HOW TO SELL A VEHICLE WHEN THE TITLE HAS BEEN LOST

So, you have a buyer for your vehicle and are eager to make the sale, but you can’t find the title.  What should you do?  How can you sell the vehicle when you don’t have the ownership certificate?  Fortunately there are two options that will allow you to sell the vehicle when the title has been lost or misplaced.

OPTIONS FOR SELLING A VEHICLE WHEN THE TITLE IS LOST

Option One:  Order a Duplicate Title

Steps to ordering a duplicate title:

Complete Sections 1 – 3 of DMV REG 227

  1. Check the Replacement Title box at the top
  2. Enter the License Plate Number, VIN, and Year/Make of Vehicle
  3. In Section 1, Enter the Registered Owner’s Name (note order; last, first, middle), driver license number and address.  If the address on file at the DMV is not a current address where mail can be accessed, the registered owner’s address must be updated in the DMV database before requesting the duplicate title. 
  4. Section 2, is for the Legal Owner of Record.  If the vehicle has no loan, enter NONE.   If the vehicle had a loan, which has been paid off, but is still on the DMV record, the Lienholder/Title Holder’s name should be entered.  This will also require a lien release be requested from the lienholder.
  5. In Section 3, Check the box that applies, print the owner’s name, sign, date and enter a phone number.
  6. Submit the form to the DMV with the required fee ($20 currently).  The form can be submitted by mail to the DMV, by walk-in at a DMV field office or by coming to Totally Notary and Vehicle Registration Service, additional service fee applies.

Option Two: Transfer the Vehicle using the REG 227.

You could order a duplicate title, but that would take time and maybe your buyer isn’t willing to wait.  So what’s the other option for selling your car without a title?
You can use the same DMV REG-227 to transfer the vehicle.  The Application for Duplicate or Transfer of Title REG-227 is a DMV form that serves two purposes.  If you have lost the title, it may be used to request a duplicate.  It may also be used to apply for a duplicate title in conjunction with a transfer of a vehicle.

Steps for using the REG 227 to transfer the vehicle:

Complete Sections 1-4 and 6-7, as needed.

  1. Check the Transfer of Title with Replacement box at the top
  2. Section 1-4  is completed by the Seller
  3. Section 6,  and 7 as needed, is completed by the New Owner
  4. The Seller will follow the steps for Section 1-3 above and in addition, will use Section 4 to Release Ownership and/or Interest in the vehicle.  Finally, the Seller will print and sign their name, date and enter their phone number
  5. The New Owner will complete Section 6 on Page 2 by entering the date the vehicle was purchased, the purchase price, their full name (note order; last, first, middle), their driver license and address.  The new owner will then sign, date and enter their phone number and email address at the bottom.
  6. Section 7 is in situations where the new owner has a lienholder/title holder.  If there is none, the new owner will write “NONE” on the first line in Section 7.
  7. If the vehicle is less than 20 years old, starting with model year 2011, an odometer disclosure is also required and the REG-227 does not contain one.
    The odometer can be reported using a Vehicle/Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form REG-262.  The REG-262 is an industry form that is not available online.  It can be obtained from the DMV or a DMV business partner like Totally Notary, a Registration Service licensed and contracted to perform title services.

IN CONCLUSION

It is possible to sell a vehicle when the title has been lost.  Ordering a duplicate title is one solution.  The other is to utilize the REG 227 to process a transfer with title replacement.  These alternatives merely require preparation and additional paperwork.

In addition, a Bill of Sale REG-135 is always recommended when transferring a vehicle.  It offers advantages for the both the Seller and Buyer.  For the Seller, it documents the sale and gives proof of release of liability.  It includes the buyer’s name and address which can be used to file the Release of Liability online.  If the buyer gets a ticket or in an accident before registering it, the seller has some protection.  For the Buyer, it documents the sale and defines the car’s condition at the time of purchase.  It is important in establishing the chain of ownership.

I am sometimes asked if a vehicle can be transferred with just a Bill of Sale.  Generally, no, but there are some circumstances where a vehicle bond may allow a bonded title to be issued.  The DMV can advise whether the vehicle in question qualifies for a bonded title transfer.

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