Interstate title transfer and transportation question for used car purchase (trusted)

[andymillichamp]

Hello friends,

In my quest for a new car for my fiancee, a trusted relative of hers (legitimate relative, whom she knows since childhood) in the San Jose area in California may be willing to sell his vehicle - an used 2001 Honda Accord Coupe.

The title is in his name (i.e. the relative selling the car) and is clean. As I am relatively new to the USA and very new to car buying, I have a couple of questions:

1) How does one transfer the title from the seller, who is in CA to the buyer (me) who is in TX? I presume there is some legal, safe way to do so without having to meet in person

2) Can anyone recommend a car transportation company from CA to TX that is a good value for money, reliable and will handle the car with care?

Is there anything else that I need to be aware of in such a transaction. I presume there are formalities that I need to complete when the car arrives in TX, e.g. registration, but anything between the buyer and seller?

Of course the payment, but that is figured out if it were to happen.

Thank you,
Andrew

 

[MiataNC]

I1) How does one transfer the title from the seller, who is in CA to the buyer (me) who is in TX? I presume there is some legal, safe way to do so without having to meet in person

Start with your state Department of Motor Vehicles:
http://txdmv.gov/motorists/buying-or-selling-a-vehicle/out-of-state-and-foreign-vehicles

2) Can anyone recommend a car transportation company from CA to TX that is a good value for money, reliable and will handle the car with care?

Google is your friend...

It may be cheaper to fly to CA and drive it back. That is assuming you are the type of person that can put in long miles and enjoy an adventure.

Is there anything else that I need to be aware of in such a transaction. I presume there are formalities that I need to complete when the car arrives in TX, e.g. registration, but anything between the buyer and seller?

See #1

 

[KentState]

You will have to look up the rules in CA, but typically, the seller will sign over the title and can send it through UPS or FedEx. From there, you get insurance and registration on your car with title in hand. A new title will be issued with your name on it as well.

For reference, I sold my car to someone out of state. They drove home with it and I took the cash/check to my bank. After the check cleared, I signed the title over and mailed it.

 

[marvdmartian]

Andy, I just recently gave away my 2009 Hyundai Sonata (to my sister, in NY), and transferring the title was just a matter of me signing the title as seller (with the mileage written down there), writing out a bill of sale, and taking them to the DMV in NY state. They transferred it to a NY title & registration, and were able to hand her the plates right then & there.

I would assume Texas is no different. Having brought a car to Texas in 2000, when I moved here, transferring the title cost me a one-time fee of $90, plus the regular title fee & registration fee. You'll have to show proof of insurance, and have the vehicle inspected (I believe BEFORE going to the DMV). If you live in a metropolitan area that requires the vehicles to be smogged, you'll have to have that done before registering it, too (but being a California vehicle, it should be good to go).

Texas is changing how they do vehicle inspections, starting (I believe) March of 2015. You won't need the window sticker anymore, just go get it inspected, then go to DMV for the registration (or mail it in). My guess is that the inspectors will have a computer tie-in to the DMV, so they'll be able to see it's been done. I'll be glad to see it happen, since getting rid of one of those big stickers, on the driver's side of the windshield, will increase visibility for the drivers.....especially on my Jeep Wrangler, which has a windshield that's only ~16" high to begin with! :thumbsup:

 

[jaedaliu]

about shipping the car:

I shipped 2 cars from LA to Boston a couple years ago. I used uship.com, which posts your shipping request to some kind of job board, and people bid on your job. They see each others' bids, so the prices come down as they nickle and dime each other to give you the best deal. I had a good price there, but I never went with it because I didn't really understand insurances and who was good, and how they were rated.

I went with a shipping broker a friend had used. I think it cost me $100 paid to the broker for 2 cars, and the actual shipping cost was the same as uship.com (uship.com has a separate transaction fee that's less than $100 if you agree to someone's bid) I think they use the same job board. The website just acts as your broker.

My shipper didn't call me before my pickup day, and didn't answer the phone number I was given. So I called the broker and he was able to get in touch with the guy. To me, worth the extra $ spent on the broker. Final cost for 2 cars was ~$1500.

 

[Zargon]

I have also successfully used uship...for a motorcycle

I sent the certified check via priority mail with tracking, and he overnighted me the title when the shipped picked it up