How can I sell a car under my mother's name?

Question

Dear all. My mother bought a car when she was in the U.S. Now she's back to our home country and I have been driving her car since then. I am wondering what documents I need her to sign if I want to sell/trade in the car and buy a new car? Note: She's currently out of the country and she can't physically be here when I sell the car. Is there anything she can sign and send over the internet to transfer the title or whatsoever? Thank you very much in advance.

Michael McFarland · Answer

A Power of Attorney should do the trick, although it would probably have to be mailed rather than sent over the internet, because an original signature may be required.  Check with the Department of Motor Vehicles, as they often have form powers of attorney designed for this specific purpose.  If you can't get one there, talk to an attorney.

Thomas Edward Gates · Answer

She needs to sign over the title of the car.  She should sign it over to you and, once done you may sell the car as the owner.

Thomas Phipps · Answer

You should send her a durable power of attorney, have her sign it in front of a notary public and send it back to you.

Jayne Sebby · Answer

Your mother can transfer the title of the car to you and then you can sell it.  Transferring the title may require nothing more than her signature on a document.

Dara J. Goldsmith · Answer

She would need to sign off on title, probably before a notary public. Check the title to see what is required.  If it needs a notary, she may need to go to a US consulate or US embassy to do that.  This information is only intended to give general information in response to an inquiry.  It does not establish an attorney client relationship.  This response is only based upon the limited facts presented and is merely intended to assist you in determining if you should contact an attorney to provide you with legal advice.

Victor Waid · Answer

Go to your local department of motor vehicles and determine what documents they will need to make the transfer from your mother to yourself.

Benjamin Gordon · Answer

A power of attorney signed by her would allow you to sell her vehicle.  It should specifically authorize you to sell the vehicle, identifying it by VIN number.  Some states have a specific form for a power of attorney for vehicle title matters, you can contact your local DMV to see if they have a required form or not.

James Frederick · Answer

You can either have her sign the title or you can get a power of attorney that the Secretary of State would accept in order to transfer title. They may have a form you can use. This should not be difficult or expensive.

Edward Armstrong · Answer

She can give you a power of attorney but the Department of Revenue might now honor that since it will have been executed in a foreign country.  You probably should obtain an "application to change title" from the Department of Revenue (you can get this at any one of many "fee offices" around the state.  Your mother then has to fill this form out and sign it before a Notary.  You could take this with the appropriate fee to any Department of Revenue Office and submit it.  The Department of Revenue would then issue a new title which you can then use to sell the vehicle.

Kathleen Delacy · Answer

If you have the title to the car she can sign that over to you then you can sell and get another car.

Mark T. Peters · Answer

You need for her to give you a power of attorney to sell the car.

Christine Socrates · Answer

You can get a power of attorney from her appointing you as her "attorney in fact" to transact the sale of her car.  This is a document that must have her original signature and notarized.

Collin Hinds · Answer

An executed power of attorney signed by her nominating you as her  attorney-in-fact would suffice.

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How can I sell a car under my mother's name?

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