ok, this may seem like a dumb question, but i'm hoping somebody can help me out. i bought a car from a friend in Texas, but i live in TN. I got the title mailed to me, but its in his name not mine. Do i just take the title to the DMV here in TN and get the car registered? I don't have insurance on it yet, but I think you need the car in your name to get insurance, and vice versa, insurance to register the car...so what do i do? thanks
Well, I don't think you can get either insurance or vehicle registration over the BBS, so I would suggest calling the DMV or an insurance company.
First, make sure he signed the title over to you and that he put the sale price on it. Not sure how it is in TN, but in Texas, its not the DMV that takes care of vehicle registration, its the tax assessor that does it. Which means, when you register it in your name, you have to pay sales tax on it (based on the purchase price). In Texas, its 6.25%. As far as insurance goes, you dont have to necessarily have the vehicle registered in your name to get insurance on it (for many young drivers, the car is registered in the parents name, and the liability insurance is in the drivers name). Technically, insurance (liability) covers you, not the car. Your collision/comprehensive/UIM is what covers the car, and in Texas, its not required that you carry it. From a legal standpoint, I am sure your friend would want the car in your name, not his. But again, start by contacting your local county tax assessors office. Thats who will take care of the title/registration.
I'm a TN resident and Codell is right. 1) Get insurance - you don't need to have the car titled to get insurance. 2) Take: -The signed over title -The bill of sale -A check to cover the tax to the county court house - they are the ones to get the paper work filed for you, get the plates and registration.
what if you get a car as a gift? is there still a mandatory tax on that? in a couple of months my uncle is gonna give me his '99 honda civic.
When my parents officially transferred my car title to me, they put down that they were "selling it to me for $1", for tax reasons. I'm not sure which one of us that benefited. (The car had been registered in TN with them, and was registered in TX with me after that.)
