No Title - Scam or Legitimate Business

[joefromga]

One of those 16 or so papers you sign when buying a car is a power of attorney to allow the dealer to get title and registration in your name.

It's probably legit. If he has a business license and is occupying a real building he's probably OK.

Either way you'd have the car in possession.

 

[paulfun9]

They should have the title at the dealership. In most states it is required that the seller and purchaser both sign the title before it goes to the state for processing If they don't have a title on hand at time of purchase for you to sign before actually taking possession of the vehicle then I would be worried.

 

[paulfun9]

The dealer does not have title in hand because they do not title a used vehicle in their name. When someone trades in a used vehicle with title that title goes to the state with the dealers paperwork. Dealers fill out a separate form for the state that they took the vehicle in on trade and must show proof to the state any liens (if any) on the title have been paid off. Then they can resell the vehicle. A legitimate dealer cannot take a car in on trade, resell to you and hand you the previous owners title. That's called jumping title. The state would have no record there they were involved in the transaction at all. If a dealer did jump title the state would assume you bought it directly from the previous owner. They have to have the proper paperwork for the state.

In PA the dealer does not have to send in the title until they sell the car. They can take possession of the title and they must be signed on to it on the back. Then they keep it in their file cabinet until someone comes in to buy it. Then the buyer signs on the back as the purchaser then the title is sent into the state for processing

Things will vary from state to state and New York is the only state close that I have not purchased a car from directly so how it works up that way I wouldn't know but the only time I know of that a dealer had to get a title transferred before they could sell a car was when it came from out of state but I am unsure as to which state because it was so long ago I just cant remember. I have had to sign the back of other states titles before taking a car or truck just the same as the PA title when I purchased vehicles from out of state.
The only real difference so far has been the amount of time it takes before I receive the new title in the mail.
In all honesty I cant remember ever taking possession of any used vehicle that I didn't actually sign the back of the title before I could drive away with it. New cars don't have a title they have a certificate of origin and you have to sign that before you take possession of the car the same as you do a title.

 

[aczlan]

In PA the dealer does not have to send in the title until they sell the car. They can take possession of the title and they must be signed on to it on the back. Then they keep it in their file cabinet until someone comes in to buy it. Then the buyer signs on the back as the purchaser then the title is sent into the state for processing

Things will vary from state to state and New York is the only state close that I have not purchased a car from directly so how it works up that way I wouldn't know but the only time I know of that a dealer had to get a title transferred before they could sell a car was when it came from out of state but I am unsure as to which state because it was so long ago I just cant remember. I have had to sign the back of other states titles before taking a car or truck just the same as the PA title when I purchased vehicles from out of state.
The only real difference so far has been the amount of time it takes before I receive the new title in the mail.
In all honesty I cant remember ever taking possession of any used vehicle that I didn't actually sign the back of the title before I could drive away with it. New cars don't have a title they have a certificate of origin and you have to sign that before you take possession of the car the same as you do a title.

The way GA works (from what I read) is that the seller signs it, then the dealer(s) sign the "dealer transfer" portion (but don't send it in), then the buyer signs their portion.
Multiple dealers can sign the "Dealer Transfer" part (ie: someone trades a car in, it goes to auction and another dealer buys it, the trade in dealer and the dealer who buys it at auction both sign the "Dealer Transfer" part).
NY works pretty much the same way.

Aaron Z

 

[tractorshopper]

In SC, the only time I've ever signed a used car title is when buying from a private seller who had the title. Any new or used car in a dealership that I have ever bought, I have never seen the title until it was mailed to me later. Sometimes that later is when the car is actually paid off when I did financing because the financing company holds the title until the car is paid for.

In the OP's case here, I would not expect to see anything but a bill of sale as I think he is paying cash at a dealership and will receive the title in a couple weeks by mail. The bill of sale will go to the DMV for registration and license plate issuance. Also in my experience, the license plate and registration will be mailed as well or he could pick up at the dealership later when it comes in there. He would leave the lot with a temporary tag with an expiration date on it and the bill of sale.