question on buying an out of state car and lost title (Jacksonville: sales, transfer)

[1967mary]

Hello there, my son is a Marine in Jacksonville, NC, he bought a car that is in KY, he goes to pick it up this weekend. He has no idea about how to go about getting it tagged and registered. The original owner lost the title and applied for a new one, but that will take about two weeks. Can he still pick up the car and bring it to NC? Will a bill of sale suffice till the title arrives? If the car is registered in KY does he need to pay KY sales tax? And last but not least, where does he go to register the car in NC? I think it's the courthouse, but I'm not sure.

Thanks for any help you can give!

Mary in TN

[mm34b]

NCDOT Division of Motor Vehicles: How do I title & register a vehicle?

[vq1]

Quick Answers for you:

1) DO NOT PAY for the vehicle until the time that the title is transfered to your son. North Carolina is a "Title State" which means a Bill of Sale will not get him an NC Title on a vehicle. However, he should get both, the Title and the properly filled out Bill of Sale. The proper sale amount, Seller's name(s), Buyer's name(s) and date should be on the Bill of Sale.

2) Sales Tax (actually, Highway Use Tax) will be collected at the time he goes to title and register the vehicle at the local NC Tag Office (usually not at the court house.)

3) With all of the fraud going on these days, I would verify the KY title with a KY tag office at the time that I gave the money in exchange for the PROPERLY completed title and have them notorize the Title and even the Bill of Sale.

4) Know how to get up with the Seller(s) if something goes wrong.

Good Luck!