I just purchased a 1987 Toyota 4Runner off of a guy who posted it in Maryland CL yesterday. When I called him Saturday afternoon regarding it he said that he was selling it for a local dog shelter he takes car donations for. Apparently, a neighbor who has since passed, had the daughter who was the executor of the will donate it to help her with settling the estate. He told me that in the section that requires a purchase price she signed DONATION. I was sort of skeptical about this not because I thought the guy was up to something, but because I thought that would set off red flags and require documentation to prove who the vehicle was being donated to.


After calling a few auto tag places in PA (where it will be titled) they all said no. They would consider it a gift and I would just need to pay the transfer fees to get the title in my name. Off to get it I (and my buddy) left bright and early yesterday morning to scoop it up. Toyotas do not last long around this neck of the woods.


I looked it over, took it for a short trip on the highway to make sure it would go through the gears, all the lights/gauges worked accordingly etc. Basically made sure it would (more than likely) make it the 80 miles back to my area. We agreed on a price, I made sure the title's VIN # matched the one on the vehicle and was on my way with the title in my pocket.


Well, when I got home yesterday I cleaned it up a bit and got to check it out as best I could and see what other issues it would have while the title rested soundly on my dresser waiting for me to take it to the Auto Tags place tomorrow (now today) and register it in my name. While at work I looked at the title more clearly and got the shock of the day when I realized the daughter (Executor) signed the title instead of the deceased father/vehicle owner. I believe I'm in a pickle now.


Any advice? I haven't signed the title yet, and I have contacted the seller who would have no problem giving me my money back. I really do not want to give it back, but it seems to be the only outcome the more I think about it. The seller is going to contact the daughter/Executor and see if she can give us some documentation which should help me get it titled in PA.

 

She would have power of attorney it is pretty hard to get dead people to sign much of anything. At least so far but things change.

I know with out of state vehicles if you can`t take it to the notary a picture of the vin plate was all I needed

 

If indeed the daughter was the executor then I would think if anything all she would have to do is sign a waiver stating that she was. The dmv should be able to provide the form for u. I had a similar situation with a boat I have owned for several years. I decided that I would try to get it registered, the last time it had been registered was 1981. Went into the courthouse and the lady at the office said the previous owner was deceased. Luckily, being in small town iowa, she knew the previous owner and her son. She was able to give me the waiver and the sons phone number. Called him up and explained the situation to him, he said come on over and we'll get it straightened out. Went back to the courthouse and finished it all up. I now own a 1959 alumacraft boat.

 

Thanks guys!! I talked to a couple of auto tag places in PA (where it will be titled) and they said that I will need a copy of the Death Certificate and the Letters of Administration which will show that she was the Exector of the estate. I'm wondering if you can obtain these documents online?

 

You can't get some non related person's death certificate on line. Last time I needed one after 9-11-01 I had to sign a document swearing I was the closest next of kin. The daughter would have to provide you with a certified copy and a copy of her letter of testamentary. Offer to pay her a few bucks for her trouble. I had to pay $7 a copy for official documents and it was 15 years ago that I handled an estate. Twenty bucks would be fair. What a PITA.

 

I'm going through this same thing except I am the administrator to my fathers estate.

In order for me to sell any vehicles he had, I needed to take the death certificate and the court order stating I am the administrator of the estate and have notarized copies of both attached to each title of each vehicle being sold.

Then when I sold said vehicles I just sign my name and the fact I am administrator.

It sounds like the person you bought the runner from was unaware of all the ins and outs of selling on behalf of a deceased person.

Hopefully they can send you notarized copies of the documents you need. In WA state it is only $5 to get documents notarized at the DOL.

Good luck.

 

One easy way to get a document notarized is at your bank. They always have a notary. They have never charged me at Bank of America.