We bought an old Toyota Corolla a few years ago for our kids to drive. A couple of weeks ago we decided to give the car to one of our daughters and we started, but didn't complete, the transfer of the title (I signed the back, and filled out my daughters info, but she never signed). A few days ago, the car died, and now we just want to donate it to a charity (if they'll take it), but I'm wondering what kind of problems we'll have with the title in the state it's in? Any ideas what to do with this?

AT least in Idaho, you can just go to the DMV and tell them you lost the original title and get a new one issued for $40 or so. The new one totally voids out the old one, and you can put in new sales info then.

Just make sure whatever organization you donate it to gets the title straightened out on their end. My parents donated a van to some place, and got a notice in the mail from Oakland PD several months later that it was abandoned in the city, and for them to pay the fines at the tow yard. Lawyers were involved to fix that.

quote:

Originally posted by Nismo:
Just make sure whatever organization you donate it to gets the title straightened out on their end. My parents donated a van to some place, and got a notice in the mail from Oakland PD several months later that it was abandoned in the city, and for them to pay the fines at the tow yard. Lawyers were involved to fix that.

TX has a form you [seller] submit with the basic details of the sale. Not sure if it fully releases any liability on the car, but it at least notifies the state that you have transferred ownership/possession to the person stated on the form, in the event they drag out getting the title transferred.

Maybe go visit with the DMV and see what they advise. Wear a disguise and give a false name.

Take what you have to the DMV and they will be able to give you a new one, probably for a small fee.

Is there another line on the title for your daughter to further assign it to the charity?

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
Maybe go visit with the DMV and see what they advise. Wear a disguise and give a false name.

Great idea! Give them arfmel's name.

quote:

Originally posted by architect:

quote:

Originally posted by arfmel:
Maybe go visit with the DMV and see what they advise. Wear a disguise and give a false name.

Great idea! Give them arfmel's name.

Why even go in? Just call & ask your questions.
The TX DMV has never been unhelpful when I've called with title questions.

We found out we got more money selling for junk than we would get from a deduction for donation to Kars4Kids.

I don't know where you live but in my State you still need a clean title to junk a modern car.
In this case is it not practical to get the daughter to complete the title transfer paperwork and then the donation?