Forum Discussion

darin338's avatar
darin338
Explorer
Oct 15, 2013

Purchased new motorhome online, help with title questions

Hello,

I recently purchased a used motorhome from an online auction site and am due to pickup the unit this coming week. I'm an armature at this, so I have a question.

The dealer who is a very small dealer who purchases repos and resells them requires payments in the form of guaranteed funds. Cash, Cashiers check, money order, etc.etc. Fine, so I ask him since this is guaranteed funds paid to you, I leave with the title. He stated no, it would be mailed to me within 10-30 days. ??? I asked why and he said cause you check has to clear. I stated it will be drawn on a local national bank and you can walk into the bank and cash it. He responded with something to the affect, "we are a busy dealership and do not have time to run to the bank, we deposit it and once it clears, we process your title.

My thought is since he just acquired this unit via auction, he is probably waiting for the title himself. Often those repo auctions, mail title to dealers. I asked if I can see the title when I pay and he hesitated and said, "let me see if we have it here, oh, yes, you can see it" and then he went on his diatribe about how dealers do not ever issues titles. Well, I'm thinking hello, I'm paying guaranteed cash, or cashiers check drawn on BOA which is 1/2 mile down the road from you.

should I proceed, or demand title in my hot little hand before I leave? I guess he has to transfer it to my name and all that? Since he's a dealer, it's probably not titled in his name yet?

Any advise is greatly appreciated here.
  • Francesca_Knowl's avatar
    Francesca_Knowl
    Explorer
    Oct 21, 2013
    Here's the latest (from the O.P.'s new thread):

    darin338 wrote:
    Francesca Knowles wrote:
    :h

    HEY O.P.!!!!!

    We're all real confused over in your other thread....is this the same rig you're talking about over there? The one that you're supposed to be picking up next week from a repo reseller and you're worried about him not having the Title?


    I already answered that. I went down to purchase that unit and it was not as described and I canceled the purchase. The seller had no problems letting me back out. The coach was not in the condition he described. I found the Newmar on the drive home.
  • Francesca_Knowl's avatar
    Francesca_Knowl
    Explorer
    Oct 20, 2013
    Allworth wrote:
    OP last heard from on October 16!!!!!

    :B

    But we'll still be hashing this out until at least Christmas!
  • mowermech's avatar
    mowermech
    Explorer
    Oct 19, 2013
    "This is all dependant on requirements of the state you are buying in!!!"

    EXACTLY!

    Apparently, the OP lives in NC. Therefore, he has to comply with the titling and registration laws in NC.
    The "dealer" has to comply with the laws in the state where his business is located. He really doesn't care how they do things in any other state.
    The OP has never stated where the dealer is.
    By the way, in many states, if somebody transfers (sells) a certain number of vehicles per year, he MUST get a dealer's license, AND he must comply with all the dealer regulations.

    It would be nice to know how the OP handled this situation, and what state the dealer was in.
  • wny_pat1's avatar
    wny_pat1
    Explorer
    Oct 19, 2013
    Mocoondo wrote:


    How do you prove to a police stoping you on the road its your vehicle?


    The police checks registration of your plates. The plates are registered to you. The buyer has a bill of sale and a copy of application for vehicle title. You do not need a title in your possession to drive a vehicle.

    I purchased a used motorhome from Camping World in Alabama, we used the license plate from the previous owner which was still on the motorhome. Alabama does not issue temporary plates like other states does. Many other states will issue a temporary plate

    What documents do you need to carry in this vehicle besides driving licence?

    Bill of sale is all that is required. If you really want to wear a belt and suspenders, a copy of the application for vehicle title and registration would be handy as well, but it is not required.

    And Camping World had to send the title, because the state had to issue it. Alabama says you only need the Bill of Sale to transport on. Many other states issue additional temporary registrations This is all dependant on requirements of the state you are buying in!!!
  • wny_pat1's avatar
    wny_pat1
    Explorer
    Oct 19, 2013
    Francesca Knowles wrote:
    Whew! Long time since the O.P....thought it might be useful to remind everyone that it says, in part:
    darin338 wrote:
    The dealer who is a very small dealer who purchases repos and resells them

    "Very small dealer" could be just about anyone. We have no way of knowing if the guy even has a physical address, much less a license.

    I think the O.P.'s reluctance is well founded, especially given the very clear Title process laid down at more professional online auction sites like the one at this link.
    .
    Except they require you to pay the Texas sales tax even if your from a different state. Then you run the risk of paying tax twice if your paper work is wrong. In my state I have to prove I paid the out of state sales tax on a vehicle, and my state will pay, credit, or charge me the difference when I go to register or title it in my state, provided I have a proper receipt from Texas showing I paid tax there. But if some one back in Texas googed up the sales tax paperwork, I'm out that money I paid them. I prefer not to buy in those states where I am not familiar with their extra tax charges and paperwork.

    In addition, I have purchased and sold on ebay, and have found that people who sell the who have very high feedback are usually excellent to deal with. And it does not require to much research to figure out who the real dealers are and how reputable they are.
  • Francesca_Knowl's avatar
    Francesca_Knowl
    Explorer
    Oct 19, 2013
    Whew! Long time since the O.P....thought it might be useful to remind everyone that it says, in part:
    darin338 wrote:
    The dealer who is a very small dealer who purchases repos and resells them

    "Very small dealer" could be just about anyone. We have no way of knowing if the guy even has a physical address, much less a license.

    I think the O.P.'s reluctance is well founded, especially given the very clear Title process laid down at more professional online auction sites like the one at this link.
  • tbred's avatar
    tbred
    Explorer II
    Oct 19, 2013
    we live in Illinois and purchased our tt from Ohio. Paid with cashiers check, received a bill of sale and temporary plates good for 30 days. Title came from Ohio sec.of state within 10 days, took it to Il. sec. of state, had title transfer changed to Il. and got IL. plates. Really very simple. Never expected to have title in hand when purchasing from dealer.
  • wny_pat1's avatar
    wny_pat1
    Explorer
    Oct 19, 2013
    dieharder wrote:
    free radical wrote:
    I only have experience in buying vehicles in Alberta,Manitoba,Ontario and NS and in each and every case I got the Title aka pink slip from the seller right when paying for it.

    Then I go to DMV and have it registered,its that simple,,
    perhaps in some states is different,I dont know..but its good to use caution as its YOUR money you may lose!
    Without title you dont own the vehicle,so you canot sell it,anyone saying otherwise cannot be trusted,imho
    good luck


    Seems to work much differently in the US than here. We never walk out with a vehicle that doesn't have the ownership documentation (title) with it. Dealers here have all the documentation done in your name, but that's probably why it takes a day or two between purchase and pick up... I've never known anyone to walk into a dealer, slap down cash and drive away right away, but I would assume that it's possible provided that the MTO is still open and the buyer is plopping down enough cash to motivate the dealer to send someone running to the MTO then and there.

    Purchasing from a private party, we receive the ownership, which is still in their name, and we head to the MTO (Ontario) and have it transferred to our name right then and there. Not sure what the law states as far as how much time can take place in between purchase and the transfer of ownership, if it has anything at all about it. Insurance company will usually only insure a day or two after the transaction and will not usually insure a vehicle long-term without the ownership being in your name.
    You have to remember your history lessons. When it comes to motor vehicles down here, we are 50 different countries!!! Every state does it differently. And some states have excellent protections for the purchasers and sellers, while others offer lousy protections.

About RV Newbies

4,026 PostsLatest Activity: Jun 15, 2017