How to sell used car?

[Lean L]

So from what I have gathered, here is the proper course of action once the deal has been set up.

1) Meet at buyer's bank. Sign bill of sale, title. Buy cashier's check for selling price.
2) Drive buyer to DMV parking lot. Remove plates.
3) At this point the buyer can apply for temporary registration.

Am I missing anything or should that pretty much cover it.

 

[olds]

You can't, it's against the law.

 

[dbk]

Meet at buyer's bank. Get the cashier's check. Have the Bill of Sale notorized right there. The buyer can usually get a temp pass to affix to the vehicle which gives them a week or two to get it registered in the buyer's name. In VA it's called a Trip Permit.

You don't have to drive them anywhere. You take the money, plates, and go home. In some states the plates stay with the car. So yeah, you pretty much have it right.

 

[Lean L]

This is for PA. From what I can tell looking it up, it looks like the temporary registration lasts for 90 days and can only be issued by the dmv. I can't see any other way the buyer can drive the car without getting pulled over immediately. I'm not leaving my plates with the car.

 

[BoomerD]

How do you function in life...being such an idiot?

 

[chimaxi83]

This is for PA. From what I can tell looking it up, it looks like the temporary registration lasts for 90 days and can only be issued by the dmv. I can't see any other way the buyer can drive the car without getting pulled over immediately. I'm not leaving my plates with the car.

Can't you PA people simply walk into a currency exchange with the title, pay the fees, and walk out with temp plates? How is this stuff hard?

 

[mrjminer]

This is for PA. From what I can tell looking it up, it looks like the temporary registration lasts for 90 days and can only be issued by the dmv. I can't see any other way the buyer can drive the car without getting pulled over immediately. I'm not leaving my plates with the car.

Yea, do not leave the plates on the car, no matter what anyone tells you.

 

[sze5003]

I've sold used cars before. What I do is if it's cash, I meet up with the person at a tag place, exchange cash and title right outside, go in to the auto tag office and sign the title over and the new user gets his registration and temp plates right there. I take my plates off the car and turn them in there or to the dmv.

This is also in PA.

 

[BoomerD]

Yea, do not leave the plates on the car, no matter what anyone tells you.

That really depends on what state law says.

In some states, the plates stay with the vehicle...in others, the plate stays with the owner.

IIRC, in PA, the plate stays with the owner...and if they don't use it on another vehicle (must be properly transferred by DMV) then it has to be returned to the DMV.

 

[mrjminer]

That really depends on what state law says.

In some states, the plates stay with the vehicle...in others, the plate stays with the owner.

IIRC, in PA, the plate stays with the owner...and if they don't use it on another vehicle (must be properly transferred by DMV) then it has to be returned to the DMV.

I just know a relative that got burned to the tune of over one hundred parking tickets that he was then responsible for because he trusted someone to change the plates like they were supposed to and didn't. Bill of sale meant nothing, even after tickets were racked up for months after the first notice and informing whatever agencies that he no longer owned the vehicle. Eventually the car got impounded, lucky him.

But yea, you are right. The state law will be what to go off. My advice is henceforth changed to taking the every step possible to ensure that the vehicle is legally transferred over to the other party and to ensure you are no longer liable for anything involving it

 

[Minerva]

Interrupt the prez like these guys did!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqlJvGvtOvY

 

[Pr0d1gy]

How do you function in life...being such an idiot?

How has nobody pounded this attitude out of you yet?

Oh yeah, you do this on the interwebs because you're a big, fat, hairy, wart covered pussy in real life.

Dial it back.
admin allisolm

 

[thedarkwolf]

I just take my tags off after I get the money and let the buyer worry about all the other crap. Same when I buy. I bring tags off my other car or a set of expired tags I have laying around and drive it home on those hoping no cops notice . Hasn't been a problem so far.

 

[BoomerD]

How has nobody pounded this attitude out of you yet?

Oh yeah, you do this on the interwebs because you're a big, fat, hairy, wart covered pussy in real life.

Let me guess...you really are too stupid to remember this guy's user name before "Lean L."

Let me give you a hint...he was "I am a Idiot" before he had it changed.

Don't you worry about my big, fat, hairy, wart covered pussy...worry about your own lack of mental capacity.

Dial it back.
admin allisolm

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Let me guess...you really are too stupid to remember this guy's user name before "Lean L."

Let me give you a hint...he was "I am a Idiot" before he had it changed.

Don't you worry about my big, fat, hairy, wart covered pussy...worry about your own lack of mental capacity.

Yeah man, we're all idiots and you're Nickola Tesla. Go stick a douche in that thing.

 

[allisolm]

Pr0d1gy and BoomerD - get a room, take it outside or take it to PMs, but end it in here - now.

admin allisolm

 

[monkeydelmagico]

I just take my tags off after I get the money and let the buyer worry about all the other crap. Same when I buy. I bring tags off my other car or a set of expired tags I have laying around and drive it home on those hoping no cops notice . Hasn't been a problem so far.

+1 Just did this over the weekend. NJ is easy, a signed title is all you really need.

In PA though it's easier to just go to a title/registration shop because you have to do the title in front of an "authorized agent"

 

[sze5003]

+1 Just did this over the weekend. NJ is easy, a signed title is all you really need.

In PA though it's easier to just go to a title/registration shop because you have to do the title in front of an "authorized agent"

I remember when I sold my last motorcycle, I had the title already signed and gave it to the buyer with a pic of my id. He was able to register it without me being there.

 

[Midwayman]

I've driven to get plates without any on the car and never had an issue. Just carry the bill of sale and title with you and unless you're a complete asshole I doubt there is much risk.

As for the OP
Prepare of bill of sale. Make sure it contains language about AS-IS. This is normal with used cars, but its best to be explicit.
Get your title and meet at their bank. That's the only way to really be sure that you're getting a real check. Sign the title over to them, have them sign the bill of sale.
After that it's their problem. Presumably they got a ride to the sale so can go find a title place on their own. Plates vary by state. Some they go with the vehicle, some you own them. Look it up. Take the plates according to state law.