How do I get a title when I can no longer reach seller?

I bought a car from a private seller (craigslist) the guy gave me the title but it was not signed correctly. It was signed in the boat section by a woman. He explained that to me that his girlfriend was the woman and she would simply sign it over to me. I paid him and he gave me the car the title. I then tried to get the car registered to me and the DMV would not accept it as it was not titled to the "seller". I brought the title back the the seller and told him that he would have to get a replacement to sign over to me and I have not heard from him since. Is there anyway that I could get the title on my own without the seller as I have been trying to contact him for 2 months.

Vipassana

No title = no pay.

It's not hard.

Technically, vehicle is still his. And with no receipt or anything else, you have no way to prove otherwise.

And you gave it back, so now he doesn't have to do a thing with it.

No, you can't apply for the title, since the vehicle was never registered to you in the first place. Calling the DMV won't do a thing for you. All he has to do, is say you never paid. And you have no proof otherwise.

Good job. You failed on all accounts.

vicki g

Let's see:
You bought a car...that had a vessel title instead of a vehicle title. Then he gave you the car title, but it was not signed by the titles owner? Or was it not a title at all, but a REG 262?

You checked the car is not stolen?
You checked there is no lien on the car?
Is the car valued at less than $5,000?
Does the DMV show, in their data bank, the previous owner signed a Release of Liability?
Perhaps the owner lost the title?

In Calif.: you need 2 forms. 1. Duplicate for Title REG 227 signed by seller/owner on front and you/buyer fill out the back. 2. REG 262 which is a combo form for Bill of Sale between seller / owner and odometer reading AND you need a Smog Certification not more than 90 days old.

Mail him the REG 227 and REG 262 to the last known address for his signatures with a return address. If it comes back to you unopened, then don't open it, but put it in with your paperwork you turn in. It shows you did your due diligence in trying to get the title signed. (Or take it to him, if you can get the owner/seller to sign on the spot.)

From there the DMV will be able to issue you a new title and Registration. This one is going to be time consuming. Ask for a temporary red number for your back window while you do the running around for signatures.

Pay the transfer fee $15 to begin the process. As long as you have those two forms signed by the legal owner, you should have no problem getting a new title/registration.

jtexas

sorry, man, you got screwed.

it's possible he can be prosecuted for what he did, if you can find him. maybe a private investigator?

www.Cheapest-Auto-Insurance.biz

call the DMV

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