The dmv nightmare scenario

[Gravisman]

I managed to end up in a most undesirable situation for a new vehicle purchase - I lost the title between buying the bike and finalizing the DMV transfer. I started going through the online process they’ve got in place this year which involved scanning the title for my transfer application. I kinda thought I was done with it after that, since they’d mail me a new one, but only *after* paying all taxes and fees did the DMV mention “oh, btw, we need you to send in that original document to complete the transfer”. Welp, now I can’t find it. Think it probably got thrown away. I found that the DMV has a form to do a transfer without the title, but of course the former owner has to sign it. Since I bought off craigslist, the notion of being reliant on getting back in touch with the old owner to get a signature does not sound fun. In the worse case, if I can’t find the old owner to fill out a form for me, does that mean I can never get a title for my new bike?

 

[1962siia]

Unlikely that you wont be able to find your way through this mess. I'd suggest calling Sacramento and ask what can be done. I have a similar problem but I've just been too lazy to deal with it.

I suspect they might lead in the direction of a surety bond for getting the bike titled in your name. I've done this before and it doesn't cost much and cuts through the paperwork pretty quickly.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Younger 1962siia would have recommended just sign it for the seller and make it look good...

 

[DanvilleDSRider]

I'd fake a power of attorney form for the bike and be done with it....

 

[Beanzy]

Try this DMV registration number -- 916-657-8035 -- to ask your question.

And why can't you contact the seller? Mistakes happen.

Good luck!

 

[Slow Goat]

snip.....I lost the title between buying the bike and finalizing the DMV transfer....snip....... Since I bought off craigslist, the notion of being reliant on getting back in touch with the old owner to get a signature does not sound fun. In the worse case, if I can’t find the old owner to fill out a form for me...snip

Devil’s advocate here; how would they know the signature on the form isn’t the seller’s? That is if you have the other needed docs.

 

[x42bnx]

Sign the sellers name and keep moving.

 

[usedtobefast]

scanning the title

How did you do that? Any chance your scanner has the last so many scans in memory? Or a temp file on your computer.

Will not be the original title but a paper copy, just thinking that might help?

 

[Kameron808]

Sign the sellers name and keep moving.

This was the answer. Long ago.

 

[N4teTheGreat]

I had a title once where the seller signed in the wrong place and I wasn't able to get said seller to correct it. Spoke to someone at the DMV and filled out a "statement of facts" which more or less was me telling my story as to why I didn't have the signature for the mileage. They filed that along with the title with the missing signature and I got my title. Might be worth a shot.

 

[Frame Maker]

I'd fake a power of attorney form for the bike and be done with it....

Devil’s advocate here; how would they know the signature on the form isn’t the seller’s? That is if you have the other needed docs.

Sign the sellers name and keep moving.

The form he needs to have signed is #227 Application for Duplicate Title (not a power of attorney).

As for signing the seller's name... if he's already sent a scanned version of the original title with the seller's authentic signature to the DMV, then any additional forms with the seller's (supposed) signature could be compared. That isn't too likely, but it is possible.

I would call the DMV and explain the situation and see if they would give you the sellers name and address again since you obviously had that information to begin the process. From my experience, most sellers are happy to cooperate and sign additional forms just so they can get the transfer completed and not have further complications to deal with.

 

[splat]

He could just do it with a Bill of sales. No need to file for duplicate title.

 

[afm199]

Statement of fact is the way to go.

As long as the DMV as your name and signature saying you are responsible if shit goes south, they don't care.

I did this once to register a boat and illegal motor without a single problem, lol.

 

[corndog67]

I have an off site DMV registration service and she knows all the loopholes. She gave me the duplicate title form and said, "is that the original owner out in your truck?" Why yes. Yes it is. And it was done.

 

[Frame Maker]

He could just do it with a Bill of sales...

Statement of fact is the way to go...

I have an off site DMV registration service and she knows all the loopholes. She gave me the duplicate title form and said, "is that the original owner out in your truck?" Why yes. Yes it is. And it was done.

The type of form to use isn't really the issue here.

The problem is that when the registered owner is in the DMV system, the DMV will require that person's "wet signature" (not a copy or scan) to release the title. In this case the buyer has already submitted a scanned version of the last owner's signature. If the transaction were to be audited (yes, the DMV does that sometimes) they could compare the original signature on the scanned documents, to any wet signatures submitted later in the process. If the two signatures don't match there lies the problem.

 

[Holeshot]

Do you have any bill of sale for the deal from the seller?

1. Contact original seller and ask if he'll sign the paperless title transfer. DO not tell them you lost the title, yet.

2. If that doesn't work, I agree with others here: send in paperwork needed. Signed. Your deal was legit and transaction complete.

3. ALWAYS get a Reg262 (Ca bill of sale) w/ power of attorney signed. ALWAYS. I tell everyone this. Even if not needed, get it. You never know when you'll need an original sig.

Good luck. Most likely the seller will sign off on the paperless title transfer. Get a REG262 signed at that time too. Don't mail docs, take them to the seller directly in person and get sigs, or send fed ex with a return fed ex w/ label to you.

Let us know how you WIN Gravisman!