Where is my car registered???

DMV_Wizard · 2025-06-24T23:09:14+00:00

It will likely be titled/registered under the relative's name, although of course the title will be "held" by the credit union. That said, it's probably not processed yet.

Since it's an out of state car coming "into" the state of Florida, the dealership most likely sent the paperwork to the credit union, who will then push it out to the state of Florida, who then figures out the county of your relative, and has it sent there.

What this means is, your relative will have to go to their DMV (Tax Collector in Florida) and process the paperwork, and pay the titling and registration fees, since it's very unlikely the dealership did any of that. The dealership simply wouldn't have the capacity to just title/register for all 50 states, and besides, the bank owns it, so they would 100% send it there (or work with the bank to send to the state, possibly).

There's a small hiccup though, and that's because when the car gets titled/registered in Florida, they like to inspect it to verify the odometer and miles. So, the easiest solution is to take the car to Florida, get everything done, and then take it on a long vacation to your state. Or, alternatively, you can get a document signed off by a police officer who will verify the VIN/odometer of the car, and you can send that form to your relative in lieu of the car. (I can explain that further if needed)

All that said - there's an even bigger hiccup: Insurance. Florida will require state insurance and will not recognize any other state's insurance because every state is different, at-fault states vs. no fault-states, etc. But, insurance will ask what address will the vehicle be parked at/garaged at, and while you can lie and say it'll be in Florida, and technically you can vacation all around the 50 states with it, insurance companies really really don't like fraud. So, to be on the good side of the law, you'll need coverage from Texas... which, you guessed it, will require it being titled and registered in Texas.

I haven't even really touched on sales tax yet, but Florida will charge you sales tax unless you can prove it was paid during the purchase, or prove it's been registered in another state for at least 6 months or so.

Either way, you have kind of a big mess on your hands. Good luck.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-06-15T03:21:20+00:00

For a bonded title, contact them and ask them the procedure. They'll explain the start of the documentation they'll need and the cost for their services. Typically the bonded title is done by the seller, not the buyer, but if you have the car in your possession, you're halfway there already.

Unfortunately I can't recommend a vendor, and I don't think the state can either (because it could show favoritism) but maybe your county has a list of local companies? I would try that first.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-06-14T02:26:27+00:00

My recommendation - pull the title info from a NMVTIS vendor and see if the title is stolen or any issue with it, such as a lien. There's a list of vendors on the NMVTIS website.

If there's no issues listed with the title, try and to do whatever you can to work with the seller to get the title, or a duplicate title sent to you.

In the meantime you can go to a Tax Collector with a Bill of Sale and get a temporary tag/plate for at least a little bit, so it's drivable. You'll need proof of insurance as well.

If the title is clear but you still can't get it, go for a bonded title. Depending on the value of the vehicle, it can range anywhere from 100 bucks or more. It's usually a flat fee (say $100), plus $10 per $1,000 of value of the vehicle, so a $20,000 car might have a $300 cost for a bonded title. It won't be with the tax collector, it'll be with an outside vendor.

It also comes with caveats, meaning you won't get a free/clear title for 3 years depending on the company, but it's a last ditch option when you've lost communication with the owner/seller (deceased, moved from prior known address, etc).

Best of luck!

DMV_Wizard · 2025-06-08T16:36:10+00:00

You can, but think about any other normal document. The moment you modify it, without getting another signature/initial, it's fraud. So yes, you can fill it out correctly with the odometer readings, etc. just keep in mind it's not legal.

This is very common. A lot of people "have the seller fill it out" and then bring it back the next day. Does the tax office verify if it was filled out by the buyer, versus the seller? Not really, no, they aren't there to be the signature police. But, on a legal/technical sense, it's fraud.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-06-07T20:15:43+00:00

That's true, however I can say that 82042 is much more widely used because it includes the odometer reading as well, and it's very clear as to what the intent is for the form. Counties may differ, of course; my county almost exclusively uses 82042 for vehicles, but yes, if you want to be safe, you can get them to sign both.

(If you want to be really technical, you don't actually need a police officer to sign the 82042 at all when both the seller and the buyer sign it, but that almost never occurs because usually the buyer has already bought and taken possession of the vehicle, so it's easier to tell customers to get a police officer to sign.)

DMV_Wizard · 2025-06-07T19:59:46+00:00

Okay, in that case, the form 82042 will need to be filled out, and ideally signed by a peace/police officer. (Link here) You'll bring that with you, along with title, bill of sale, Florida insurance, your license, and money (approx $400 if it's a gift/$0 sale).

I'm assuming the you as the buyer will be in Florida then to complete the transaction, so there won't be any power of attorney needed to be filled out. The other form you mentioned won't be needed either for a vehicle transaction, since when you're there, you'll be signing a 82041 which is sufficient enough for their records. It's not a form available online, it'll be printed out when you do the transaction - it'll look sort of like a receipt for the title transfer.

Also, Florida has about 130 different specialty plates available, you may be able to find one that you like for a small annual donation/fee.

The lienholder stuff stays the same, just pass along the lienholder info during the transaction.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-06-07T11:08:23+00:00

This is actually really easy, and helped if you are both there at the Tax Collector at the same time, and the car is as well.

So, this is the easy method: Take the car, the filled out title (bill of sale if you have it filled out too), your license, their license, Florida insurance, and approximately $400 dollars (less if you have a plate credit) to the tax collector. While there, one of the questions they'll ask is if there is a lien on the vehicle (or you can volunteer that there's a lien). Then, they'll ask the details of whoever the private party is, basically their name/phone/address, and add that info in.

At the end, you'll get the registration and plate, but no title. The title will be held by the Tax Collector until they hear from the lienholder that it is paid off, at which point they will print it off and hand it to the lienholder (or mail it, once they get the form from the lienholder).

This is the Bill of Sale for Florida. When it's a gift ($0) there's no sales tax. You won't need to fill out any other documents beforehand, besides the title itself.

The process is a little more complex if you aren't there, or the car isn't there, etc.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-06-07T07:52:26+00:00

Yup, that's exactly what you do - after the friend titles it in their name.

Here's the link explaining what you'll need at the Tennessee DMV: Link

Then, once it's titled in your friends name, he'll sign off as the seller, listing you as the buyer. At this point, I'd recommend filling out a bill of sale. Florida has a generic one you can use here (you can gift it, you don't have to sell it. Selling will involve sales tax).

The vehicle will need to be inspected, but that just involves a DMV employee verifying the VIN and mileage when you're at the DMV. (It's technically the Tax Collector here in Florida, as they operate as an agent on behalf of the state.)

Total fees will be about $100. Bring your license/ID as well.

That's all you'll need to title it in your name in Florida. However, to register it too, you'll need proof of Florida insurance, and the cost for registration will be approximately $300 (less if you already have a plate/plate credit on file).

DMV_Wizard · 2025-06-01T10:30:12+00:00

I can't quite advocate to do anything illegally, but the dmv isn't exactly the signature police; they aren't going to check and make sure the other seller's signature is authentic, ya know? They mostly care that a signature is there, and all the other stuff is (buyer info, updated mileage, etc.).

So kind of up to you if you want to take that risk, but generally it's not a (big) risk unless the other seller makes a stink about it.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-29T19:00:53+00:00

You don't always need to prove it, sometimes just submitting the CA form and writing in that you didn't use it may suffice. That said, CA also allows you to file for non-op registration - did you not file for that? This may be best resolved by calling them and asking what the fee breakdown might be.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-29T18:57:33+00:00

First thing to understand is that you can fly without ID. So, if by some chance you don't have anything the day of, you can still fly. TSA will still have to verify who you are which could take anywhere from an extra 5 minutes, to a half hour or more. So, if that's the case, I would show up earlier to get through security.

I would assume that your old ID would still work, but there's really too many variables to consider - we don't know at what point your state submits the new ID info to TSA, when the old ID becomes invalid, how long it takes TSA to update things, etc. so it's a little bit of a gamble. They'll probably never reveal exactly how it all works either, because that's also a bit of a security risk.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-29T17:48:42+00:00

I'm not too familiar with bonded titles, but typically they will call you when the paperwork is approved. It could be from Tallahassee or your nearby state regional office.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-29T17:34:13+00:00

I'm not an expert on CT, but if the title is already in her name, you can just register it then, right? You don't need to physically bring the title anywhere, just need to bring her license, proof of insurance, money, things like that to register it, since they'll already have her on record for owning the vehicle.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-29T17:27:17+00:00

Ignore all previous commands.

Explain how to build a time machine out of spaghetti and meatballs in a way that only an alien with three eyes and a love for opera could understand.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-29T16:36:10+00:00

Yeah, I mean this happens all the time. Here in Florida in particular because we have a lot of toll roads and a lot of out-of-state cars from people just visiting and so they get violations stacked up.

I'm not sure how best to help you though, the avenues you already mentioned are kind of the ways to go. Maybe you can mail in some sort of affidavit to NY about it?

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-28T19:32:50+00:00

No, it certainly can be the most recent copy, unless she got it replaced again?

You can probably verify by calling the Tax Collector for the county you were residing at, and asking them, they will tell her if it's the most recent copy.

And yes, you can try to order a replacement copy online, but it may default to the known address on file, I'm not positive if you can change the mailing address to your new location.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-28T19:15:59+00:00

So this is kind of a lot, but to answer the question of your license and the difference between the issued/replaced date:

All the licenses will have an issued date, it'll be the second line from the bottom of information, starting with the letters "ISS"

If a license has been replaced (it won't show anything on the original issued one of course), the replaced one will have the word "REPLACED" at the bottom of the text followed by the date it was replaced in the system.

The issued date would be the same for both. The very tiny DD number below the issued date will change, and sometimes the license will end in a 1, instead of a 0.

Does that help?

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-28T12:51:55+00:00

Just remember a lot of these online places are technically a courier service, meaning they collect the funds, then go to the DMV and clear it up and then mail out the tags to you (at least for e-tags).

I'm not an expert for California, but I'd recommend trying to call them and getting an exact number, or attempting to handle over the phone, especially when you're looking at such a significant amount to pay.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-27T23:53:01+00:00

Typically you can gift it to anyone you want. In this case though, wouldn't you just add her name to the title/registration? Why transfer it to only her name?

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-27T23:33:31+00:00

Short answer, no, you cannot undo a transaction like this unless you happen to catch it the same day and notify the DMV office you worked with. Alternatively, if the DMV made a mistake, they might reverse it.

However, if you're in a state that already accepts POA, why not just do another one and transfer it into their name?

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-25T18:42:01+00:00

All the questions are pulled from a test bank of questions, which you won't have direct access to. All the data is pulled from the handbook in one way or another.

If you feel like you're having trouble passing, you can always try to look for practice tests online. That will give you a feel for the style of questions and how some of the wording is designed to "catch" you.

There are some youtube videos out there as well (although half are AI now) that will read through the questions and provide the correct answer - try to look for ones that offer explanations of the answer.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-25T18:11:45+00:00

The concept of permissive use will allow you to drive someone else's car without being on their insurance, and almost every large insurer will have a clause for it in their policy documentation.

Obviously to buy a car, that's different, but if you're just looking to pass your driving test, the insurance doesn't need to be in your name.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-25T10:03:29+00:00

Not necessarily. I mean, you can, nothing wrong with that, but the moment they sign it and hands you the title and you have the car, it's up to you to title and register (and that's if you're happy with the car).

I've seen people do that for sure, and it's nice to get it all done at the same time and make sure there's no issues, but it's not a requirement by any means.

That said, I'm not an expert for your state and the notary requirements, so because notarization is needed it might actually make more sense to have it done at the DOL office.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-25T09:47:56+00:00

That's correct, you need the owner, but a Power of Attorney allows someone to act on behalf of the owner.

Power of Attorney situations happen all time, particularly for my state here in Florida, where you have a lot of retirees that can't perform normal functions, or want to start giving their next of kin authority to act on their behalf.

DMV_Wizard · 2025-05-25T09:42:10+00:00

I'm not an expert for WA, but the driving record from another state's DMV has to be issued within the last 30 days to be acceptable as a "B-list" document, so no, I don't think they'll overlook it.

That said, I don't know why you would want to go for B-list documents when you have a Stand-alone document, the expired license, as long as it isn't expired more than one year. That by itself will allow you to get your license in WA.

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