If this is the case, check your state’s regulations regarding bill of sale presentation. In that case, a bill of sale may be adequate proof of ownership. Some states did not issue titles until as recently as 1975, so selling the car without a title is logical when it’s that old. This is a process in which the state uses the vehicle’s VIN to attempt contacting the vehicle’s last known owner to give them a sort of right of first refusal. You can also file for an abandoned vehicle title. In Virginia, for example, you can file a mechanic’s lien for unpaid bills if you provide the proper documentation. Explore Alternate Titling OptionsĪgain, every state is different, but some have ways to title an abandoned vehicle or car with outstanding repair bills stacked against it. RELATED: Car Title Guide: Everything You Need to Know 2. Keep in mind that if the odometer reading number or any other part of a title has been altered, the document will not be considered valid by most DMVs and will need to be replaced. You can also check the DMV website for details, including the cost of replacement/duplication fees (they usually don’t cost a whole lot in the grand scheme of things). Replace the TitleĬontact your local department of motor vehicles – or the DMV where you purchased the vehicle – and ask how you can get a replacement for a lost, damaged, or stolen title. How you go about it depends on your particular set of circumstances, as well as the state in which you’re doing business when selling a car without a title.Ĭheck out these tips to help you sell a vehicle without a title. Or the car could be stolen, in which case you should report it to the police as soon as possible.Įven though buying or selling a vehicle without proof of ownership is illegal in most jurisdictions, there are ways to sell a vehicle without a title. But sometimes, there’s a perfectly logical explanation: The car title is lost, stolen, or damaged the vehicle was abandoned on your property, or bills are owed on it a lender holds a lien on the vehicle you never titled the vehicle when you first purchased it. So you are trying to sell a car but don’t have a title.