OT:Weird car buyer at my house, kinda log

I'm selling my wife's car so I put it across the mile on a state hwy corner. A guy calls last eve very interested. I said call Friday after 3 PM. I work nights so I get up today at 3 and see 9 calls on my phone, 3 each from 3 different numbers all about 1/2 hr apart. I try to call back the first two and they both go to this little mom and pop motel across from where the car was sitting. Its way out in the country and its the little old motel left from the 60's that still runs on the occasional line worker or "other" clients (whatever, not the point here). They, of course never heard of this guy. Soon he calls, he'll be right over. Gets here and I tell him I tried to return his call. He says "yah I'm at the Blah blah motel (doesn't use the right name), and it rings into the desk not the room. Him and his friend look the car over and I go with them for a short one mile ride, ( I armed myself earlier). We get back he makes one counter offer, I accept, CASH ONLY, Its only $5,000. His mom apparently calls, they discuss bank hours at length having no clue that every bank is open until 6pm on friday and they head to bank, its 4pm. He calls me soon and says this a small bank and they "won't have that much money on hand would I take a money order or cashiers check "thing". I say CASH ONLY. Okay he'll see what the bank says. Then he calls me and says I can't get back until tomorrow morning and I tell him okay call me in AM and let me know. NOW, I didn't take a down payment and I'm fine with that because I thought he'd be right back and that's not the point. I have no other prospects and to be honest I was so rattled I didn't think to ask for a payment . These guys were not smart enough looking to be running a scam. I don't think they ever saw 5K in their lives. The guy buying it never drove it, I don't think he has a license, and I really don't care. My point is, I guess as long as I get my cash I don't care. Its just the whole thing seemed weird from the start. They didn't case my place, the whole thing only took minutes. I doubt he'll be back.

I'd sure bring the car back home to your place.

Allan

This all happened here at my place. The car's in the garage.

If you do sell it to them, make sure you go with them to the license office and get the title in their name first, before you give them the keys.

Selling to the general public is always a little weird and is rarely the same twice. I won't worry about it. If they didn't put down a deposit the car is still for sale to the first person who can produce the right amount of cash. If they are the first ones to return with right cash I'd sell it to them. Otherwise sell it to someone else.

I absolutely 2nd what retired farmer says:get it put in their name FIRST, before the keys!Mark

I'll tell you the weirdest one I ever heard. My uncle had a van for sale. Somebody paid him cash,took the title and never came back for the van. He never even got the guys name.

Nothing new about crazy people buying cars. Son sold the dodge pickup . Guy came over, Son drove it and went all through the paper work showing what was done. Guy (with his girlfriend) drove back home after giving Son the money. Son
had the smarts to make him sign a bill of sale showing AS IS, So about an hour later he called back and wanted his money back, said we could keep $200,00 as his girlfriend was preg, and he needed the money. I told Son he should have told him it wasn't his fault. A deal is a deal when a bill of sale says AS IS. LOU

Not sure about the law where you are, but in Texas they recommend taking the tags off the car when selling it to an individual.

That way they are forced to get it registered in their name to get new tags, and they can't go terrorize the town with your name showing up on the tag!

I know a lot of states are really taking precautions so that everybody is protected and nobody (including the state) gets scammed, but be careful here.
About a decade ago, my cousin sold another man a pickup and it was a cash transaction. My cousin never did pull the tags off of the vehicle. Anyway, over the next few months, my cousin got several visits from law enforcement because his vehicle was used for several bank robberies. Of course, his tags were still on the car.

I have absolutely never heard of going to DMV etc to transfer title before exchanging money. That's a new one on me. I DO take a photocopy of the signed off/on title before I give it to owner. As a matter of fact if a seller asked me to sign on before he released a vehicle, I'd walk. Not that its bad, it just seems excessive. And I have NEVER left my plates on after a sale, that's crazy.

(quoted from post at 05:23:39 11/01/14) I have absolutely never heard of going to DMV etc to transfer title before exchanging money. That's a new one on me. I DO take a photocopy of the signed off/on title before I give it to owner. As a matter of fact if a seller asked me to sign on before he released a vehicle, I'd walk. Not that its bad, it just seems excessive. And I have NEVER left my plates on after a sale, that's crazy.

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otta agree there.who in thier right mind would leave their tags on a car after they sell it,never heard of that one!

(quoted from post at 21:15:52 10/31/14) I'll tell you the weirdest one I ever heard. My uncle had a van for sale. Somebody paid him cash,took the title and never came back for the van. He never even got the guys name.

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You don't suppose he had a similar van for which he needed a title?

As far as selling a vehicle and leaving the plates on it, that's the way it's done in Minnesota. The plates are issued to a vehicle, not the owner. Once a set of plates are issued it is the only vehicle they can be used on. The lower part of the title has an area where the new owners information is written and the original owner sends it to the DMV to show the sale. If the new owner does not register the vehicle in the proper time period the title can be suspended.

OWEN
You are right, here in Mn the plates stay with the vehicle.
I have sold several cars & never had a problem. After doing the sales pitch, demo ride, etc, we "step into my office", aka the kitchen table. There we exchange title & keys for payment. I fill in the buyer's info, copying from his/her DL, & fill in that little tear off to send in to DVS. Then I make a copy of everything for my own files.
I also accept checks. I tell the buyer that if the check bounces, I won't be calling, bad check writing is a crime, I'll send the sheriff. Never had a problem.
When I am the buyer, I ask if check will be okay, or should I run to bank to get a cashiers check, only take 20 minutes.
Willie

Suppose a person were to buy a car from you, they gave you cash and you gave them the title. They don't get the title put in their name and have an accident or something and don't have insurance. Law will go after them first and then come after you second, because the title still has your name on it.

And I've never heard of taking them off. Washington is like Minnesota, mentioned below- you fill out the Seller's Report of Sale on the bottom of the title, send it in, and you're off the hook.

One time I was selling a truck with a snowplow out of the field at Ma's house, got all kinds. When I sell something like that I put a sign in the window with all the information about vehicle and my price. One person asked what the wholesale price was as he wanted to resell it, I'm not a dealer my price is my price. Another said he wanted it just to plow his development and wasn't going to register it, what is the reduced price, price is in the window. I was open to resonable counteroffers but these were ridiculous. Wasted a good bit of time with these clowns before I sold the truck.

(quoted from post at 03:49:09 11/01/14) Suppose a person were to buy a car from you, they gave you cash and you gave them the title. They don't get the title put in their name and have an accident or something and don't have insurance. Law will go after them first and then come after you second, because the title still has your name on it.

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You will also be responsible in civil court if they hit someone who sues for everything you own or ever hope to own.

His bank doesn't have five thousand on hand. Sounds like a scam. Give you a hot check or fake money order.

I thought there was a good possibility that he was after the title. The old van was pretty rough and cheap.
Another possibility that my Uncle considered,there was an accident about 30 or 40 miles south of here that same day and a man was killed. He pondered that it might have been the same guy.

here in Iowa never leave plates on a vehicle you sell. We've seen it, people try to trade acar in
with other peoples plates onthem claiming the car is in their name. DOT will involved and ask a lot of questions. If the paper work has not been filled out right you both get fined.

Draw up a Bill of Sale. Don't need to have the amount on it but sure as heck have the VIN. Have the buyer sign one copy and you keep that. Of course you sign a copy and give to the buyer. Pull the plates also.

My reasoning I think has been covered. You don't know what these guys are gonna do and as far as the DOT is concerned the car is still in your wifes name.

I do know of a instance where this happened with a twin engine light plane. Local JD dealer sold it in Florida when he hit hard times. Cash sale. Some time later there was a headline in a Florida paper. Iowa JD dealer dropping bombs in central america. Of course the purchasers never changed the registration and the tail number was still in the JD dealers name.

Why I am careful when selling something that can be traced back to me.

Kinda odd seeing how other states work.

If you cancel the insurance on a car without turning in your plate to the DMV they flag your drivers license. Around $500 to get the flag removed.

Also can not understand just signing the title over.
While you do not need to go to DMV when selling a car everything (bill of sale; back of title) has to be notarized or its not worth the paper its written on.

I've had my share of "odd" sales prospects here in Michigan but... the plates always come off, title get signed over on my kitchen table, cash only, use the "fake" detector pen on the bills in front of the buyer, I make a copy of the buyer's drivers license, title AND bill of sale that says "AS IS" after the buyer signs it. As others have noted, each state is different.

Have seen a lot of changes over the years here in Mn. Some changes good, some not so good.
Way back, too long ago to admit, registration was on a 3 x 5 card. Small print at bottom said "this is also a Mn title" Signatures on a transfer had to be notarized. I would do all the paperwork, exchange keys & payment at the license office. Now notary not required.
Used to be able to self insure by posting cash bond. When insurance became mandatory, policy number had to be shown on transfer papers. If insurance was cancelled or expired, company would notify state, state called local cop shop, they came out & pulled the plates. Now the lic app says "I attest by this transaction, that the vehicle is insured and will continue to be insured.....".
Willie

Or the buyer gets a bunch of parking tickets, etc.
That is why on the Mn title there is a tear-off coupon that the seller sends in, showing the buyer's name, address, & date of transfer.
Willie

State laws vary on plates and insurance. Best to get to your states DOT/DMV and read the laws on sale and transfer, plates, insurance, inspections. Some people will take advantage of one states laws to do something in a neighboring state that might not be quite legal and perhaps some parking ticket notices will come in mail to you- some times they'll do something flat out felony level illegal and the federals show up at door at 0500 with a door knocker, flash bangs and armored car with automatic cannon pointing at bedroom window-- got to be careful nowadays. RN.