When buying a vehicle in Philadelphia PA, certain procedures must be followed to ensure a vehicle title transfer is valid. They involve both the buyer and the seller. The source of the car will influence where the title application is signed and completed correctly.
Ensuring Validity
For the title application to proceed without issues, both the buyer and the seller must convene in one of the following places:
- The office of a notary public
- On the premises of a tag service
- On the lot of a dealership
Following this, the owner will receive the certificate of the title by mail. An exception is if the vehicle is being financed. The certificate of the vehicle title transfer will be sent to the finance company (lienholder).
Yet, before this process, the title must assert ownership of the vehicle.
What Comprises Acceptable Proof of Ownership?
Vehicle ownership documents provide the information on the specific vehicle. They are a prerequisite to the purchase and title transfer of any vehicle by a manufacturer, dealership or another source. These are legal documents and provide an acceptable means of proving vehicle ownership. The various types include the following:
- From the Manufacturer: Manufacturer’s Certificate (MCO) or Manufacturer’s Statement of Origin (MSO)
- Pennsylvania Certificate of Title
- Out of State Certificate of Title
- Salvage Certificate
In some cases, the proof of ownership is determined and provided in a court order.
All can provide proof of ownership and, therefore, permit the preparation and signing of a vehicle title transfer in Philadelphia PA.
