to go the seller (or current championship owner, if different) to transfer the championship into their proper name and sign the new title over to you lot (take your local DMV assist you with this)

2. If you bought the motorcar from a dealership, y'all could file a claim against the concern

iii. In either situation, you could endeavor to get your money back and avert the headache

iv. If none of the above options work for you, you could possibly get a bonded title

Please note that the last option (bonded championship option) is non a solution for anybody. Y'all need to check with your local DMV get-go earlier starting the procedure.

You are always free to take legal action, but most people cull to not do and so because of the fourth dimension and money involved.

About Surety Solutions, A Gallagher Company

Surety Solutions makes the process of getting your surety bond quick and easy. We're committed to uphold our culture of trust, honesty and great customer service.

Do yous need a Bonded Title?

Follow our simple infographic to see if getting a Bonded Title is the all-time option to register your vehicle.

If you bought a machine without a title or were title-jumped, getting a Bonded Title might be your best solution. Read more…

If a Vehicle Dealer did non provide a title or other paperwork to register your vehicle, you may desire to file a complaint. Read more…

Your vehicle must come across this criteria to sell without a Dealer License. Read more…

Crystal Ignatowski

Crystal Ignatowski is a Marketing Content Programmer. She writes and creates content for Surety Solutions, A Gallagher Company'due south blog and website.