RI Resident Buying From MA Car Dealer - Trade In Title Issue (Warwick: rental car, sales)

[NTL1991]

Hello everyone.


I am buying a beautiful 2016 BMW X5 from a dealer in Massachusetts. I am a resident of Rhode Island. I will be trading in my old, trusty 1997 Honda Accord. Rhode Island doesn't title vehicles older than model year 2000. The dealer insists that I must have a title in hand to trade in the Honda.


In Rhode Island, when purchasing a used vehicle older than 2000, a bill of sale and proof of ownership is required to register. Proof of ownership is most often a copy of the previous registration.


The dealer is telling me that I need to go to the DMV and get a copy of the title, but RI won't issue one...


Any insight on this situation?


Thanks,
Nick

[FireStation46]

Originally Posted by NTL1991

Hello everyone.


I am buying a beautiful 2016 BMW X5 from a dealer in Massachusetts. I am a resident of Rhode Island. I will be trading in my old, trusty 1997 Honda Accord. Rhode Island doesn't title vehicles older than model year 2000. The dealer insists that I must have a title in hand to trade in the Honda.


In Rhode Island, when purchasing a used vehicle older than 2000, a bill of sale and proof of ownership is required to register. Proof of ownership is most often a copy of the previous registration.


The dealer is telling me that I need to go to the DMV and get a copy of the title, but RI won't issue one...


Any insight on this situation?


Thanks,
Nick

Don’t trust that dealer if the trade in price is above NADA values on such an old car.

https://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/1997...edan-V6/Values

https://autotrek.com/how-dealers-value-your-trade/

Common Auto Dealer Scams - Public Counsel

Be careful of high trade in as they likely hide the true in the car you are buying by upping that end of the equation too


Best way is to sell the old car separately and not involve the dealer. Buy from the dealer without the complications

Other option is to walk away from the deal and look at deals in your state.

Lots of alternatives to buying cars these days: COSTCO, CARVANA, rental car companies etc.

Good luck!

[CaseyB]

Could you buy the car without a trade and then sell the Honda privately in RI?

[BostonMike7]

You need a title in MA to trade it in. Your never going to find a dealer who will go through the hassle of filling out an rmv-1 and registering the car and paying sales tax and waiting for one to come in the mail.

Don't have one? Buy the car without trade and sell it privately in RI or go to a carmax in RI.

I've run into this a few times with buying project cars from other states. You can get a title as an individual but it's a PITA. As a result, I now walk away from cars without a title.

https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-fo...-an-individual

A dealer is simply not going to go through the above process.

[Dm84]

This is a case of RI being completely stupid and making life more difficult than it should ever be.

You might be able to find a dealer in MA near the RI border who is willing to put up with this nonsense but it won't be easy to find one.

Also FWIW a 97 Accord is close to worthless. Just donate it to charity and move on.

[johngolf]

Basically the BMW seller does not want the Honda. Plain and simple. Go back and renegotiate the BMW price with no trade.

[mp775]

You can go to the registry and get a certified copy of the registration and a letter stating the registration is in lieu of title. No need to wait in the main line, either, just go to the Research department. It only takes a few minutes and costs $11 or so.

[BosYuppie]

Carmax it in RI. Easy peasey, they’ll have you out of there in an hour flat.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by mp775

You can go to the registry and get a certified copy of the registration and a letter stating the registration is in lieu of title. No need to wait in the main line, either, just go to the Research department. It only takes a few minutes and costs $11 or so.

But the dealer still has to apply for a MA title on a 20 year old car that they want to send to auction ASAP. They aren't interested in spending money on or holding onto a vehicle for 2-3 weeks they are taking in as a courtesy.

As noted, the OP should go Carmax in Warwick and sell it to them.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by robr2

But the dealer still has to apply for a MA title on a 20 year old car that they want to send to auction ASAP. They aren't interested in spending money on or holding onto a vehicle for 2-3 weeks they are taking in as a courtesy.

As noted, the OP should go Carmax in Warwick and sell it to them.

Exactly. There's very little ROI for the dealer to spend the time to do this even if there is a mechanism in place. Just not worth it to them. Refusing the trade may save them time/money.



Carmax in Warwick is an excellent suggestion