Selling Vehicle in California

I moved to CA in 2001 and brought with me my 1996 Tacoma from VA. I have since paid it off ( more than 10 yrs ago) and I have the Original title but it's the VA title. I have had it registered in CA ever since arriving here and am now looking to sell it.

Do I need to have a CA title for it in order to sell in CA? I'm not really finding good info on what I do need from or to send to DMV to obtain a CA title for it. Do I even need a CA title to sell it?

J

 

Title will transfer to who ever buys it and will be issued a title in buyers home state

 

You generally need to have the title to sign it over to the new owner. You will need to complete the transfer portion of the title and send that to the DMV as "proof of transfer".

I said "generally" because if you're trading in or consigning the vehicle, the dealer will have you sign a form giving them authorization to act on your behalf with respect to that vehicle and the DMV.

Do not sell the vehicle and rely on the new owner to register it asap. Use the form on the title or the appropriate DMV form to transfer the title or you might end up liable for tickets, late fees, registration, etc.. And save a copy of the form you sent (the DMV is famous for losing stuff).

 

I could be wrong but thought CA would issue title ("pink slip") when vehicle is registered here. Will be interested to learn how this turns out--hopefully not too complicated.

 

No, you don't need a CA title to sell in CA. An out of state title works fine for transferring ownership. (As @ian408 says, you don't actually need a title at all, but that does make life more complicated for the buyer.)

No, the DMV only re-issues a title when ownership changes. They don't issue new ones when you bring in your own car from out of state.

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/online/nrl/welcome explains the form and has a version yon can submit online. You definitely want to do this to shield yourself from liability.

 

Interesting. Thanks for the clarification.

 

Thanks guys for the info. I'll be selling this week so I'll report back how it goes.


J

 

Well. Sold the truck. Wrote up a bill of sale and signed the title portion. filled out the release of liability thing online and I'm told the new owner was able to get it smogged and registered.

So far so good.

Thanks for the help.

J

 

opps. you and the buyer missed a tiny detail.

you as the seller should have gotten it smogged and showed the buyer the paperwork stating it passed. the paperwork has to be recent..i think there is a 90 day limit. this protects the buyer from buying an unpassable automobile.

glad it worked out, but that buyer took a risk.

 

No..Got that taken care of...just left it out of the post.

Buyer and I agreed to have him smog it. I knew it would pass. I had it smogged 6mos ago. Sold it to a friend of a friend. I gave him the truck for an extended test drive. He had the truck at his mechanic for a check-out so they did the smog there. It passed he paid the smog cost and now has the recent proof for DMV. I don't think they really care who pays for it but in a typical sale it's the owner's responsibility. If both parties aggree, it can work this way as well...so far

J

 

well done then!!

my recent motorcycle purchase was not as "smooth".