buying vehicle from a private party? (sales, attorney, transfer)

[NC_newcomer]

I'm about to buy a vehicle from a private party in another state.

They will sign over the title, and give me a bill of sale/purchase agreement. In their state, nothing has to be notorized.

How about here in NC? Should I insist that signatures on the sales agreement or title sign-over be notorized? I can't find whether this is required on the NC DMV website.

Thanks!

[J_Lurk]

You need the title notarized. You also need a damage disclosure statement. See this link for exact info:
NCDOT Division of Motor Vehicles: How do I title & register a vehicle?

"To register a vehicle purchased from an individual:

Furnish the title properly assigned, and notarized to you. If any liens are shown on the front of the vehicle's title, you will need a lien release"

[geoff2v]

Originally Posted by J_Lurk

You need the title notarized. You also need a damage disclosure statement. See this link for exact info:
NCDOT Division of Motor Vehicles: How do I title & register a vehicle?

"To register a vehicle purchased from an individual:

Furnish the title properly assigned, and notarized to you. If any liens are shown on the front of the vehicle's title, you will need a lien release"

It says that, but we "bought" a car from family members in Florida, where the title doesn't require notarization upon transfer, and my wife didn't have any issue when registering the car. We did do the damage disclosure statement, though.

[Sayantsi]

Fwiw, I bought a vehicle from VA where it is not required to be notarized, and NC DMV is fine with that - only NC titles need to be notarized.

[J7007]

Know this says nc but maybe j lurk can help. Am trying to payoff a vehicle that was financed in someone elses name through a finance company and receive the title. What would you suggest? Ty

[DanielChang]

The finance company needs to release the lien, and then the seller needs to notarize the title to transfer title to you. You then take the title down to the DMV plate office to get a new title.

[J7007]

How do you get them to release the lean? We would ideally like for the person to never see the title. Our fear is if he changes his mind once we pay the car off. An attorney suggested having a transfer of title signed before we send in the money then writing a letter asking the finance co. To send the title to us, then, we could bring the title and form to DMV. Sound good?

[UNC81]

Originally Posted by J7007

How do you get them to release the lean? We would ideally like for the person to never see the title. Our fear is if he changes his mind once we pay the car off. An attorney suggested having a transfer of title signed before we send in the money then writing a letter asking the finance co. To send the title to us, then, we could bring the title and form to DMV. Sound good?

You may get lucky, but I don't know of any finance company that would do that. The best thing would be to have the seller sign a power of attorney to the bank that holds the title, then have the bank sign it over and mail it to you if you don't want the seller to see the title.

[J7007]

Thank you. Do you know where to get a power of attorney form for this use?