How To Fix Written Mistake On Car Title When Selling

What should you do if you discover errors on your car title when you’re prepared to sell? This is called a damaged title and can make it more difficult to conduct a title transfer. While it’s best to check a title and correct any errors when you purchase, this guide covers how to fix a written mistake on a car title when selling your car.

Quick Car Title Error Fixes

Depending on what state your car is registered in, there are specific processes to follow when correcting your car title. That being said, here are a few quick steps you can take to begin the process:

• Contact your DMV in writing and let them know there’s an error on the title.
• Have the DMV issue you a duplicate title.
• If the previous owner is responsible for the title error, contact them and have them fill in the new vehicle title correctly.
• For errors that are your fault, make adjustments to your replacement title.

Car Titles Explained

A car title, also called a Certificate of Title, is a legal document that confirms proof of ownership. Having a car title is just as important as driving with a valid driver’s license. You can’t register your vehicle in your state without one. In most states, you’ll get a copy of your title if you bought the car with cash or when you pay off the loan.

Your car title includes important information, such as the make, model and year of the vehicle, vehicle identification number (VIN), your name and address, and the odometer reading at the time you took possession. The car title also states if there is a lienholder.

Titles with liens show that the vehicle is titled under the auto lender while you are making payments. When you have a loan on your car, you need to get the title cleared through the financing company before you can transfer ownership.

Common Car Title Errors

The majority of title mistakes are completely accidental. Since a car title is a legal document, everything on it must be accurate. Some errors you may find on a title include the following:

• The car title was signed, but never transferred.
• The date of sale is inaccurate.
• The odometer reading has incorrect information.
• The buyer's name or seller's name is misspelled.
• It’s an out-of-state title.
• The title is signed wrong, or the title is signed in the wrong place.

If you have discovered any of these title errors, you can fix them by contacting your local DMV and following their instructions.

Title Errors When You’re The Seller

Any title mistakes you make when selling the car can have legal implications, so it’s important to do your due diligence to fix any errors.

You Made A Written Mistake

It’s not uncommon for the seller to make a written mistake on the title, such as misspelling a name or writing down an incorrect number for the address or odometer reading. If you’re selling your vehicle and made a written error, the best solution is to go to your DMV and explain what happened. The DMV can issue a duplicate title so you’re able to start over.

Wrong Buyer Signature

If you had the buyer sign the title but the buyer later walked away from the deal, you now have a title with the wrong signature.

In the future, you can prevent this by only allowing the buyer to sign the title at the conclusion of the sale when payment has been exchanged.

If you already made this mistake, it can be rectified with a trip to the DMV for a new title.

Title Jumping

Title jumping occurs when the vehicle is never registered under the new owner. This is an illegal practice, and if you never obtained a title when you bought your car, you need to title it under your name before selling it.

Title Errors When You’re The Buyer

You might not be able to properly transfer the title to your name when buying a car if there are title mistakes. It’s important to review the title carefully before you complete the transaction. You can check the title status by entering the VIN in the National Motor Vehicle Information System, a nationwide database maintained by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Damaged Title On Your New Car

Sometimes a buyer may complete the transaction and then notice during the transfer process that some of the information is wrong or inaccurate. Contact the seller and your DMV so that the seller can correct the mistakes with you.

Buying A Car With The Title Already Signed

If someone else signed the title before you did, the seller could have had another buyer prepared to purchase it, but the sale wasn’t completed. Unfortunately, this title error means you can’t register the car in your name.

If you have the bill of sale and the seller’s information, you can work with the DMV to find a solution. However, it’s much easier if you get the seller to come to the DMV with you and wait until a corrected title is issued.

Title Without The Seller's Name

If you are buying a car, check to make sure the current seller’s name matches the name on the title. While it might be an honest mistake, this problem (called title jumping) is illegal and usually a sign of a scam. You must address this with the seller before moving forward.

What Not To Do

If you made an error on your car title, you might be wondering, “Can I use white out on a title?” The answer is no.

Since a Certificate of Title is an official legal document, you need to go through the correct channels to alter or correct it.

The Bottom Line: Get A Flawless Title

A damaged title can delay the transfer of the title to a new owner and create legal headaches. The best way to handle this problem is through prevention. Make sure that you have all the correct information on the title during the sale.

If you do discover title errors, the best route to fix them is through your DMV.

If you’re planning to buy a new car, use the Rocket Money^SM app to get a better understanding of how a car payment will fit into your finances.