we are planning on buying a MH from a private seller and I have a few questions that i hope someone can help with.we are not paying cash but will finance the purchase from a bank or someone.so does anyone know the process to go through for getting the MH in our possession, what i mean is, how does the bank give the money over without the title, lets say the seller has it financed as well and doesn't have the title in hand. then i need to get it registered into my name, i'm buying in florida but live in pennsylvania, so how do i get temporary tags. are there actually tag companies in florida that handle these transactions?i'm just looking for answers to help make this transaction go as smooth as possible for both sides.thanks

You need to have your financing in place at YOUR bank and they will make the arrangements with the seller's bank to exchange money for title. You will not need a title to register the RV or get insurance for it. If your bank has a branch in Florida, doing the paperwork there would be best. I'd ask the seller to provide a bill of sale either drawn up by his attorney or at least generated by one of the computer lawyer programs. With the bill of sale, bank paperwork, and insurance binder you can walk into any Florida DMV and walk out with your temporary vehicle movement tag. Florida will just want to know you own it and have it insured. Keep in mind that private sales are as-is and once the deal is done the coach is your. If you are not qualified enough to make a thorough exam of the coach, consider buying the services of a RV shop to do it. You should also contact your insurer and provide them with the VIN/make/model and have them add it to your policy with a start date furnished by the bank. Good luck and have fun. You can certainly save a boatload of money buying from an individual but you have to accept the possible issues that come with it. Generally the money saved will most often be much more than you might need to put out. Before driving it home it would also be best to have it thoroughly serviced (oil change, fluid checks, chassis lube, front wheel bearings, belts and hoses) so you do not get surprised on the road. You can't really be sure the previous owner was diligent about those things and once it's yours, you need to take the responsibility.

garyemunson wrote: If you are not qualified enough to make a thorough exam of the coach, consider buying the services of a RV shop to do it. Generally the money saved will most often be much more than you might need to put out. Before driving it home it would also be best to have it thoroughly serviced (oil change, fluid checks, chassis lube, front wheel bearings, belts and hoses) so you do not get surprised on the road. You can't really be sure the previous owner was diligent about those things and once it's yours, you need to take the responsibility.X1, I would NOT buy a used RV without taking it to your trusted RV shop and pay for a complete inspection of the RV and all of the systems i.e. electrical, water, plumbing, heating , appliances etc. If there are issues that need repair you will be aware and more importantly the costs to fix any issues. This will enable you negotiate the buying costs of the RV.

I wouldn't purchase any type of vehicle that didn't have a clear title in the name of the owner but still had a lien against it. If the current owner has a loan against the rig then that's his problem to first pay it off so he can then provide any potential purchaser with documentation proving any lien against it has been cleared. How you later fund the purchase, cash or otherwise, is your problem. Secondly, I'd also insist on 3rd party inspection, negotiating who pays for that inspection - seller or buyer - regardless, it would be foolish to buy something as complicated as a MH and not have it fully inspected. JMO.

Soundguy, I understand your position on buying a financed RV. However as one o/p stated the banks have excellent systems between them for handling that kind of transaction. When you buy a car, the dealer probably does not own it, a bank or financial institution does. Your bank will make all the arrangements to get the title in their name and yours. Getting it thoroughly checked out prior to the sale, I absolutely agree with.

It would obviously be easier and cleaner if the seller had a clear title. But it's easy enough regardless. Let the banks do the work. Let your bank contact his bank for payoff. Your bank sends his bank funds for the payoff. Your bank releases remaining funds to you to provide to him in the form of a bank check or whatever. Your bank receives the title. When you pay the balance to the individual, he gives you the key, and a bill of sale, and signs over the registration form(s). Take bill of sale, loan paperwork, copy of insurance to DMV and they should take care of you. Depending on the state, they may issue you a tag immediately (not sure if Fla does that or if it's temp tag).Don't forget to check state law on sales tax. In GA now, we pay Automobile tax (equal to our sales tax right now), on all vehicle purchases, private or dealership.Definitely definitely get it inspected by a professional. Once you take possession, there's no going back.Mike

buying from a private seller | Good Sam Community

Bumpyroad
Explorer
Jan 23, 2017
Homer wrote:
Soundguy, I understand your position on buying a financed RV. However as one o/p stated the banks have excellent systems between them for handling that kind of transaction. When you buy a car, the dealer probably does not own it, a bank or financial institution does. Your bank will make all the arrangements to get the title in their name and yours. Getting it thoroughly checked out prior to the sale, I absolutely agree with.

yep, refusing to buy a RV with an outstanding loan will limit your purchases to something 15 years old or extremely cheap.
but bad advice is worse than no advice at all.
bumpy
Playtime_II
Explorer
Jan 23, 2017
In FL, no title no tag. When we moved to FL one of our cars and the MH still had bank loans. We gave the loan/bank info to FL (DMV) and they sent away for the title. Once received, they called me and then I could get plates. Expect 3-8 weeks. Until then, I used my old plates as they were several months from expiring. Otherwise FL would have issued me paper tags (for a fee).
DrewE
Explorer II
Jan 23, 2017
Playtime II wrote:
In FL, no title no tag. When we moved to FL one of our cars and the MH still had bank loans. We gave the loan/bank info to FL (DMV) and they sent away for the title. Once received, they called me and then I could get plates. Expect 3-8 weeks. Until then, I used my old plates as they were several months from expiring. Otherwise FL would have issued me paper tags (for a fee).

That's interesting.

I wonder how it would work when buying an older vehicle from states that do not issue titles for vehicles older than a certain age. Many of the New England states don't title vehicles older than about 16 years or so (the details varying a bit from state to state), and there may be others with similar policies.
time2roll
Nomad
Jan 23, 2017
Get the owner, owners loan information, registration, bill of sale, and trailer down to your bank.
Your bank representative will make the arrangements and make sure it is correct to avoid any risk as the money changes hands.
Purchase price and condition are up to you and at your risk.
ScottG
Nomad
Jan 23, 2017
Bumpyroad wrote:

yep, refusing to buy a RV with an outstanding loan will limit your purchases to something 15 years old or extremely cheap.
but bad advice is worse than no advice at all.
bumpy

Now that is good advice.
garyemunson
Explorer II
Jan 24, 2017
Walaby, I think the original poster is wanting to wait until he gets the motorhome back to Pennsy to tag it. Once FL DMV sees all the paperwork and the insurance binder, they will issue him a short term 'moving permit' that will allow him to drive it home and register it there.
ctilsie242
Explorer II
Jan 24, 2017
I know Texas does similar. I've purchased a one-way trip permit for $5 ($9 after all fees are paid) for my TT, and this is the route I go, since I only use the trailer for a renaissance faire as of now. With this permit, it doesn't matter if the TT is inspected or not, as long as it is insured.
drsteve
Explorer
Jan 24, 2017
As others have said, banks and credit unions handle these transactions every day, it's not a problem. Just tell your institution what you want to do, they'll take care the details.
Veebyes
Explorer II
Jan 24, 2017
I bought from a private seller. Pretty easy. I had a bankers check in the amount of the sale. We went to his bank together. They set up an escrow acct. Took my check & put it in the escrow acct. Gave me the title. Took what the seller owed out of the account. Gave the seller the balance to his acct. Closed the escrow acct.

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