February 08, 2006

Hello Tony

Great website! Thank you for all the info.

I'm new to this country and I need to buy a new car. I've went to many dealers and I'm not too sure about them. So I'll probably go to buy a car from an individual seller (is private party the term you use for this)?

What I don't know here is how to make the deal in this country . . . how many papers or forms do the seller and I have to fill out, and when is the best and most secure moment to give the seller the money and where do we have to do it?

In Spain, where I'm from, it's very easy . . . seller and buyer have to go to the Traffic Agency and there they make the deal and payment all at the same time. How does it work in the USA (I'll buy the car in Rhode Island or Massachusetts)?

Thank you very much for your help,

Kind regards

Fran

Answer:

Hi Fran,

While I'm not familiar with each individual state's procedures regarding a car title transfer, I'm sure you can accomplish your task without any problem.

First, you should contact the title and licensing bureau in the state that you live in. Most states have local offices. Ask them for advise on transferring a title into your name.

As far as when to actually give the money to the seller, you can do that at any time you are comfortable doing it. However, you shouldn't pay any money without the seller giving you the title to the car.

In some cases the seller may owe money on the car and the bank will be holding the title. In this case you can contact the seller's bank and arrange to pay them in exchange for the title. If the price you agree to is more than the seller owes give the bank the payoff and the seller the difference.

In all cases the seller will have to sign the title in front of a notary public in order for the signature to be official. In most cases if you and the seller both go to the title agency together everything can be signed and notarized there.

If the seller can't go with you to the title agency then he will have to find a private notary to notarize his signature. He can then give you the title so you can go down and transfer it into your name.

I hope this helps . . .

All my very best . . .

Tony Iorio