What is a 'non-title' state (automotive)?

[Johnny_L.A]

Browsing eBay I came across this statement:

THERE IS NO TITLE ON THIS CAR GEORGIA IS A NON TITLE STATE

I understand that the seller does not have title to this (parts) car; but what does he mean that Georgia is a ‘non-title state’?

[RealityChuck]

Some states don’t require a document of title when selling a car. The title proves that you are legally the owner of the car.

Generally, your registration is separate from your title. When you sell the car, you transfer title; the registration is up to the purchaser.

New York used to have the registration as proof of title; if someone got ahold of your registration, they could sell the car. Now there is a title document (which also indicates if there’s a loan outstanding). The title is never kept in the car, so no one can sell the car (at least, not to a legal purchaser) if they steal it.

Evidently, Georgia doesn’t require any title document when selling or buying a car.

[Johnny_L.A]

Weird.

So how does one prove one owns a car, if the title has been lost?

[Bobalude]

I believe you can request a duplicate title from the DMV if you are the legal owner of a car

[Spoke]

Not sure what the eBay seller is talking about. Georgia does require transfer of the certificate of title when selling a car.

[Spoke]

Here is the statute covering cars sold for parts under Georgia law..

[HeyHomie]

Mabye the seller meant to say “Non-Title Holding State.”

In some states, the owner of the car keeps the title, regardless of whether there’s a lien (for example, the car is used as collateral against a loan) on it or not.

In my state (Illinois), the lienholder keeps the title. For example - I owe Toyota Motor Credit several thousand dollars for my car, and so they’re holding the title until it’s paid off.

In other states (I don’t know which ones), I would keep the title.

[Gfactor]

Some states do not title and/or register some classes of vehicles. This section details states titleand/or registration exceptions.

DMV employees must verify from resource materials that the previous state is a non-title and/or non-registration state. The standard reference manual will be Polk’s Motor Vehicle Registration Manual which all supervisors and managers are issued. Other resource manuals are the NADA Title and Registration Book or the AAA Summary of Motor Vehicle Laws.

State of Alaska

What the seller is saying doesn’t make a lot of sense, given spoke-'s post.

[Gfactor]

OTOH, maybe, depending on what the seller bought the car for:

40-3-4.
No certificate of title shall be obtained for:

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(14)(A) A vehicle, other than a mobile home or crane, the model year of which is prior to 1986.

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(16) A vehicle which is not sold for the purpose of lawful highway use;
(17) A vehicle with a model year prior to 1963; or
(18) A moped.

Georgia General Assembly

All vehicles entering Georgia, model years 1986 and newer, are required to transfer title to Georgia in order to register and purchase a Georgia license plate. You must apply for a Georgia title before you can register and tag the vehicle. All persons applying for the title must be present to sign the application or provide notarized power of attorney. If your vehicle is model year 1985 or older, a bill of sale made out to you with a complete description of the vehicle, will be accepted in lieu of a title.

http://www.cobbtax.org/Forms/HtmlFrame.aspx?mode=content/Vehicle_Registration.htm&LMparent=202

[Gfactor]

20. What model year vehicles are required to be titled in Georgia?
    Motor vehicles model years 1986 and newer are required to be titled in Georgia. A 1963 through 1985 model year vehicle may be titled if the owner has a title to support the application and the title is in the owner’s name or has been properly assigned to the owner without a break in the chain of ownership.

A certificate of title is required for 1963 or newer mobile homes and cranes.

http://www.co.gwinnett.ga.us/cgi-bin/gwincty/egov/ep/gcbrowse.do?channelId=-536882260&channelPage=/ep/channel/default.jsp&pageTypeId=536880236

[cornflakes]

This isn’t what you asked about, but (I know! I know!)…

Along with Georgia, Alabama did not require titles until the 1970s. There used to be “title mills” in Birmingham that, for about $100-200, would buy your vehicle and then sell it back to you with a title. For a while it was by far the easiest way to title a vehicle that was not stolen but had lost its title through the years.

Titles Unlimited, one of the Alabama companies, got into trouble when the State of California discovered that they were providing titles for Cobra kit cars built in California. Things have probably tightened things up a bit since then.