Cal lien and title transfer

[Arizona_928]

Been looking for a very specific project car and saw one pop up on eBay. Confirmed the engine/Bruce Jenner combo and hit the ole buy-it-now button. After talking with the seller on the pickup details, he casually mentions that there’s a 3k title loan and they do not have the pink slip. Common sense dictates to wait however long it takes for the guy to get the title. However, my spidey senses are tingling regarding the ridiculous amount of fraud from California since they allow paper and electronic titles. A common scam is to sell a vehicle with a lien but advertised and sold with clean paperwork.

What do you guys think?

[herr_oberst]

Is there an "Un-buy it now button"?

That'd be my move right about now.

[Arizona_928]

I agree. While i don’t need much of an excuse to go fossil hunting in cal, i just don’t want to go back this soon.

[Synchro Joe]

Seems like it was falsely advertised on flea bay if their item says clean title and no lean or at least clear title and or bill of sale, etc. You could flag it to flea bay as possible fraud, but the money is a different issue of course. If PayPal, you have to fight them, and if credit card, dispute of course. If it's in CA, you could get a PP member to physically go by and verify it's real of course. Oh, the joys of internet buying!

[Arizona_928]

Listing stated clean title. I just find it weird that someone would list something with a loan. Maybe the guy just has cte and didn’t remember, or this is the first stitch to come loose. Dom dom dom

Those are good points, I’ll lay eyes on it this week and see if I’m wasting my time.

[Steve Carlton]

Does the seller have the $3k to get the title in hand? If he does, then the sale can proceed normally. You would have eBay protection, whatever that is, right? Where in CA is it? What was it?

[Arizona_928]

Big block Chevy
It’s east of LA which coincided with a planned trip in the area.

Evidently he found the money and paid off the loan. Bank said it’ll be 10-20 days for a title to be issued. Told the seller to call when the title comes in and I’ll pick it up. I’m not deadheading my tow pig back across the country. lol

[speeder]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Is there an "Un-buy it now button"?

That'd be my move right about now.

Actually, on Ebay vehicle sales are not legally binding contracts and all anyone has to do is simply not perform on the contract. This is why I never try to sell a vehicle on that site, almost no one comes through once they win an auction. Unlike BaT, where they immediately charge your CC a hefty buyer's fee when you win, there is no real disincentive for playing games on that site.

Not saying that is what AZ is doing, only that he have nothing to worry about. As for the lien, people buy cars and trucks with loans against them thousands of times a day in the U.S. There is always a way to make that work. I've never heard of an electronic title in CA but what do I know, I only live here and own waaaay too many vehicles. Lmk if you need any help out here.

EDIT: CA DMV always quotes longer for stuff to arrive then it actually takes, don't be surprised if he calls you in a few days and has the title in hand.

[Arizona_928]

Interesting. I knew i could cancel bids on cars from ebay, but to run up the tab and not follow through… That’s just immoral. I noticed a pending charge from bat for just bidding, didn’t win anything so no hefty surprises.

Arizona experimented with the electronic titles and one can still transfer them online. Weird stuff.
It’s my understanding California does the same. Idk might be wrong or you haven’t bought enough cars recently!