How Long to Get Title on New Car From the Dealer? (Arlington: sale, loan) - Northern Virginia - Virginia (VA) - City-Data Forum

Carlingtonian · 10-23-2014, 02:56 PM

We recently bought a new car from a dealer in Maryland. It's now been almost two weeks, and we still do not have either the title number or the actual title. (We did get permanent Virginia plates and registration at the dealer.)

Does anyone know if this is normal?

And what's the usual procedure, anyway? Does the MD dealer have to mail something to the VA DMV and then wait for the latter to mail the title back to MD?

Our salesperson has been making inquiries with whatever department at the dealership so I can at least get the title number, but it's been a few days since I first asked, and I'm starting to get irritated. (I need the title number to register with the County and get the required property-tax windshield decal.)

Thanks for any info.

Eagle4Life · 10-23-2014, 03:53 PM

The dealer doesn't issue the title, the DMV does, and if you have a loan on the car you won't get a title. The lienholder gets the title.

Carlingtonian · 10-23-2014, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle4Life

The dealer doesn't issue the title, the DMV does, and if you have a loan on the car you won't get a title. The lienholder gets the title.

Thanks. We do have a loan from our CU. When we pay off the loan, I assume the CU will give us the title, right?

So weird they don't give you the title; we have a mortgage, but we have the deed on our house.

Eagle4Life · 10-23-2014, 04:30 PM

Yes. You will get the title once the loan is paid off and the CU releases the lien. I don't think there is actually a paper title the CU holds, just a computer record until it's printed off to send to you once the loan is paid.

I'm not so sure you can compare a home deed to a car title.

Carlingtonian · 10-23-2014, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle4Life

Yes. You will get the title once the loan is paid off and the CU releases the lien. I don't think there is actually a paper title the CU holds, just a computer record until it's printed off to send to you once the loan is paid.

I'm not so sure you can compare a home deed to a car title.

Good to know. Still--is it normal not to get the title number for two weeks?

Re. car title vs. house deed: The way I see it, they're both expensive items that are often financed. So yeah, it's odd that in the case of a house, you keep the deed, but in the case of the car, they do. Maybe it's because it's easier to run off with a car you haven't paid for.

airjay75 · 10-23-2014, 07:01 PM

When I bought my new car last year (which was financed), I remember logging into my DMV account online to see if the new car had showed up in my profile yet, and it seemed like it took a good 2-3 weeks. I presumed it was because it took the dealer and the lender that long to process the paperwork and get the title issued (in electronic form only, of course). The thought crossed my mind to call the dealer and see what was going on, but I never did and the new car, title number and all eventually showed up in my online profile.

As others have said regarding the title, you will not get a paper title until the car is paid off and, even then, in Virginia, you may have to actually request a paper title. What can get real fun is if you move to a new state before the car is paid off. That happened to me the first year in Virginia. I paid off our car, lender sent me a Pennsylvania title which, in turn, I had to take to the VA DMV to get a VA title but, of course, the lender had not released the electronic lien in VA's records (because when you first move to VA and register your car, they electronically create a VA title with a lien for your existing lender).

Carlingtonian · 10-23-2014, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by airjay75

When I bought my new car last year (which was financed), I remember logging into my DMV account online to see if the new car had showed up in my profile yet, and it seemed like it took a good 2-3 weeks. I presumed it was because it took the dealer and the lender that long to process the paperwork and get the title issued (in electronic form only, of course). The thought crossed my mind to call the dealer and see what was going on, but I never did and the new car, title number and all eventually showed up in my online profile.

As others have said regarding the title, you will not get a paper title until the car is paid off and, even then, in Virginia, you may have to actually request a paper title. What can get real fun is if you move to a new state before the car is paid off. That happened to me the first year in Virginia. I paid off our car, lender sent me a Pennsylvania title which, in turn, I had to take to the VA DMV to get a VA title but, of course, the lender had not released the electronic lien in VA's records (because when you first move to VA and register your car, they electronically create a VA title with a lien for your existing lender).

Wow. Crazy!

Technically, Arlington County requires me to get the windshield decal within 30 days of buying the car. But I can't even register it online with the County--it's already registered with the state--without having the title number--which is not on the registration. I could get a ticket if I don't have the ArlCo property-tax decal within 30 days.

I'm starting to think I shouldn't have bought a car in MD, even though we got a super deal. The dumb dealership (which again issued the VA tags, emission sticker, and registration) forgot to tell me I need to get a VA safety-inspection sticker! (Had I been a MD resident, they could've issued me one.)

acgood · 10-24-2014, 06:05 AM

We live in VA and happened to end up buying our two cars in MD. We paid cash for both so I don't recall any drama regarding the title. We obviously had to quickly get the VA inspection when we brought the cars to VA...not the dealer's job to know the out-of-state rules and regulations for you

z28lt1 · 10-24-2014, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

Wow. Crazy!

Technically, Arlington County requires me to get the windshield decal within 30 days of buying the car. But I can't even register it online with the County--it's already registered with the state--without having the title number--which is not on the registration. I could get a ticket if I don't have the ArlCo property-tax decal within 30 days.

I'm starting to think I shouldn't have bought a car in MD, even though we got a super deal. The dumb dealership (which again issued the VA tags, emission sticker, and registration) forgot to tell me I need to get a VA safety-inspection sticker! (Had I been a MD resident, they could've issued me one.)

Don't wait for the property tax decal, you will get a ticket, so call them if you have to. I can't speak for Arlington, but I recently registered a car in Loudoun. They asked for the title number online as well (and i too didn't have it yet), and when I called, I was told it wasn't a required field, and to leave it blank. I did, and got my decal without any issue.

Houses/property are different than cars, because houses aren't mobile (with the obvious exceptions). Deed recording happens in the county (or city) you live in, and the county will always have the proper ownership records, and you (usually through the settlement company) pay taxes and file paperwork with the county based upon sale or transfer of ownership.

Cars can be sold privately anywhere, and the new owner takes the title and registers in the state he/she resides in, so less control of ownership and titles.

Carlingtonian · 10-24-2014, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by z28lt1

Don't wait for the property tax decal, you will get a ticket, so call them if you have to. I can't speak for Arlington, but I recently registered a car in Loudoun. They asked for the title number online as well (and i too didn't have it yet), and when I called, I was told it wasn't a required field, and to leave it blank. I did, and got my decal without any issue.

Houses/property are different than cars, because houses aren't mobile (with the obvious exceptions). Deed recording happens in the county (or city) you live in, and the county will always have the proper ownership records, and you (usually through the settlement company) pay taxes and file paperwork with the county based upon sale or transfer of ownership.

Cars can be sold privately anywhere, and the new owner takes the title and registers in the state he/she resides in, so less control of ownership and titles.

Thanks. I tried registering online sans title number, but it wouldn't let me. Maybe I'll call the DMV.