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In the past, I have purchased vehicles in CA, both from dealers and from private parties.
the dealer transactions were interesting, in that CA vehicle dealers are actually agents of the State DMV. They handle all the title, registration, and sales tax paperwork. The fact that I was a Montana resident, and intended to register the vehicles in Montana meant absolutely nothing to them. They HAD to transfer the title to me as a CA title, and I HAD to pay the sales tax. Well, OK, I could have paid to have them drive the vehicle to NV, deliver it to me there, and not pay the sales tax. That would have cost as much or more than the tax, for a possible negative savings. When I returned to MT, I presented the CA title at the DMV office in the County Courthouse, got the Montana plates and registration, and in about three weeks the MT title came in the mail.
No, states do not communicate about such things. Not long after that, I got a nasty-gram from CA stating that I had 15 days (IIRC) to renew the CA registration on the vehicle or put it in NON-OP status. I sent them a copy of the MT registration, and heard nothing more from them.
The private party transactions were very simple. I handed the seller the money, he handed me the title and the keys. I brought the vehicle back to MT, transferred the title, and the deal was completed. One of those sales was a NV car that was brought to me in CA, and I purchased, then brought back to MT to transfer the title.
I have a folder in a file drawer that contains the title for every vehicle I own, even the ones that have liens on them.
It has been said "50 states, 51 ways of doing things!" While that isn't, of course, completely true, it isn't very far off, either.
I bought a car in California, paid off the loan in California, registered the car in Iowa and then Minnesota. I've never had a physical copy of the title, and I've never needed one. But I suppose it would be better to have one than not, in case I ever want to transfer the ownership to someone else. Which DMV should I contact?
I bought a car in California, paid off the loan in California, registered the car in Iowa and then Minnesota. I've never had a physical copy of the title, and I've never needed one. But I suppose it would be better to have one than not, in case I ever want to transfer the ownership to someone else. Which DMV should I contact?
Since the car purchase was completed in CA, that would be where I'd inquire first.
I would hate to have any dealings with the California DMV. Any alternatives?
Not if that's where your title is at.
If you registered the car in other states without obtaining a transferrable title in those states after making your purchase in CA, then CA is where the title is likely held in their "virtual title" database system.
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