What Is A Car Title

If your car is new most of the required paperwork will be handled by the dealership.
What is a car title. It s also referred to as a certificate of title or pink slip as car titles in california were once that color. Your car title is a certificate that proves your ownership of the vehicle you drive. Your car title is like your car s birth certificate. If you buy a used car you must not only submit a title transfer application but depending on your state s requirements you might also have to provide an odometer reading a vehicle identification number vin and a bill of sale.
In the united states the certificate of title for a vehicle also known as a car title automobile title or pink slip is a legal form establishing a person or business as the legal operator of a vehicle vehicle titles in the u s. Car titles are issued to the purchaser at the time of purchase or if the car is financed the title will not be issued until the car loan is paid off. It is most commonly located in a car title car insurance declarations page proof of car insurance a vehicle registration card bill of sale car loan paperwork and on the vehicle itself the vehicle vin is usually located on the driver s side door. Depending on what your state requires when you buy a car you ll need to submit certain documents to your state s department of motor vehicles or transportation authority to get a valid title.
A car title or pink slip is proof of legal ownership of a motor vehicle. If you re financing a car you won t have the. Owners that wish to sell their car will need to transfer ownership of the car to the buyer. A car title is a document establishing the legal owner of a vehicle whether a person or business that s issued by a state department of motor vehicles.
The information on a title is extremely important so it all needs to be accurate. Are commonly issued by the secretary of state in the state the vehicle was purchased by the department of motor vehicles dmv. Title vehicle identification number vin a unique 17 letter and number identification number also known as a vin is given to all vehicles. A car title plays a crucial role in the life cycle of your vehicle.
When that car truck or suv reaches a given state s definition of salvage status or if an insurance company slaps a total loss ruling on the vehicle a salvage title can then be issued on the.