Selling used car to private party? (sale, 2015, insurance)

[gcretro]

Hello,
How do I go about completing the sale of a my car to a private party? We have agreed on a price verbally. I am talking about $1800 used car.

Do we (seller & buyer) just meet at the DMV office, I take cash? from the seller in the office, and then sign the title and other paperwork over?

Is there a better/safer way to handle this process? Thanks

[m378]

You don't need to meet at the DMV, just take the cash and sign over the title.

[Mirabella]

Originally Posted by m378

You don't need to meet at the DMV, just take the cash and sign over the title.

Correct.

[K4GPB]

Go to your bank or credit union that has a notary so you can sign title and odometer statement.
Great, safe place to do the financial transaction.

Sample bill of sale docs are free downloads on the Internet

[m378]

Originally Posted by K4GPB

Go to your bank or credit union that has a notary so you can sign title and odometer statement.
Great, safe place to do the financial transaction.

Sample bill of sale docs are free downloads on the Internet

Notarization isn't required for the sale.

[wizard-xyzzy]

Yes, a financial institution is the best place and yes notarization is required for the new owner to be able to obtain title. Remove your personal property from the car before you meet the buyer. Prepare a bill of sale, in duplicate. Both parties sign. You get one and the buyer gets one. Insist on it even if the buyer thinks it's pointless. Cash or cashier's check or some combination, but beware there is occasional forgery of cashier's checks so I suggest you deposit it immediately and then complete the transaction. Hand over the keys and remove your license plate, registration card, and proof of insurance. Promptly turn in the license plate to DMV and cancel your insurance.

[m378]

Originally Posted by wizard-xyzzy

Yes, a financial institution is the best place and yes notarization is required for the new owner to be able to obtain title. Remove your personal property from the car before you meet the buyer. Prepare a bill of sale, in duplicate. Both parties sign. You get one and the buyer gets one. Insist on it even if the buyer thinks it's pointless. Cash or cashier's check or some combination, but beware there is occasional forgery of cashier's checks so I suggest you deposit it immediately and then complete the transaction. Hand over the keys and remove your license plate, registration card, and proof of insurance. Promptly turn in the license plate to DMV and cancel your insurance.

Good advice I guess, but for an 1800 dollar car, have the buyer bring cash, hand over the title, and call it a day. Meeting at a financial institution is unnecessary.

[K4GPB]

https://www.dmv.org/nc-north-carolin...ying-a-car.php


To sell a car independently in North Carolina, you will need to transfer the vehicle title to the buyer. To complete the transfer, you will need the vehicle's original certificate of title with all of the information on the back of the document completely filled out. ... Seller's signature and printed name.


Both the buyer and seller sign the title or confirm in person at the notary that they did sign the title. Only the signature of the seller must be notarized.

[wheelsup]

You can get the title notarized prior to the sale and just have the seller meet you wherever you want. Most people combine the notary part with the bank because most banks will offer it as a service to their customers. Take cash and hand them the title. If you want to go an extra step (unneeded) fill in the buyers info on the back of the title.

The notary is solely signing to confirm the seller is the one in front of them who owns the car and signing the title away. That is the only reason for the notary.

[m378]

Originally Posted by K4GPB

https://www.dmv.org/nc-north-carolin...ying-a-car.php


To sell a car independently in North Carolina, you will need to transfer the vehicle title to the buyer. To complete the transfer, you will need the vehicle's original certificate of title with all of the information on the back of the document completely filled out. ... Seller's signature and printed name.


Both the buyer and seller sign the title or confirm in person at the notary that they did sign the title. Only the signature of the seller must be notarized.

I stand corrected. I'm 99.9% sure the car I recently bought the sellers signature was not notarized. I didn't have any issues with the title transfer, but maybe I just got lucky.