What to Do If You Buy a Vehicle Without a Title in Pennsylvania

Sometimes we come across bits of information that if we had done a little research on what we planned to do beforehand we could have avoided learning in the first place. Such is the case with my knowledge of the process of what to do when you buy a vehicle without a title in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In my haste to get any sort of motorized vehicle for trips longer than I could take with my bicycle (because I am lazy after all and don't feel like riding more than five miles under pedal power.) I had decided that a mopedish type vehicle would serve my needs for the time being.

After doing much searching through Ebay motor listings I eventually found an older Yamaha Jog scooter. One problem though, it had not title. While this may not be a problem in some states, Pennsylvania requires such vehicles to be titled (While it does bring increased revenue to the state which would help improve the condition of the roads - something many drivers agree is badly needed) it also protects the user against buying something that has been stolen.

However, because not every state requires mopeds or smaller scooters to be titled or sometimes the paperwork can be lost the unwary purchaser can run into problems. Understanding what you have to do to get a title is important. First, make sure to get a bill of sale from the person you are purchasing it from. It is not necessarily that the person intends to cheat you as that is probably rarely the case but if he or she does not have a title, some unscrupulous person somewhere along the line might have sold it to him. It will not however, necessarily get you your money back. It will however protect you from possible legal troubles should the vehicle actually turn out to be stolen.

Good, now that you have a bill of sale and have possibly brought the vehicle home. The first thing you will want to do is to check with PennDOT and the local state police. The state police will tell you if the vehicle has been stolen and PennDOT can tell you whether or not the vehicle has a title in the state. If the vehicle has a title in the state and was sold legally the task is simple. You just have to track down the title holder and get the owner to sign it over to you. That is assuming the original owner still has it. If not you will have to have the original owner request a duplicate version from the Department of Transportation. It is at least good etiquette if nothing else to pay the fees involved.

However, if no title is found and it turns out not to be stolen after all the process is complicated and PennDOT happens to be picky about the paper work being filled out correctly. Even if the vehicle is brand new, you will have to apply for a Reconstructed title. It costs $22.30 and you should have the bill of sale along with the receipts for any parts you may have purchased for it. It may be necessary to obtain a statement from the prothonotary in your county that recognizes you as the legitimate legal owner of the vehicle. Once that is done and you have the proper inspection, send the paperwork in through a notary or if possible, through your state representative who can expedite the process.

If you would rather not do the legal paperwork yourself there are Internet companies that can obtain a title for you but the price can range anwyhere from 100 to 300 dollars. It is cheaper although possibly longer to do it by yourself.