There have been many instances where people who buy junk cars without titles have been victims of junk car buyers and their act of title jumping. Selling vehicles without a title is against United States law and is illegal in all states. Title jumping is an act of avoiding sales tax that many have resorted to maximize profits. Legit and registered junk car buyers will not commit such a crime and will not purchase a junk car from anyone without a title.
If they were to buy a junk car with a title, they would ensure that all the documentation is complete and they have applied for a duplicate title. From thousands of junk car buyers in America, you’re bound to come across some shabby ones. If you’re one of those people who buy junk cars without titles for personal use and are unaware of the crime, then read on as we will share with you some of the consequences of becoming a victim of title jumping and what you can do in such situations.
People who buy junk cars without title: Consequences
If you buy junk cars without titles, you may have fallen victim to title jumping, and that’s not uncommon in the States. As we mentioned, out of thousands of junk car buyers, you may come across a few illegal or unregistered ones. Those registered as junk car buyers will not sell a vehicle to anyone without a title and will not buy a junk car from anyone without a title. Before you discover your options, here are some consequences faced by people who buy junk cars without title, not knowing they’re becoming victims of an illegal act.
DMV problems
Dealing with a DMV can be a real headache if you’ve been a victim of title jumping. Approaching your local DMV to apply for a duplicate title would be best. Since you’re not the vehicle owner, you need to track down the right owner to sign off the papers to release the car from its ownership. This is a massive hassle as the DMV will not help you, and you must approach the owner yourself.
Tracking down the owner
Since the DMV will be of no help in connecting you with the previous owner except to give you details of who owns the vehicle, you will need to track down the previous owner. Calling the owner or dropping by their place to convince them to transfer the vehicle title to your name is a shot in the dark, as you don’t even know whether they would be more than willing to help. However, a sensible vehicle owner understands the risk of title jumping and will transfer the title to your name.
Sometimes, it’s tough for people who unintentionally buy junk cars without titles to track down the previous owners. So, what do you do next?
Have you bought a junk car without a title? Here are your options
If you purchased the vehicle from an individual, your next best step is to ask the individual to help transfer the title to your name. In such situations, asking your local DMV to assist you is much easier because the seller is willing to transfer, and the title jumping might not have occurred to the private seller.
Suppose you’ve purchased the vehicle from a junkyard or a business. In that case, you should know that these activities are considered illegal in all the states, and action needs to be taken against such companies. This is to help stop the crime so that the business does not seek more victims. Register a complaint against the business. Head to the DMV business regulation section or the licensing board. They will help you file a complaint against such businesses promoting illegal activities. You can also approach Better Business Bureau, an online agency that can spread your message to the community by assessing their rating about the junkyard or junk car seller.
If none of the a, above works out, your last option is to get a bonded title. You can apply for a bonded license if you’ve lost your title, damaged it, or are among those who fell victim to title jumping. However, getting a bonded title is problematic as not all states allow for related titles. Search online to find out if your state offers a bonded title because if they don’t, you’re out of luck, as there is no way around it. If you’re lucky to be in a state allowing a bonded title, complete the paperwork and purchase your surety bond.
Head to the DMV to hand in your completed paperwork, the required documents, and your surety bond to apply for a bonded title.
If you’re out of luck, think about junking the vehicle or selling spare parts to cover your losses. Junk cars with no title or registration are a huge hassle, and it’s always better to let the hassle go by selling the vehicle to a junk car buyer who will take a vehicle without a title to scrap the spare parts. Then, how much do you get for junking a car?
Many factors answer the question “How much do you get for junking a car?” like make & model, mileage, age, running condition, and more. Be sure you’re not one of those people selling a car that doesn’t run to a junk car buyer. They will throw a lowball offer at you, which is not worth considering.
