BoatBanter.com - View Single Post - Sold the Scout

Vic Smith

On Fri, 30 Mar 2007 11:57:02 -0400,
wrote:

I'm not an attorney, ether, so you can value this accordingly, but
there is a BIG difference between something being stolen and something
handed over willingly.

Me either, but something that happened to neighbor has ensured I
always insist on legally transferring my auto titles.
The neighbor asked me to be with her when she sold her old Nissan for
about 400 bucks. It was advertised locally. All I did was translate
a little and make sure she had her plates.
She signed and handed over her title to the guy and he drove away.
That night he was drunk and broadsided a Caddie with the Nissan,
totaling both cars and injuring the Caddie driver.
The guy who bought her car was arrested at the scene, but soon fled to
Mexico. I don't know if he was even properly identified.
Illinois still had the car registered to my neighbor, so the Caddie's
insurance company and the state came after her.
I had to depose before the State Attorney to get her clear.
The SA told me that if I had not witnessed the sale, my neighbor
would be up the creek. He strongly recommended doing a proper title
transfer when selling a car.
Since then I have insisted on going to a notary whenever buying or
selling a car. Currency exchanges are common in Illinois and the
title change is notarized and sent to the state for a couple bucks
fee.
A lot easier than standing in line at a state agency office.
I've bought 4 cars from private owners since then and tell them this
story when buying. They have all agreed to come with me to the
currency exchange to get it legal, except one. He just said he
was busy and he trusted me to do it pronto, which I did.
No advice for here, just what I do in Illinois with cars.

--Vic