Advice Needed: Selling an automobile that doesn't belong to me

[Megamorph]

My grandfather recently passed away and my grandmother would like to sell their truck. The truck is in my grandfather's name and my grandmother has asked me to sell the truck for her.

How do I sell a vehicle that technically doesn't belong to me and isn't titled to me?

 

[NTB]

was it left to anybody in a will? I went through something similar myself recently, though I was on the buying end rather than selling. My family bought a car from this older man and his wife, who had already divied out everything in a living will - for all intents and purposes, their kids owned everything they had, and had to sign off before she could sell anything. Needless to say, after the wife found out about this, she made a not-so-nice call to their attorney...

Nate

 

[Wuffsunie]

Offhand I'd say check with the lawyer handling his will, ask that person what needs to be done to liquidate assets.

 

[Megamorph]

There is no will. The vehicle and the rest of his property belongs to his wife (my grandmother).

 

[Vic]

Specific Power of Attorney

 

[OutHouse]

have her sell it to you (no money trades hands) so you can get the title, then you sell it.

 

[Wuffsunie]

Originally posted by: Citrix
have her sell it to you (no money trades hands) so you can get the title, then you sell it.

That is one way. The problem there is that the government still gets its hands in it. I know here that for any registered vehicle sale --even no money ones -- the government charges a tax based on the book value of the vehicle. They tend to hit you with it during title transfer. At least you can always build it back into the price when you resell.

 

[KarenMarie]

Sign the back of the title. date the signature that will allow it to look like he sold it but not too long ago that you will get into trouble for not switching the title over.
Sell the truck.

 

[Megamorph]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Sign the back of the title. date the signature that will allow it to look like he sold it but not too long ago that you will get into trouble for not switching the title over.
Sell the truck.

Huh?

Anyone know a ballpark cost for getting a Power of Attorney from a law office?

 

[NTB]

Originally posted by: Wuffsunie

Originally posted by: Citrix
have her sell it to you (no money trades hands) so you can get the title, then you sell it.

That is one way. The problem there is that the government still gets its hands in it. I know here that for any registered vehicle sale --even no money ones -- the government charges a tax based on the book value of the vehicle. They tend to hit you with it during title transfer. At least you can always build it back into the price when you resell.

Couldn't she just give it to him as a gift? I don't think you have to pay any taxes if it's done that way. Then he could sell it, and give her the money.

Nate

 

[KarenMarie]

Originally posted by: Megamorph

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Sign the back of the title. date the signature that will allow it to look like he sold it but not too long ago that you will get into trouble for not switching the title over.
Sell the truck.

Huh?

Anyone know a ballpark cost for getting a Power of Attorney from a law office?

You post says that the truck is in your grandfather's name.
Sign your grandfather's name on the back of the title, signing it over to yourself or your grandmother.
I don't know what the law in your state is... if you have to register, insure, change the title over... in a certain amount of time, so I suggest that you date the signature so you would not get into trouble.

 

[HappyPuppy]

Your grandmother's name isn't on the title? :Q

 

[Megamorph]

The truck is titled to my grandfather. My grandmother's name is not on it.

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Sign the back of the title. date the signature that will allow it to look like he sold it but not too long ago that you will get into trouble for not switching the title over.
Sell the truck.

depends on how long ago he died...might be worth trying for a cheap, old truck, but if it's a valuable vehicle it's probably not worth the risk. The govenment frowns on forgery.

 

[KarenMarie]

Originally posted by: jagec

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Sign the back of the title. date the signature that will allow it to look like he sold it but not too long ago that you will get into trouble for not switching the title over.
Sell the truck.

depends on how long ago he died...might be worth trying for a cheap, old truck, but if it's a valuable vehicle it's probably not worth the risk. The govenment frowns on forgery.

I would tend to agree about the govt and forgery, but we are talking about a family owned truck, that his wife wants to sell. I dont think the govnt would even look.

My father's girlfriend of 15yrs died a very slow, painful death from cancer. When she finally went, there was no will. She had about $250,000. in bank accounts and stocks. Her three kids, wrote checks, sold stocks and transferred money. Failing that, it would have been months before any of them got anything that was left after the lawyers, government, etc got thru with it. There would not have been enough to pay the medical bills.

I am not advocating stealing, and if anyone was looking to scam with the truck, I would not even mention it. But in a case of a wife wants to sell a deceased husbands truck,... well, just do it and have it done with.