So I seem a lot like a cl scammer....

So this is going to sound a Lot like a cl scam, and that's why I need you guys' help. My crazy-ass sister (not erratic crazy just move her whole family to russia on short notice for a good business opportunity crazy) has moved to moscow on fairly short notice for two years, no really this actually happened. She didn't want to be without cars before she left so she stuck me with the task of selling her two cars (a 12 outback ultimate  lezbaru package green with tan, and a loaded 06 pilot). Her husband is a fancy pants lawyer and he did a power of attorney document, notarized and all giving me the ability to sell both cars as well as signing both titles in the seller section. The problem is that when it comes up, people bail because it sounds exactly like a scam.  Should I just act like it's mine and stfu? Is there a way to describe this scenario where I don't sound like a berkeleying scumbag cl scammer? Any advice from the hivemind?

I wouldn't tell them anything except you have the title in hand. They don't need to know anything more than that. When it comes time to sign the title over, if they say anything, show them the documentation showing you have POA; tell them your sister owns the vehicle but had to move on short notice--I wouldn't mention Russia at all. At best, say Europe. 

I would offer to go to the DMV with them to transfer the title. I bought a van from a guy who had a disorganized stack of papers and a story that sure sounded like he stole it from a previous job. Less than an hour at the DMV with the seller sorted out the nonsense and I left with a clean title.

Got to your local DMV or notory or whatever in advance. Like, go now before you have a buyer lined up. Get yourself well versed in what has to happen and maybe even get that office familiar with you and what you are doing. 

What you are doing is not common but it is perfectly legit. Don't cloud the sale with a lot of pre-speak about this. Get the fish on the line and then complete this one extra step at the office of authority (DMV, bank, notory, etc) and all will be good. 

Maybe say something at the start of the negotiations to the effect of "for my safety and yours, I'll only complete the sale at the DMV or bank"

Yeah just tell them you are selling it for your sister, no other details needed, and if you strike up a deal, yes, you will need to escort them to the dmv to make sure everything goes through okay. I've done the whole "Hey I filled out the seller portion, its ready to go" thing, but inevitably there will be a comma in the wrong spot and the dmv will refuse to transfer it and I need to get a new copy of the title and redo it. That is where things will get crappy for you. Good luck with the sale.

Do these cars still have loans on them? 

i know people who have flipped cars that never put them in their own name. When they bought it they had the seller sign where they were suppose to on the title and just held on to it until they fixed it and filled the rest out once it was sold. Just double/triple check that they filled out the 'seller' portion of the title without any errors.

edizzle89 said:

i know people who have flipped cars that never put them in their own name. When they bought it they had the seller sign where they were suppose to on the title and just held on to it until they fixed it and filled the rest out once it was sold. Just double/triple check that they filled out the 'seller' portion of the title without any errors.

 

I think this approach gets pretty gray, pretty fast from a legal standpoint. Don't most states require a vehicle to be titled in the buyer's name within a certain number of days of purchase? You'd have to buy it and have it sold to the new owner within that number of days or you'd have problems. I suppose you could always ask the seller to leave the date portion blank, and fill that out when you sold it to someone else, but that seems like it would come with questionable legality too.

Trade them both in at a questionable used-car lot for something cool that you would enjoy.  

(wait, did I say that out loud?) 

In reply to John Welsh :

No, free and clear

sesto elemento said:

She didn't want to be without cars before she left so she stuck me with the task of selling her two cars (a 12 outback ultimate  lezbaru package green with tan, and a loaded 06 pilot). Her husband is a fancy pants lawyer and he did a power of attorney document, notarized and all giving me the ability to sell both cars as well as signing both titles in the seller section.

Honestly, it sounds like they need someone to hang on to one of them (fully depreciated Pilot?) while they're gone... that way they don't have to rent a car when they visit.

I would like to buy your vehicle or vehicles for full asking price. I cannot meet you in person as I am currently stationed overseas. I will send you a certified check with shipping cost included and arrange a shipping company to pickup your vehicle or vehicles.

STM317 said:

edizzle89 said:

i know people who have flipped cars that never put them in their own name. When they bought it they had the seller sign where they were suppose to on the title and just held on to it until they fixed it and filled the rest out once it was sold. Just double/triple check that they filled out the 'seller' portion of the title without any errors.

 

I think this approach gets pretty gray, pretty fast from a legal standpoint. Don't most states require a vehicle to be titled in the buyer's name within a certain number of days of purchase? You'd have to buy it and have it sold to the new owner within that number of days or you'd have problems. I suppose you could always ask the seller to leave the date portion blank, and fill that out when you sold it to someone else, but that seems like it would come with questionable legality too.

Everything is left blank except for the seller's name and signature. The selling date and price are filled in when a buyer is found. And yea it is probably in no way legal to do it this way but.... you know how that goes.

What about the easy button of just taking them to CarMax or similar dealer? 

Sounds like they hit the easy button when they left the cars with you to bother with so that they wouldn't be inconvenienced.

Besides helping out family, what are you getting out of this hassle?

Local Carmax?  Easy button for you, is the delta to top-dollar perfect scenario private sale worth the hassle?

No local carmax locations and I don't mind helping her to get what she can get. She'll take care of me hopefully. I'm just gonna keep quiet about it I guess. People have been asking if the title is in my name though. 

Sell them to your self.  Re title them in your name and then sell them.  The RMV here in MA has been turning titles in less then 2 weeks the last couple times  needed one.  Yes you will have to pay sales tax (have your sister do that) but that is just the cost of selling them now instead of selling them before they left and renting a car for a couple weeks.  Then you are the owner and seller of the cars.  No more issues.

dean1484 said:

Sell them to your self.  Re title them in your name and then sell them.  The RMV here in MA has been turning titles in less then 2 weeks the last couple times  needed one.  Yes you will have to pay sales tax (have your sister do that) but that is just the cost of selling them now instead of selling them before they left and renting a car for a couple weeks.  Then you are the owner and seller of the cars.  No more issues.

 

 

That's what I was going to suggest. 

sleepyhead said:

sesto elemento said:

She didn't want to be without cars before she left so she stuck me with the task of selling her two cars (a 12 outback ultimate  lezbaru package green with tan, and a loaded 06 pilot). Her husband is a fancy pants lawyer and he did a power of attorney document, notarized and all giving me the ability to sell both cars as well as signing both titles in the seller section.

Honestly, it sounds like they need someone to hang on to one of them (fully depreciated Pilot?) while they're gone... that way they don't have to rent a car when they visit.

They're loaded, they'll buy new when they get home in two years. Not remotely car people, it's a shame really.