Forms Needed To Sell A Car
When you’re undergoing the process of selling a car on your own, there are a few legal steps that you must be aware of so that you can properly transfer ownership of the vehicle. Doing this process properly will not only protect you but will also protect the buyer as well. Any mistake in the bill of sale can nullify the contract and the buyer will be able to ask for his money back. In order to make a completely legal transfer of ownership, you must have a couple of documents on you.
First of all you will need your vehicle’s ownership title. Such an important document as an ownership title must be kept in a safe place, which you can also easily access. Despite what most people think, keeping the ownership title in a car is not always the best of ideas. In case you have a lien on your title, then you will have to sort everything out with the lien holder before he can release a new title. That will hold the vehicle’s brand, title, and pertinent information. It will also hold your name and statute as vehicle owner.
Afterwards, you need to head for the nearest Department of Motor Vehicles. Here you can find out everything you will need in order to transfer ownership and the documents required. In case you have lost your title, or you’ve paid for the car, yet did not receive the title in the mail, you will complete a request form. They will send that form to the lien holder and asking for a lien release in return so that the DMV can deliver your newly issued title.
Step three is organizing all your paperwork. You will need a lot more besides your ownership title and the vehicle’s registration. You’ll want to bring other documents as well such as maintenance receipts to prove any claimed repairs and modifications added to the car, as well as the periodical maintenance the car has withstood. A vehicle history report is usually one of the biggest deal makers. Providing one will allow the buyer to see everything that has been done to the car, whether it has sustained an accident or, it has been damaged in any other way. In case you don’t have such a document, present the buyer with the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and suggest a couple of websites where he can find out everything about the car. A word of caution, don’t attempt to conceal defects or any other irregularities with the car, because the vehicle history report will hold all the information about such events and you risk losing your credibility and also the customer.
You will also want to bring the original bill o sale as further proof of ownership. Know that this type of document does not have a standard and it can appear in just about any form. The DMV does not provide an “official” bill of sale. It is enough if it includes both the names of the seller and the buyer, the VIN number of the vehicle, the date when the transaction was made and the car model and production year.
If you’ve done some improvements to your car such an aftermarket anti theft system, or a freshly done paint and a couple of original rims and bumpers, don’t hesitate to mention that to the buyer. Although some might think that some of those modifications will decrease the car’s safety (unless you tweaked with the engine that is not true) most people will enjoy the add-ons to the car.
Post tags: Tags: automotive articles, forms needed to sell a car
