So sick of blantant title jumping...

[d4g4m]

I've been looking for a few different types of old cars to restore. Everyone I view has 'clean' title. But I now ask 'Is the title 'Florida' and 'is your name on it'. I've come across too many cars where guys buy the car thinking they are going to restore it, find out it costs too much and takes too much time and want to sell it. BUT they neglected to get a title in their name. The county clerks in my area will NOT process a 'skip' title. A legit title holder must also include a bill of sale on a state form with the current owners signature.
There was so much title fraud that any person bringing a vehicle from out of state, applying for a Florida title must bring the car with title to a FL office for VIN verification before a Florida title is issued. AND pay an additional $300 'impact' fee for bringing an additional vehicle into the state.

[joee5]

I go with my instincts and rely on an old saying, "if it sounds too good to be true, it is"

[ngrome]

Originally Posted by cyphorx

Does not matter, as long as you have the title and it is signed, the car is yours, had a friend who's car got stolen, his title was in the glovebox(stupid move there), even though he reported the car stolen went it popped up in the system (having been registered by the car thief) there was nothing the police could do because the thief had the title, possession 9/10ths of the law his word against the thief's etc etc......

Originally Posted by Electrician4you

Your buddy is a moron. He can try and get the paperwork showing the fraudulent signatures of the title from his DMV. Take that to the cops and his insurance. Why the f would anyone be that stupid to leave a title in the car. I don’t even leave my registration in the car. It’s in my wallet

While I do leave my registration in my car, along with proof of insurance, but never the title. Electrician is right, he can still show that his signature was forged because you need a valid signature to lay claim to a title, as with any document showing proof of ownership or transfer thereof associated with it. I doubt your friend had his signature on the title, as signing a title obviously does not signify ownership, it signifies a transfer of ownership, if he did that would be like leaving a blank check laying around to be cashed for any amount.

[rstevens62]

There is a lot of those deals around here too, in KY and OH, but usually they are older and cheap cars, like $1000 and under. I know a few people that buy cars like this, they normally will buy one and drive it for a few months and then sell or trade it and get another one. They save by not having to pay registration or have car insurance.

[ferraris]

I guess that's one good thing about some states like Ohio requiring titles to be notarized, even in private sales. A thief would have to go through a few extra hoops to fraudulently register and transfer the title of a stolen car.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by rstevens62

There is a lot of those deals around here too, in KY and OH, but usually they are older and cheap cars, like $1000 and under. I know a few people that buy cars like this, they normally will buy one and drive it for a few months and then sell or trade it and get another one. They save by not having to pay registration or have car insurance.

Is this what OP is talking about? Isn't the actual owner on the title at risk here? Like if the car was used in a major crime or involved in a hit and run? Why would you agree to selling a car without transferring the title?

[cyphorx]

Originally Posted by Electrician4you

Your buddy is a moron. He can try and get the paperwork showing the fraudulent signatures of the title from his DMV. Take that to the cops and his insurance. Why the f would anyone be that stupid to leave a title in the car. I don’t even leave my registration in the car. It’s in my wallet

i agree, hence i said"stupid move"

[thedwightguy]

Originally Posted by d4g4m

I've been looking for a few different types of old cars to restore. Everyone I view has 'clean' title. But I now ask 'Is the title 'Florida' and 'is your name on it'. I've come across too many cars where guys buy the car thinking they are going to restore it, find out it costs too much and takes too much time and want to sell it. BUT they neglected to get a title in their name. The county clerks in my area will NOT process a 'skip' title. A legit title holder must also include a bill of sale on a state form with the current owners signature.
There was so much title fraud that any person bringing a vehicle from out of state, applying for a Florida title must bring the car with title to a FL office for VIN verification before a Florida title is issued. AND pay an additional $300 'impact' fee for bringing an additional vehicle into the state.

The original poster would have really helped if he listed the state he's trying to buy, eh? California is similar, as both Florida and Cal. is a magnet for cons/frauds; the numbers are there. Your car can LEAVE Cal. no problem, but just try to get it back into the state after it's left. that's why we keep our collector cars reg. in Cal.

Same thing up north: BC has ONE reg. insurance co., so fraud is unusual and easily policed. But right next door in Alberta you've got all kinds of things going on, in our "free enterprise" and camel trading province. So BC gives you the gears, and now even on ATV's and construction equipment. It's YOUR responsibility to have "provenance" going all the way back to the original buyers, as so much equipment was being stolen on the prairies and sold where the money is: British Columbia. Not that I really blame them.