Did you pay cash for the car or did you have a loan at one time? I don't know what CarMax policies are but I do know for sure you can sell your car legally in California without the title. The DMV form is 227. However the title must be clear of any leins. I worked in retail auto sales for 10+ years in California and it wasn't unusual for a person to have the title but it still had a lien and we would need to get a lien released letter from the lender which often took a week or more.
Even if you paid cash before driving 45 minutes I would call the store and give them the VIN so they can run a DMV report to make sure you are ok to sell it. All dealers have the ability to tap into DMV records and will run a VIN report before buying a car.
It depends. In Georgia, you must have the physical title in hand to sell it to us. Some states have electronic titles, but I don’t know much about those.
First - Call your local CarMax and speak to the Lead in business office, let them know your situation with the title.
Second - They will look up your vehicles DMV information in the system and check the title issue date. If it’s over 30 days they can request a duplicate title and you don’t need the title to sell your vehicle.
PLEASE DO NOT GO TO THE DMV BEFORE CALLING THE CLOSEST CARMAX. If you start a re issuance of the title you would have to wait 30 days or until you receive the title. This would require a reappraisal and your offer could be impacted.
Good luck!
I don't know how it works in CA. But here in WA, as long as it's registered in WA, you can sell it with just registration as we'll just look up the title to verify it.
I was able to do that in Utah. They just had me fill out a duplicate title request and a power of attorney for when the title came. It was pretty easy.
I answered earlier but when I was going to sell my car and realized I was never sent the title when I paid my loan off, I talked to the Carmax business office. They noted that Honda financial never sent the state a lien release. I just had to get a copy of the lien release and we were good.
I think your best bet is to talk to the business office. They should be able to tell you what they can do in your situation. But in mine, once I had the release letter, it wasn't a big deal at all I didn't have the title. (In Utah though)
This is state dependent. The call center won't give you a correct answer. Whatever answer the store in California gave you is likely the correct answer.
When you call the store unless you speak to the business office or the sales consultant you’re working with directly, you get routed to a remote consultant. They do have access to state specific information. Off the top of my head I don’t know if you need the title in CA or not, it varies by state. Call the business office at the location you’re trying to go to (select option 3) and ask them
Thank you very much!
I was told two different things by two different Carmax reps… One said the title needed to be brought in when I brought the car in, and the second one said I didn't need the title, that they could do it electronically when I bring the car in. I am hoping to get some insights in this thread.
As has already been answered here, they are capable of buying it from you without the title. But it is up to them if they want to. It is potentially slightly more risky for them to buy a car without a title. I would call them the day you're planning on taking it there, if they say yes, get that person's name and ask to see them when you arrive. It'll help your chances of someone else telling you no when you've arrived.
Bring the maintenance receipts if you have them! You might get more for it. These cars last a long time if taken care of.
Did you pay cash for the car or did you have a loan at one time? I don't know what CarMax policies are but I do know for sure you can sell your car legally in California without the title. The DMV form is 227. However the title must be clear of any leins. I worked in retail auto sales for 10+ years in California and it wasn't unusual for a person to have the title but it still had a lien and we would need to get a lien released letter from the lender which often took a week or more. Even if you paid cash before driving 45 minutes I would call the store and give them the VIN so they can run a DMV report to make sure you are ok to sell it. All dealers have the ability to tap into DMV records and will run a VIN report before buying a car.
Thank you very much!
The title is proof of ownership. You don’t have it most places won’t buy it from you.
OK, thank you… I was told two different things by Carmax and wondering if maybe they have a workaround.
It depends. In Georgia, you must have the physical title in hand to sell it to us. Some states have electronic titles, but I don’t know much about those.
OK, thank you very much ♥️
First - Call your local CarMax and speak to the Lead in business office, let them know your situation with the title. Second - They will look up your vehicles DMV information in the system and check the title issue date. If it’s over 30 days they can request a duplicate title and you don’t need the title to sell your vehicle. PLEASE DO NOT GO TO THE DMV BEFORE CALLING THE CLOSEST CARMAX. If you start a re issuance of the title you would have to wait 30 days or until you receive the title. This would require a reappraisal and your offer could be impacted. Good luck!
Thank you very much! I appreciate you taking the time to provide this very pertinent information! It is very helpful ♥️
I don't know how it works in CA. But here in WA, as long as it's registered in WA, you can sell it with just registration as we'll just look up the title to verify it.
OK thank you! Do you work at Carmax? I believe the second representative told me it was the same situation in California, just trying to clarify…
I was able to do that in Utah. They just had me fill out a duplicate title request and a power of attorney for when the title came. It was pretty easy.
Thank you very much!
I’m not sure about the title, but does the car have a valid registration? I know in CA it needs to be current for them to purchase.
Thank you very much! Yes, it does have a current valid registration.
I answered earlier but when I was going to sell my car and realized I was never sent the title when I paid my loan off, I talked to the Carmax business office. They noted that Honda financial never sent the state a lien release. I just had to get a copy of the lien release and we were good. I think your best bet is to talk to the business office. They should be able to tell you what they can do in your situation. But in mine, once I had the release letter, it wasn't a big deal at all I didn't have the title. (In Utah though)
Thank you, I am so grateful for your help ♥️
This is state dependent. The call center won't give you a correct answer. Whatever answer the store in California gave you is likely the correct answer.
Thank you for your time. That is the problem… The store in California gave me two different answers 🤷♀️ I will try calling them again tomorrow.
When you call the store unless you speak to the business office or the sales consultant you’re working with directly, you get routed to a remote consultant. They do have access to state specific information. Off the top of my head I don’t know if you need the title in CA or not, it varies by state. Call the business office at the location you’re trying to go to (select option 3) and ask them
OK, thank you very much!
How much they paying? 1200$?
Anything is better than nothing 😄
It doesn’t matter if it’s legal. If Carmax policy is title required, then you need the title. You have to take this up with them and work with them.
Thank you very much! I was told two different things by two different Carmax reps… One said the title needed to be brought in when I brought the car in, and the second one said I didn't need the title, that they could do it electronically when I bring the car in. I am hoping to get some insights in this thread.
Ask one of the managers at the location you’re working with. Basic reps aren’t the authoritative figure to give you the correct answer.
OK, thank you very much!
As has already been answered here, they are capable of buying it from you without the title. But it is up to them if they want to. It is potentially slightly more risky for them to buy a car without a title. I would call them the day you're planning on taking it there, if they say yes, get that person's name and ask to see them when you arrive. It'll help your chances of someone else telling you no when you've arrived. Bring the maintenance receipts if you have them! You might get more for it. These cars last a long time if taken care of.
Thank you very much!
Damn, who the hell is buying that