Bought a car with CA title, DMV says I need the AZ title... (2015)

[z400jt]

A little over a week ago we purchased a car. The previous owner gave us a California title for the car which had been issued in October of 2015 and the plates on the car matched as did the VIN. Everything looked good. However, when we took it to the DMV they told us the car had been registered in Arizona three weeks after the title we have was issued which makes our plates, title, and registration invalid. They suggested that we contact the seller and ask for the Arizona title.

I contacted the seller and after a couple of responses about other things I got to the real problem, he responded once that he had given us a title. I explained further that this title is invalid and that we need the Arizona title. I never heard from him again. We met him in a public setting to purchase the car so I have no idea where he actually lives since I assume the address on the title is no longer current.

We have another appointment at the DMV to ask for directions on what to do next but does anyone else have any ideas as to what we could/should do next?

[cb73]

The issue is--did the seller have a legal right to obtain the October 2015 title and who's on the Arizona title.


This will need to be researched--and the local DMV office generally isn't able to do that. I'm sending you a private message.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

Maybe you could contact the Arizona DMV with the info you have and ask them about the registration and who they have as the owner. I would think you can deal with the AZ and CA DMVs to get this straightened out, even if you can't find the seller. I hope so, anyway.

[Ultrarunner]

AZ is one of the strictest States when it comes to titles... I know this from classic car transactions.

Worse case is you may have to bond the full value of the car as a work around...

If there is an AZ title and you don't have it or are the person it was issued to... there are no simple solutions.

Sometimes Licensed Dealers can work magic... in that they are already bonded and have their license on the line if something is not right... at this point, unless you know someone... doubt that would help.

People get impatient and it can take several weeks turnaround time...

Thing is the California Title would have been surrendered when the AZ title was applied for...

It just does not add up...

This is why I complete all my transactions at the DMV window... just too many private party surprises these days...

One of my co-workers was never able to get a clear title on a car with Nevada Plates... she paid $900 for it... drove it for months and sold it for $400 as a parts car because she had exhausted all viable options...