Trying to get gifted car registred in my name?

One of my dads friends gave me her car (2002 ford escape). She doesn't have the title/ can't find it. I did a carfax and there's a lien on it so I'm wondering should I try to get it registered in my name or leave it alone. I've been looking on dmv.org but got no clear answers. Anyone gone through something similar?

You can't get a title for a car that has a lien on it. The lien holder "owns" the car despite the fact that you may have it in your possession. It is NOT your car. You haven't been "given" anything. You are simply storing a car for the lien holder. You can't buy it, you can't own it, you can't get a tile for it, you can't get plates for it, you can't do anything with it until/unless you or someone pays off the lien holder and then reassigns the title to you.

Well if the owner lost the title she must contact her state DMV and obtain a copy of that title. It could take a few weeks to get it. Then when it arrives the both of you have to go to the dmv and she has to literally gift you the car so you don't have to pay taxes and register it in your name.

Whenever their is a lien, the lender holds the title till it is paid off, then signs a release, so that the owner can then get a title in their own name. That is the reason the friend can't find the title, since most likely never got it, since owes money on it, or someone else owes on it and gave to your friend.

If dad's friend did in fact pay off the car, then friend will need to notify lender for the release. Then friend will need to get a title in their name, then they can then "gift" to you.

I'm not sure what you think "gifted" means, but this isn't it.

To "gift" a car means to transfer a clear title (without any lien) from one person to another without charging anything for it.

A title is needed to "gift" a car. If she doesn't have a title, she can't gift it. If there's a lien, then the lien has to be paid before the car can be gifted.

No state will allow a vehicle with an existing lien to be gifted. You can't transfer a title if there are any liens on it. Period.

Until your dad's friend clears the lien and signs over a clear title to you, you have nothing.

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