I've seen some private sellers selling cars on craigslist etc. stating that there are issues with the title that they'll fix for additional costs up into the hundreds of dollars. What could they possibly have to do with the title that would cost so much? Is this a sign to avoid the seller? I don't really know a whole lot about this sort of thing, I'm trying to buy my first car but I know simple registration doesn't cost much at all. Are there options available for being charged to clear bad history on a title or something like that? Thanks.
Dont buy a car off of craigs list or any other list.
If you want to buy a car go there personally and look it over and test drive it. There are millions of them out there. some are good and some are bad.
Dont buy a car unless you can receive a valid and legal title to the car at the time of sale---period.
Always make a copy of the guys drivers liscense. If he/she is reluctant to do so then skip that car.Just explain that you have been advised by your friend who is a lawyer that it is his opinion.
The title is the ownership document to the car. If there are "issues" with it -- it could very well mean that the person selling the car does not actually own the car and therefore, does not have the right to sell the car.
I have probably handled hundres of total loss insurance claims. All that is-- is the insurance company buying a wrecked car. It's the same process a private seller goes through. In all the total loss claims I have handled -- I have never run into "title issues" that require me to pay additional funds.
The most common "title issues" are a finance company that has to be paid off to get the title released. There is no additional fee for this. The guy that is selling the car has to pay his lien of first.
Some people will purchase a car - get the title signed over to them and not go to the dmv to get a title in their name. I tell them to go to the DMV and get me the title in their name and bring me that-- then I will pay them for the car. I'm not making them do anything extra--- they are just doing now what they should have done when the purchased the car.
So-- anyone claiming "title issues" -- run (don't walk) away from that car. There is no good reason for a legal seller of a car to have "title issues" and I certainly would not pay extra for it. When you purchase a car - you are giving them the purchase price with an expectation of getting a legal title to the car -it's included in the purchase price.
