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Buying a used car from private seller's friend (non-owner) who has the open title transfer signed by owner.?

Hi, I am getting a good price on a Jetta that I am buying used. The seller mentions that his friend left for Turkey and cannot come back and he is helping him sell all of his US belongings. He clearly mentioned that the owner signed the title for transfer and if the buyer puts his/ her name on it, then it's good to go. I am going to run Carfax and get it inspected by a mechanic. Additionally, I was planning to check the VIN and license plates against a local police station records to make sure it's not stolen. All the dealings will be done personally and I am issuing a cashier's check (instead of cash - of course personal check he won't accept). Are there additional safeguards I should employ? I do not have a precedent but I am sure these transactions do happen? Like when you can't be present for the sale so you appoint an agent? How does it work when people use dealers to sell their vehicles on their behalf? I would imagine they do similar things - i.e. signing the title transfer for the buyer to put their name on. Can someone guide me to any issues I should be aware of? Thanks,

Public Comments

1. sounds like you have everything handled make sure have that title and bill of sale
2. if the seller friend is really on the up&up he should be glad to go to the DMV office with you and talk about the deal and the car sale for the ''buddy'' that is overseas.. this is the sure way to see that the deal will be good and you can put the title in your name ... No DMV__No sale...
3. I smell a scam here. The proper way to sell a car for someone else is to get a power of attorney authorizing them to sign the other persons name to sell it. Kinda fishy,owner is out of the countrry.
4. Its PROBABLY fine. To be 100% legit, the seller would need a power of attorney from the owner and could then legally sign & sell the car. I sold my dads car the exact same way but he was 45 miles away and could have came down if there was an issue. Ive also sold dozens of "open" title cars where I pretended to be the owner for paperwork purposes and everything went through fine. I would call the police or DMV and give them the vin to make sure its not stolen and, one buyer who bought from me was really concerned and thought I was scamming him so I offered to go to the DMV with him and wait in line with him to insure it went though. (I got the money in advance but went with him to quell his fears.) What I would do is make a bill of sale and then don't sign it, but the title would be signed. 90% of the time, it went through fine, a few times people called and said they needed it signed. I told them I could get it signed and get it back to them within a few days or they could do it themselves. Most did it themselves. Again, no buyer ever had a single issue but the cars were not stolen and everything was legit...except it was an open title. I gave them all my contact info and told them I guaranteed they wouldn't have a problem but that they didn't need to tell the DMV because if they did, I wouldn't be able to sell it for 3-4 weeks when the title came back in my name. Chances are its fine, but, what if a drugged out step brother broke in his house, stole the title and the car and then sold it while the owner was on vacation ? In that case, you would lose the car. The police would take it away from you and you may never get your money back. Your remedy would be to pursue the guy that sold it to you in the courts and if he was a druggie the money may be long gone. Chances are its fine though.