NEW CAR!

[Kijona]

Guys, I'm getting ready to purchase this used car. Guy sent me an incomplete picture of the title because he kept mis-typing the VIN. I was ecstatic until I realized the title listed a "NBR of Liens: 1", unfortunately I can't see the bottom portion of the title where the lien would've been released.

Title is in his name. He has the title. I don't know how that would work...

Can somebody offer some information for me? I'm really bummed about this...

Luckily I haven't purchased the car yet.

[backfold]

what state is the vehicle titled in? other than physically inspecting the paperwork I would be leary of it.

[codajastal]

Walk away kijona

[Paulcet]

If the lien is not released, somebody else has legal rights to posess the car if they choose.  Usually, once a lien is released, a new title is obtained. Though I don't think it is a legal requirement.

[Leadberry]

The title cannot be transferred unless the lien is satisfied.  I would go to the title bureau with the guy and give him the money when/after the transfer takes place, not before.  Otherwise it'd be a no-go.

Edit:  In the state of Ohio, I believe a title may still bear lien stamps even after a lien is satisfied.  Thus, I don't believe a lien stamp is the end of the world, at least depending on your location.

[Kijona]

what state is the vehicle titled in? other than physically inspecting the paperwork I would be leary of it.

I see 1 lien on the title but I can't see the area of the title that would show where the lien was/is released or the lien holder's name. So...it's VERY possible he HAD a lien on it, then got it resolved but never got a new title.

Title is in his name. Looks like it's old...lots of fold marks and stuff.

Did a cheap vehicle history report. He's owned it since 2007.

[Kijona]

The title cannot be transferred unless the lien is satisfied.  I would go to the title bureau with the guy and give him the money when/after the transfer takes place, not before.  Otherwise it'd be a no-go.

Edit:  In the state of Ohio, I believe a title may still bear lien stamps even after a lien is satisfied.  Thus, I don't believe a lien stamp is the end of the world, at least depending on your location.

That's what I'm thinking.

[yamahonkawazuki]

very possible,  as long as lien has been released title can be transferred. sometimes, ( like here) this is done on the title, or a letter of release accompanies document

[Kijona]

Okay, I obtained a little more information. I managed to read the top part of the "Mail To" address on the title. It's an Auto Pawn establishment here in GA. So what this means is the Tag, Tax, and Title division sent the title TO the agency, NOT to the guy.

What this means is it was in their possession. It seems LOGICAL that they would hold onto the title until the loan was paid off, right? Why would they have it mailed to them just so they could send it right back to the guy without the lien being lifted?

The good thing is I now know where it was pawned, so I can contact them tomorrow and ask if the lien has been lifted, IF they will disclose that information. If not, I can ask how their system WORKS and if the fact that he has the title would mean he satisfied the lien.

I REALLY hope this works out because I REALLY want this car.

[adidasguy]

#5116

True story:

Cal. owner (#1) sold bike to WA guy (#2).
WA guy transferred title (we wonder how - when you get to the end).
#2 guy sold bike to #3.
#3 went to transfer title.
DOL voided the title because there was a title in CAL.
#2 and #3 could not contact #1 to straighten it out.
Tabs expire in April 2012. #3 gave up and sold a 2006 GS500F for $1600 as a parts bike.
Engine in Phenix, other parts went elsewhere.
Seems after #1 sold it, #1 paid off the bank and CAL issued a new title without a lien.

Question is: How did #2 title it in WA unless someone screwed up or #1 forged paperwork, indicating lien was signed off?

#3 could have filed an "Unknown Owner" form and it takes 3 years to clear. During that time, #1 could at anytime claim the bike and walk away with it.

Ergo - a parts bike.

Title must be clean if you expect to license it.
You can take the VIN to your licensing department and they can tell you if there is a lien. I did that before buying the parts bike - knowing it could only be a parts bike and never re-titled.

[mister]

Kijona,

The guy is not an idiot. He deliberately mistypes the VIN, he deliberately didn't photograph the entire thing. So, two examples of dishonesty. Why would you have Anything else to do with this bloke? Screw his car, go find one somewhere else.

Michael

[burnchassis]

The title can have a lien  listed on it ,and it be 100% paid off to the owner.
That just means they had to get a loan ,and make payments on the vechicle...and when it was paid off...the lienholder signed it and released it.
The lien will go away the next time the title is transferred.
-CS

[tmbr_wulf]

I second Burnchassis, but everyone else has made good points as well.  Mister made a great point too, if this guy isn't being forthright and is screwing around, dragging his feet, giving half the story then this is probably not a great idea.  If he's like that with the paperwork, what is the car really like underneath everything?

I financed my last truck, so on my title I have one lien holder listed.  That was the lending bank, and they held the title until the loan was settled.  They then signed the title next to their name indicating that they approve of whatever the next transaction that title takes, because they no longer have any stake with the vehicle.  If you see the title and the lien holder signed off on their stake,you might be okay, but I would call up the auto pawn place to make sure that any loan he took out on the car has been payed off [and didn't forge the sig.]  You don't want to trade money for title only to find out that you also bought his unpaid auto loan and had him skip town on you.

[RossLH]

The title can have a lien  listed on it ,and it be 100% paid off to the owner.
That just means they had to get a loan ,and make payments on the vechicle...and when it was paid off...the lienholder signed it and released it.
The lien will go away the next time the title is transferred.
-CS

If thats the case, the owner should get a certificate of lien release.

[Kijona]

Ended up buying the car. I called the place that the lien belonged to. They told me they don't give the title back unless the lien has been released. The lien is released on the bottom of the page.

That still wasn't good enough for me. I went into the ONLY TT&T (Tax, Tag, and Title) division branch that's open on Saturday, waited in line for an hour or so, then gave all the information to the woman at the counter. She helped me greatly. She told me "In Georgia, the only way for him to physically have the title, is to have had satisfied the lien." She also went on to give me a LOT of information about the car, and it all checks out. She said she couldn't give me much information about who owned it or anything (privacy), but I asked her outright "Well, do you see ANYTHING on there that would be suspicious?" and she said "No, nothing at all." and she did definitely look through all the history she had.

I'm sure it's fine. The title is old enough and everything matches up.

[Tombstones81]

Nice!
no pics?!

[Kijona]

Nice!
no pics?!

It's a $1300 car... a Geo Prizm AKA Toyota Corolla, lol. It's nothing special. And frankly, it's not even worth taking pictures of.

Here's the pics the guy sent me before I bought it:

http://imgur.com/a/uw4lg#24

[Kijona]

Good thing is...apart from the stereo (huge kettle of fish) and the master cylinder for the brake...everything works. AC is nice and chilly, heat is...well..hot...all the lights work, shifts great, has a new clutch, new spark plugs...everything is easy to get to on it. Shouldn't be hard at all to get another 100k out of it.

[jdoorn14]

http://imgur.com/a/uw4lg#24

Yup, it's a car. Just checking.

[Huff1371]

Damn, i wish i would've known that's the car you were looking for. Friend of mine just sold his corolla for $500. Needed a cv joint but had a "sweet" sony x-plod stereo. I think it was only about 140k. Still seems you did good on it.