Additional Reasons You Cannot Sell a Car Without a Pink Slip If the state you are purchasing the vehicle from does NOT issue titles for your particular vehicle you must get what is called a “title verification letter” so that the California DMV will accept a bill of sale in lieu of a title.
Additional Reasons You Cannot Sell a Car Without a Pink Slip If the state you are purchasing the vehicle from does NOT issue titles for your particular vehicle you must get what is called a “title verification letter” so that the California DMV will accept a bill of sale in lieu of a title.
Take it into a licensing office and they will get it done, as long as the required info is on the BOS and the seller of the vehicle was the registered owner. Otherwise, you are doing what is called "title in doubt" registration that lasts for 3 years before they issue you a new title in your name.
This is because state laws can vary when it comes to car title ownership. For example, in the state of California, you're required to present your bill of sale to register the vehicle or to have your title transferred.
If you're participating in a private sale from one person to another, you must have a bill of sale. However, you don't need it for registration unless the situation is dire and there is no way to use another document like the title.
To gift someone a vehicle, you must transfer the vehicle title to their name and create a bill of sale. Selling a vehicle for $1 instead of gifting it could result in your recipient paying sales tax based on the car's fair market value — it's better to stick with the official gifting process.