how can u register a car owned by someone who died?
- Thread starter JTM
- Start date
Yes CA must be different because title does not need to be notorized. Yes anyone can request title info on a vehicle, but I would suspect that they only give reprint to the owner. Call DMV and find out, there's a number for the North Fresno DMV in the white pages. I would tell them my "grandma" wants to sell her car, but can't find the title. She's real old and asked me to help her out. Maybe they'll let you do the work and mail the title to her. Then she can sign, and you're on your way. This business of forge is really not as big a deal as people are making it out to be. DMV only want's your money. If you pay, they really don't care who signs, as long as it isn't contested. And your not talking about a $60K car here. Trust me, if you want the car with little hassle, call DMV, sweet talk them into letting you request a duplicate title, get it or have it mailed to little old lady, have her sign the name on the title (maybe her own), and it will be fine.
Even if you follow all the rules, in CA you stand the chance of losing if someone contests the sale. I know from recent experience that a clean title and bill of sale, do not make the vehicle automatically yours. At issue here is whether or not she has the right to sell the car. Whether the sig is forged or not, you'll not know that until someone contests. Nobody is going to contest it.
Even if you follow all the rules, in CA you stand the chance of losing if someone contests the sale. I know from recent experience that a clean title and bill of sale, do not make the vehicle automatically yours. At issue here is whether or not she has the right to sell the car. Whether the sig is forged or not, you'll not know that until someone contests. Nobody is going to contest it.
The preceding is provided as opinion only and should not be considerd fact or legal council. Should you choose to take action based on the opions presented above, you do so at your own risk. The advise is not intended to solve medical problems and has not been evaluated by the FDA.
Below is a link to the California DMV websit that addresses the requirements for transfer of title as a gift (original question was receiving vehicle as gift).
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/vr_info.htm#BM2525
Below is a link to the California DMV websit that addresses the requirements for transfer of title as a gift (original question was receiving vehicle as gift).
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/vr/vr_info.htm#BM2525
"Family and gift transfers.
The following applies to vehicles which are currently registered in California:
If you acquire a vehicle from your spouse, sibling, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, or as a gift, you must record this transfer of ownership within 10 days from the date you take possession.
You will need the title, also known as the pink slip, with the previous owner's releasing signature on line one. If the title shows a legal owner, their release must appear on line two.
If the title is lost, an Application for Duplicate Title (REG 227) must be completed and signed. When an application for duplicate title is used, the legal owner's signature must be notarized.
An odometer mileage certification is required if the vehicle is less than 10 years old. If the title does not have a designated space for this information, a Vehicle/ Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form (REG 262) signed by both the seller and the buyer will be required. The REG 262 cannot be copied. An original must be submitted. To obtain a form by mail, call DMV's automated phone service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-777-0133. To speak to an operator, call between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday - Friday, Pacific Standard Time, or pick one up from your local DMV. If calling from outside the United States, please call 916-229-0370.
You must also complete a Statement of Use Tax Exemption (REG 256), to receive the exclusion from the smog certification and use tax."
Notice that if a duplicate title is used the signature must be notarized?
The following applies to vehicles which are currently registered in California:
If you acquire a vehicle from your spouse, sibling, child, parent, grandparent, grandchild, or as a gift, you must record this transfer of ownership within 10 days from the date you take possession.
You will need the title, also known as the pink slip, with the previous owner's releasing signature on line one. If the title shows a legal owner, their release must appear on line two.
If the title is lost, an Application for Duplicate Title (REG 227) must be completed and signed. When an application for duplicate title is used, the legal owner's signature must be notarized.
An odometer mileage certification is required if the vehicle is less than 10 years old. If the title does not have a designated space for this information, a Vehicle/ Vessel Transfer and Reassignment Form (REG 262) signed by both the seller and the buyer will be required. The REG 262 cannot be copied. An original must be submitted. To obtain a form by mail, call DMV's automated phone service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-777-0133. To speak to an operator, call between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday - Friday, Pacific Standard Time, or pick one up from your local DMV. If calling from outside the United States, please call 916-229-0370.
You must also complete a Statement of Use Tax Exemption (REG 256), to receive the exclusion from the smog certification and use tax."
Notice that if a duplicate title is used the signature must be notarized?