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what are all the paper works requiredd to buy a private party car? does the title need to be signed by the previous owner and handed to you? how about registering it? do i just head to the court house and show them the title?

 
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previous owner needs to sign the title and fill out form for registering also needs signature and if seller wants to put less for cars price you will end up paying less money to register the car

 
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they need to sign the title and hand it over. You also need to get a bill of sale. This is all I got and when I went to the courthouse I didn't have any trouble.

 
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It probably depends on your state laws.

I have always had to sign along with the other person and have it notarized by a notary public. Then, I could go to the DMV and register the vehicle in my name.

 
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yea...the tag agency by my house also does it

 
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how would i get a bill of sale if i am purchasing privately?

 
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The bill of sale might be attached to the title. Usually they have a piece that rips off that both of you have to sign. That gets sent in to the DMV. Other times both of you have to go to the DMV and sign together the bill of sale. It depends on your state.

 
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Make sure the VIN matches the car and title, and theres on leans stamped on the back of the title.

 
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I have just always used a bill of sale that was prepared by my mother-in-law. At least it's something that you both write your addresses, names, numbers, and signatures on. It's the next best thing to having a lawyer do it.

I suppose you could fill out the bill of sale in front of a notory.

Also, here in NC, both parties fill out and sign the section on the back of the title and have in notorized. After that it is ready to go to the DMV and be transferred. The bill of sale is for your personal records.

 
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It also doesn't hurt to have a letter from the seller releasing the car to you either, with the legal cr@p that is important such as the odometer is correct etc. So you have legal recourse just in case.

 
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all the listed things you guys have mentioned has give me some trouble, the car is getting shipped from chicago to sarasota, and i won't see the seller, he said he will fax me a bill of sale, and will mail me the title, that's about it

 
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i am in the same exact situation as Voiceofid...
i would also like to know the same.....getting different responses.
So you ONLY need the Bill of Sale for YOUR PERSONAL records? Or do you have to show the DMV/Courthouse/whoever?
Pretty much, you just need the Title to be signed by both parties?

 
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In private sells, the owner is simply signing the title over to you. They do this by filling out the back, signing it, and then you signing it. All this takes place in front of the notory to make it legal and official. Once that has happened, you own the car. You are just the owner in the state's computers yet. If you got pulled and had the signed and notarized title, you'd be fine.

A bill of sale is a RECEIPT.

 
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But what if the vehicle is being shipped from one state to another...there is no way both parties can sign the title and bill of sale in front of a notory?

 
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ditto


i was thinking... maybe get him to sign it and notorized and then simply send the bos and title down to me, and i'll sign them

and.. do you have to pay tax for a car brought from another state?

 
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Plus if you can't see the title and car together how are you going to know if the VIN numbers match? Plus there could be a lean on the title. I'd want pics of both the VIN and title, I had this problem 20 years ago. I bought a car and the owner signed and notorized the title, turns out the car's VIN's didn't match the title and later found out it was a stolen car. The guy disapeared and I was out a car and $500 and a car. That was a lot of money for a 16 year old in 1983, (god I'm getting old).