Buying a US car overseas without a title?

[Qacer]

On behalf of a buddy, he's also in the market for a car and found one that he really likes. He initially made an offer and then found out that the car owner does not have the title. My buddy is in Europe and he is dealing with a US service member who bought the car from another service member.

Apparently, if you are in the military community in Europe, you do not need a car's title to purchase the vehicle from another seller within the same community. As long as the car has an active registration, you can re-register it after the purchase. No titles required. The title only comes in when you ship the car to Europe.

If my buddy wants to take the car back with him to the States, what does he need to do?

The closest information that I can find for this is this one:
http://www.mva.maryland.gov/About-MVA/INFO/27300/27300-23T.htm

However, it does not cover anything about being able to ship the car back to the States.

Anyone encountered something like this?

 

[olds]

https://www.whereismypov.com/turnin.asp

 

[Qacer]

Thanks! I also found this link on Google: http://www.getnewtitle.com/

I guess it is possible to get a car title, but the fee is pretty hefty - $1200.

 

[T_Yamamoto]

https://www.whereismypov.com/turnin.asp

that looks so sketch

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Yeah... Looks like a great way to get the car into the US and then be unable to register it.

Personally...... No title, no sale. I've dealt with way too many title headaches, and you have to go into it knowing it could just be a huge waste of time and money.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Also, title aside, depending on your state you might have to pay back taxes on the car to get it registered since you say it is a "US car".

I have a motorcycle buddy who, in 2009, bought a '0 mile' brand new never registered 2004 motorcycle. He ended up having to pay all of the back taxes on it since the original owner did the initial title transfer in 04 but never tagged it.

He could've bought a brand new 09 for what he paid for the bike+taxes.

 

[gablesyoga]

I spend hours each day helping distressed military members who are struggling to register and title vehicles in the U.S. that they bought overseas. Many countries do not issue titles to vehicle owners. This commonly results in overseas sellers failing to provide the documentation required to title a vehicle in the U.S. If you buy a new vehicle overseas, most DMVs require the original manufacturer's certificate of origin and the original bill of sale. If you buy a used vehicle overseas, in addition to those two documents, most DMVs require an original bill of sale for each time the vehicle changed owners, as well as an original lien release for each loan that has ever been taken out on the vehicle by any owner. If you are unable to get a regular title from a U.S. state DMV, you may be able to get a bonded title. Depending on the state or country, the bonded title may be used to apply for a regular title at a later date. A vehicle with a bonded title generally can't be sold.

 

[master_shake_]

that sounds like a freaking nightmare.

and of course the wheels of government are monotonously slow.