What Should You Do for a Car Title Transfer in Texas?
Posted on | 29 Aug 2017 By Anita Gaal
A vehicle title transfer involves switching the title from one owner to the next. This is not strictly in buying/selling situations, but also when a car is given to someone, donated, or part of an inheritance. Car title transfers can be tricky, and the procedure varies from state to state. Furthermore, depending on whether you are a buyer or a seller, giver or receiver, you have differing responsibilities. Dallas, Garland, Arlington, and Fort Worth, TX areas have the same guidelines to follow in title transfers, but without the help of a professional it can get confusing—there are a lot of steps to follow and prepare for. Generally if a car dealership is involved then they take care of the title transfer process for you; however, if a dealership is not involved in the process, then you will need to follow a series of steps to make sure your title transfer goes smoothly. Here are some guidelines to follow when attempting to transfer a car title in Texas.
Basic knowledge in car buying
Buying a car from a non-dealership party doesn’t have to be stressful, but without the proper knowledge it can seem overwhelming. First, if you are buying the car, then you will need to make sure that the seller fills out the information on the back side of the title paper—this includes their signature, binding them to the sale. These are relatively simple questions that shouldn’t take longer than a few moments to fill out. While Texas guidelines state that both the buyer and seller should meet at the DMV to go through the process at the same time, it is not necessary or binding.
Complete the application process
Next, you must complete the Texas application for a car title; both the buyer and the seller must provide their signature on the application, and it is the seller’s responsibility to notify the DMV that the car was sold (usually this can be done easily online). Each state’s application varies slightly, but the information is relatively the same. You must have insurance for the new vehicle and have proof of that insurance before you hit the open road—this is standard for any state’s guidelines. The title transfer generally costs a minimal fee of around 30 bucks, but the entire process may be slightly more costly if you need to have multiple inspections performed on the vehicle. Usually the extra cost is well worth it; although a car may look good on the outside, you could end up saving yourself from buying a total lemon. Whenever you feel unsure of your ability to check out what’s under the hood of a car, you should enlist the help of professionals with more automotive expertise.
Check the documents
It is a good idea to have the car inspected by a professional, but you can ask that the seller give you copies of the most recent automotive work done and/or have a full inspection performed before signing the title over to you. If you feel like having your own inspection performed, generally it’s a good idea to have this done before the title transfer is complete, in case there are significant issues with the vehicle after all, and you do not wish to buy it anymore. Dealerships and automotive professionals alike usually recommend a pre-purchase inspection; it is a good way to know what you are getting into. Finding a trustworthy automotive shop to perform a pre-purchase inspection that can also help you with the title transfer is a great way to go—they can help you every step of the way, and make recommendations on the smoothest way to transfer the title.
Pre-purchase inspection with ‘Euro Automotive’
If you need help transferring the title of a vehicle, or would like to have a pre-purchase inspection performed, stop by Euro Automotive to meet their staff; they exceed dealership expectations in customer service as well as price. The Garland, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Arlington areas have given Euro Automotive an outstanding reputation in the community for their low prices and excellent quality work. Stop by Euro Automotive to learn more about their expertise and approach to automotive education; they take pride in their relationship with their customers and want to make sure you leave their shop feeling informed about title transfers and the importance of pre-purchase inspections.
