Do I Need Car Title Lawyers  for Car Title Issues

car title lawyers

Car title lawyers are capable of helping you whenever you find yourself with title issues. The car title has details of the car owners. The title contains the owner’s address and name, the model of the car, the vehicle identification number (VIN), and any programs related to the car, like loans.

When buying a second-hand car, ensure you have all the details about the car’s ownership. You must have car title lawyers to allow you to get everything right. Before signing the contract, ensure the car ownership has been transferred to your name.

Avoid finding yourself in a situation where you’ll be forced to face the law. It’s very common when selling and buying a used car to transfer ownership. If there won’t be a transfer of ownership when buying a car, the vehicle will still belong to the original owner since all the details belong to them because they didn’t transfer it to your name.

What is a Car Title 

A car title legal car certificate issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles after one buys a new car as proof of ownership. It has information about the car ownership, such as vehicle identification number (VIN, the owner’s name and address), the car’s make and model, and all details relating to the vehicle, like loans in possession. Car title lawyers are perfect when it comes to solving car title disputes.  They can represent you if you have below legal matters relating to car titles.

CAR TITLE LAWYER
Salesman send key to customer after good deal agreement, successful car loan contract buying or selling new vehicle.
  • Title defects: a car lawyer will show their expertise in solving title defects issues. Once you receive a car from someone else, maybe a gift, bought second hand, or it’s for an inheritance, and it has missing information, they will help you and ensure efficiency when transferring.
  • Title transfer: auto title attorney can help you during the transfer of ownership either from a sale or gift
  • Title search: car title lawyers can do thorough ready when it comes to public records to dig deeper into anything related to the car. They can identify any issues with title defects, encumbrances, and, most importantly, the car title is clear and free from liens.
  •  Lien dispute: auto title lawyer will help you determine if the car title has any lien disputes, such as mechanics, lenders, and any legal claim related to the car title.

Whenever you encounter title issues, look for an attorney for car problems. They’ll help you with legal advice and representation in court. Many must learn to transfer car titles when buying or selling a car. You might suffer the following consequences when you buy a car, and there’s no ownership transfer car title. 

  • You might be denied Insurance since the car still has the original owner’s details.
  • If the previous owner had drinking or drug abuse problems, the car could be impounded and sold by the state.
  • If there was an improper transfer, you can only sell the car to someone else if you change ownership to your name.
  •  The original owner still owed substantial bank loans, a lien, or any legal claim; the car can be repossessed at any time.

If the original owner does not do the car title transfer, they may face the following;

SIGNING CAR CONTRACT
  • In a faulty car accident, the original seller can be sued as the car’s owner. 
  •  After the states have impounded the car, the owner might be required to pay the towing and storage charges.
  • If the buyer doesn’t have a valid driving license, the car title can’t be put in his name.

Type Of Car Title

As a private car owner, you must know many car titles, but I’ll share only 15. 

  1. food and water damage: this title is for the car damage by water
  2. Clear: it indicates that the car doesn’t have any liens issues
  3. Affidavit:  this title is issued to individuals by the state when there are missing documents
  4. Bonded: this shows there is no clear ownership existing. It includes putting up a cash bond equal to the vehicle’s value and issuing the title. The bond is used when there will be ownership dispute arises 
  5. Certificate of origin: the original title showing the document used when purchasing the car from the manufacturer to the dealer
  6. Certificate of distraction: it’s a title issued for a vehicle that will be destroyed by insurance once the claim is settled
  7. Export: title used for customs clearance in a different country
  8. Import: the designation for the first title issued by the United States for vehicles not manufactured in the U.S
  9. Lemon:  is a title for a car with mechanical issues and can’t be fixed
  10. Lienholder: it’s the title one gets after taking a loan
  11. Manufacturer state origin:
  12. Odometer rollback: it is given to someone after they tamper with the odometer preventing the mileage count
  13. Parts only: this title is issued for cars that can only be used for parts
  14. Junk: a title given to a vehicle that can only be used as a scrape
  15. Reconstructed; used for cars rebuilt and reconstructed for road use

How Can a Car Title Lawyers Help When It Comes To Transferring Ownership?

Different states have different ways of transferring car titles. Good car title lawyers know everything you need for this process to be complete. They can advise and help guide you through the entire transfer. Below are some vital steps they can guide you through:

  •  Availability of original and all necessary documents: the previous owner should provide a signed title, including the odometer readings, and all documents  or records related to the car, such as aliens, and smog certificate
  •  The buyer fills out all the forms required for title transfer, such as name, address, and the buyer’s signature 
  • The buyer should submit the filled title and all the required documents to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with the fees. In other states, they need a vehicle identification number (VIN) for inspection before the completion of transferring process.
  •  Get the new title; once all the documents have been reviewed, the new car owner can receive their latest title to prove the ownership.

A car title lawyers conduct a lot of research about the car before giving you the go-ahead and changing the titles. They might consult National Motor Vehicle Title Information System to gather all the vital information about the car’s condition history and anything legally related to the vehicle.

Sometimes the vehicle could be used for fraud, kidnapping, or illegal operations. Only NMVTIS can help you with all the details. Different states vary when it comes to transferring ownership documents and requirements.

First, you need to check on the Department of  Motor Vehicles before initiating the transfer. A bill of sale is essential, but not all states require it for car title transfer.

Which Documents Are Required for the Department of Motor Vehicle Transfer (DMV)?

Before completing the DMV transfer, you need the following document, but different states have different document requirements. These are some of the must-have documents!

  •  The original vehicle title
  • Bill of sale: this is a must-have document for other states
  • ID and Proof of Insurance: the new owner should provide a valid I d, driving license and all government-issued identification and proof of insurance
  • Odometer readings
  • Release of liens: before the transfer of DMV, the lienholder must submit the release of lien

It is advisable to check with your state DMV to know the document required to facilitate the transfer.

What Fees Should I Pay for Title Transfer?

If you have car title lawyers, they might come in handy on what fees you must pay; however, this varies with different states.bl here are some of the known fees you could pay during transfer.

CAR DEALERSHIP
  •  Title transfer fee: this fee is paid to cover the cost of transferring the entire title transfer process from the original owner to the buyer 
  • Smog check fee to check smog if the smog certificate is required
  • Late fees: this fee is vital when the transfer takes a little longer to be complete
  • Registration fee: this fee is required for buying new license plates and registration stickers

Can Car Title Lawyers Help Me Suing for Title Problems?

Yes, you can file a lawsuit suit against the seller. The buying a second-hand car, if you can’t be careful, you might not get all the documents you need. It’s sad after buying a car; you realize it doesn’t belong to you. Some people can be cunning when it Comes to this business. 

You may have signed all the necessary documents until you get into an accident or the previous owner repossesses the car. In other words, the vehicle could be used in fraudulent activities or stolen so that you can find yourself in big problems.However, you can sue the original owner for title issues.

Go to car title lawyers, and get yourself an auto title lawyer. Explain everything needed, provide all the documents, and then take over the case. Going the legal way will enable the previous owner to transfer ownership to you properly.

You can sue the seller for breach of contract as they didn’t comply. Fill in your complaint, including all damages and challenges you’ve been through with the car since you bought it.

Conclusion 

For a successful title transfer, ensure you visit a car title lawyer and get one auto title lawyer to help you review all the paperwork before signing anything.  If you don’t have a lawyer go to the driver and vehicle service location, fill in the documents, and let the DVS agent review the paperwork to see if there are any liens and other title issues.

Once you finish, submit the paperwork to DVS ten days after the sale is complete to avoid liability. You need to be careful when doing the transfer. Sometimes there can be the wrong spelling of your name. An auto title lawyer will make your work easier and ensure the title is transferred to your name.

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