Open Title Purchase

It appears there are quite a few Internet forum armchair attorneys confusing registration legalities and requirements with ownership legalities and requirements in this thread. Two different things.

ScottG wrote:
Where I live, if you wait too long to transfer title, you will be fined.

I think the proper terminology is “may” be.
I’ve bought vehicles/toys with titles that were not in the sellers name and waited years to title in my name. No issues with fines or late fees.
Same with titles in the sellers name.
Same with things already owned when we moved here and not re-titling them with a WA title for months or years.
Haven’t found it to be a big deal.

Just relaying actual experiences which may differ from others’ experiences I suppose.

Bottom line, I don’t care who’s name is on a title as long as it’s a valid title and it’s signed over (or magically gets signed over before hitting the dmv…;)

1L243 wrote:
The seller in this case is not the person who's name is on the title. The sellers name does not appear on any of the paperwork but he possess the signed title from the registered owner.

Theoretically I could give the seller all the money and take the trailer but the registered owner could cry foul if the relationship between the title holder and the seller is not lagit. Not a chance I am willing to take.

You just agree that final monies do not exchange hands until you the buyer has a clear title in your name in hand.
If that agreement can be reached the transaction can be completed.
Are you penalizing yourself or the seller by walking away from an otherwise desirable RV?

The seller in this case is not the person who's name is on the title. The sellers name does not appear on any of the paperwork but he possess the signed title from the registered owner.

Theoretically I could give the seller all the money and take the trailer but the registered owner could cry foul if the relationship between the title holder and the seller is not lagit. Not a chance I am willing to take.

Where I live, if you wait too long to transfer title, you will be fined.

1L243 wrote:
The seller can go to DMV by him self and call me when he gets it transferred!

It depends on how bad the buyer wants the unit. If the seller puts the Rv in his name he will pay fees taxes on the transaction. ASt this point the seller has avoided those fees thus far why pay them now?
The buyer is going to have to pay registration fees either weay to put RV in his name, but at this point the seller doesn't need to pay those fees. The seller can pay the fees to make the sale or find another buyer. Likewise the buyer can avoid the scenario and buy another RV.
Which gets back to the point, this is all a paperwork issue. If the buyer truly likes the RV otherwise he has incentive to negotiate to seal the deal. The paperwork issue does not have to be the deal breaker if the buyer believes the seller is honest and the rig was not registered because it was never put on the road, which is a very common practice

Ooops

The seller can go to DMV by him self and call me when he gets it transferred!

Well it looks like mods don't want anybody to know my experience with open titles.
If the name state printed on the title is not same as person that is selling what indication do you have the seller is owner? Anybody that can convince a judge the trailer belongs to them will take the trailer.

And for the idea "hold the last of the money"; You pay 10%, hold 90. What reason does "owner" have to do the paperwork? Sure, he doesn't get the 90% FROM YOU But he can get 10% from a dozen others, still have trailer

The open title alone would not be the deal breaker for me.
The seller could go to DMV with me or we could strike a deal that final payment will not be made until all title work is complete and finalized.