Car titles are gold to criminals like car thieves and title forgers. Your stolen title could be passed off to an unsuspecting person as the title to a completely different car – even a stolen car. That’s bad news for you if the stolen title is still active.
It’s a vicious cycle, but you can stop it from happening the moment you notice your title is gone.
If your car title is stolen, ordering a replacement through your local DMV will automatically void the stolen title. You should also call the police and report the stolen title. This prevents your old title from being registered ever again and protects you from illegal activity.
Does paperwork drive you nuts? Allergic to the DMV? Let us take care of it. At Dirt Legal our streamlined title recovery services can provide you a new car title in as little as 4 weeks. Bookmark our services now in case you ever need to replace a lost or stolen title.
Looks a little staged, doesn’t it? source
How to Proceed if Your Car Title Is Stolen
There are several ways you could encounter a stolen title.
Your car title was stolen. Don’t worry, it can be replaced.
You are buying a car but something isn’t right. Maybe the title doesn’t match the car or the data on the VIN report.
You are a thief! Enjoy freedom while you still can because sooner or later you will get caught.
Which of the following scenarios describes you?
I suspect someone is trying to sell me a car with a stolen title.
There is a quick and easy way to confirm this. If the VIN on the title doesn’t match the VIN on the car, one or both may be stolen. You might also notice that the name on the title doesn’t match the name of the person selling you the car.
Solution: Run a VIN Check and compare the results to what you know about the car. If there are differences, ask the seller to explain. If they cannot give you good reason to explain the mismatch, walk away from the deal and consider calling the authorities. Remember, not all thefts have been reported.
Don’t be like that. source
I bought a car with a missing title, and later I found out it was stolen.
This happens when someone’s title is stolen. They order a replacement, but you receive the old stolen title which is now void because it has been replaced by a newer version.
You would most likely discover this while trying to register the car in your name. The DMV would tell you that the title you have is void and has been replaced with a newer version. In my experience, they might not know that until days or even weeks after the fact, so there might be an uncomfortable time when you hear nothing back from the DMV until you receive the bad news.
Solution: Run the VIN number to find out if the car has been reported stolen, then contact the seller and explain the issue. If the seller ghosts you or acts fishy, call the authorities. Keep in mind that sometimes the seller has forgotten they had a title replaced years ago, and they could accidentally give you the old one. Accidents happen all the time.
My title was stolen. What can I do?
A title scammer may try to sell your title to someone else. That victim will attempt to register your stolen title in their name, and if you haven’t replaced the title before then, they will often succeed. It could take months to correct that in the legal system – that’s months of stress and expenses that nobody should have to deal with.
Solution: Notify the authorities about the stolen title immediately. Follow the steps below to replace your stolen car title through your local DMV. This will void the old title. Do not report your car as stolen if only the title was stolen! Sounds obvious, but we wouldn’t say it if we hadn’t seen it.
Since when do a hoodie and leather gloves make you a thief? source
Steps to Replacing a Stolen Car Title
Find and complete the Duplicate Title paperwork found on your state’s DMV website
Mail the form(s) with all required documents and fees enclosed
Or visit your local DMV and complete these steps onsite
Begin by searching for duplicate title forms on your state’s DMV website. It’s sometimes faster to use a search engine to search for the phrase “[your state] duplicate title form” with quotation marks.
Paperwork involves filling out your name, address, and driver’s license number, along with vehicle information like the VIN number, license plate, and year, make, and model. To skip the hassle of the DMV, submit your paperwork by mail.
Required documents may include a photocopy of your ID and insurance card, proof of paid property taxes, and a passing inspection slip. Several states require a notary public to witness the document.
Additional paperwork may be required if you have a loan on the vehicle. It’s wise to include a copy of the police report if there is one.
The cost of replacing a stolen car title is usually less than $50.
Turnaround time to receive a new title is a minimum of 6-8 weeks. The DMV cannot hand you a new title onsite!
This cannot be completed online in most states due to the security and importance of car titles.
You cannot use this process to title a stolen vehicle. Proof of ownership will be required, not simply handing them the title.
Thinking about selling your car? Replace the stolen title first.
Posting “the title was stolen” in your Craigslist or Facebook ad is a quick way to scare off potential buyers! It is best to hold off on selling the vehicle until after you replace the stolen title. It might even be illegal to sell it before doing so. The stolen title could cause heaps of legal problems for you, the buyer, and everyone else involved.
Skip the hassle – let us do the work.
The more time passes, it’s more likely that someone could be using your stolen car title to nefarious ends. You can replace a stolen title quickly and cheaply by following the basic steps outlined in this article. But if you get anything wrong on those DMV forms, it could be weeks and weeks before you find anything out – and you might have to start the process all over again.
We are a small group of vehicle specialists who are passionate about combating title fraud. In addition to VIN Checks and Vehicle Accident Reports, we can get you a new car title and fresh license plates! Our process is quick, easy, and transparent. Buy now or bookmark for later:
Contact us with any questions. If your car title was stolen and you need help, contact us for a no-obligation chat.
We are not attorneys. This article is not legal advice.
In most cases it is possible to replace a lost or missing car title by presenting sufficient proof of ownership to your local DMV. You can also replace a missing title that somebody else lost.