Missing Title for Trade-In - Anyone Know If Dealer Can Handle This Without Me Going Through DMV?

[dano]

My dealer called the other day and had an order similar to the one I'm waiting for go unclaimed.
I can pick it up tomorrow (I think).

One snag... For the life of me, I can't find the title to the car I plan to trade-in.
I paid cash for it (from the same dealer) so there's never been a lien on the title.

So here's my question, does anyone know whether or not dealers have a way to process the transaction without the physical title document in-hand?
Or will I have to go to the DMV (or in Michigan, the Secretary of State office) and ask for one?

It seems like I've had this problem before and they just ordered a new one for themselves and I never heard about it again.

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[generaltso]

It seems like I've had this problem before

I can’t answer your question, but I’ll state the obvious. If this has happened to you more than once, it may be time to find a safe place to keep your titles.

 

[shutterbug]

My dealer called the other day and had an order similar to the one I'm waiting for go unclaimed.
I can pick it up tomorrow (I think).

One snag... For the life of me, I can't find the title to the car I plan to trade-in.
I paid cash for it (from the same dealer) so there's never been a lien on the title.

So here's my question, does anyone know whether or not dealers have a way to process the transaction without the physical title document in-hand?
Or will I have to go to the DMV (or in Michigan, the Secretary of State office) and ask for one?

It seems like I've had this problem before and they just ordered a new one for themselves and I never heard about it again.

In Arizona you no longer need a paper title. In either case, if you are the owner of record, you should be able to get a replacement paper title for a small fee. Or you can let the dealer do it for a large fee.

 

[dano]

I can’t answer your question, but I’ll state the obvious. If this has happened to you more than once, it may be time to find a safe place to keep your titles.

Or maybe my "safe place" for it is too safe.

 

[Gatorwilly]

My dealer called the other day and had an order similar to the one I'm waiting for go unclaimed.
I can pick it up tomorrow (I think).

One snag... For the life of me, I can't find the title to the car I plan to trade-in.
I paid cash for it (from the same dealer) so there's never been a lien on the title.

So here's my question, does anyone know whether or not dealers have a way to process the transaction without the physical title document in-hand?
Or will I have to go to the DMV (or in Michigan, the Secretary of State office) and ask for one?

It seems like I've had this problem before and they just ordered a new one for themselves and I never heard about it again.

Might help to ask the dealer.

 

[EELinneman]

Or maybe my "safe place" for it is too safe.

We once had the bank remodel the branch where we had a safe deposit box. They told us it would take 60 days to get our contents returned to us. A private conversation with the regional EVP got our stuff in 48 hours. Safe doesn't always mean convenient.

 

[OlyPen]

If only there was some kind of place you could go to, I dunno, search a digital database of information with answers to questions.... https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-96435_1587-76278--,00.html

In Michigan, replacement titles can only be requested by the registered title owner. There is an ExpressSOS option (takes 14 days)... Presumably, the dealer has a power of attorney form giving them the right to extract the title from the State. After you pay additional notary fees for the privilege.

In Washington state, if the car is added to your online licensing account (which happens automatically using your driver's license number), then you can hop online and print out a temporary from the website while a new official one is mailed to you, or walk into any licensing office in the state and grab one instantly by showing your driver's license. But alas, Michigan does not know the ways of modern technology in this regard.

 

[Carsinmyblood]

In most states you an give the dealer a limited power of attorney, so they may process the title in your absence.

This way you can drive off the street in one car, drive home with another on the spur of the moment.

They CHARGE for this, so you'll save some money if you do this legwork for them.

 

[dano]

If only there was some kind of place you could go to, I dunno, search a digital database of information with answers to questions.... https://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-96435_1587-76278--,00.html

In Michigan, replacement titles can only be requested by the registered title owner. There is an ExpressSOS option (takes 14 days)... Presumably, the dealer has a power of attorney form giving them the right to extract the title from the State. After you pay additional notary fees for the privilege.

In Washington state, if the car is added to your online licensing account (which happens automatically using your driver's license number), then you can hop online and print out a temporary from the website while a new official one is mailed to you, or walk into any licensing office in the state and grab one instantly by showing your driver's license. But alas, Michigan does not know the ways of modern technology in this regard.

I knew about the SOS process, but I was hoping to avoid it since it's 14 days. The website also notes their "instant" process, which is in-person at any branch. However, those branches are on an appointment-only basis and it's currently booked into September. I thought I had more time to get this dealt with, but this unclaimed order came out of nowhere.

Oh, and the appointment-only rule is now permanent. The state thinks it's working really well.

 

[OlyPen]

I knew about the SOS process, but I was hoping to avoid it since it's 14 days. The website also notes their "instant" process, which is in-person at any branch. However, those branches are on an appointment-only basis and it's currently booked into September. I thought I had more time to get this dealt with, but this unclaimed order came out of nowhere.

Oh, and the appointment-only rule is now permanent. The state thinks it's working really well.

So 14 days it is! The dealer should be able to accept an iou for the title if you provide a copy of the SOS application to get the copy, or if they can't get title themselves.

 

[dano]

So 14 days it is! The dealer should be able to accept an iou for the title if you provide a copy of the SOS application to get the copy, or if they can't get title themselves.

I'm pretty sure it'll be fine. The limited power of attorney mentioned by another member makes sense. I'm sure it happens all the time that people lose a title. Honestly, it's not the end of the world, if it had to wait or not be part of this sale transaction at all.

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