What it is
The certificate of title proves who the vehicle's registered owner is. It is issued by the DTOP, and without it there is no transfer: the car cannot be put in your name.
The three rules
- The name on the title has to be the seller's. If the car is in somebody else's name, stop and clear it up before you pay.
- It has to be the original. A photo, a promise to bring it later, or a copy will not do.
- The VIN on the title, on the car and in the listing have to match. If one does not, walk away.
Clean title and salvage
A car with a salvage history was declared a total loss and later rebuilt. It can be bought, but it is worth less and the insurer treats it differently.
Ask for that in writing in the vehicle history report, and compare it with what the seller says.
Where it is handled
The title is issued and changed at the DTOP. The agency publishes the current requirements and forms.
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