North Carolina is a big state with an average population of 2,595,027, as per 2020 census. It is the 9th most populous state of USA. Now, imagine the amount of cars that this state would have. There are around 3.5 million registered cars automobiles in the state.
People with that much amount of cars and trucks have use autotraders to sell their vehicle while some plans to sell the vehicle privately. If you’re one of the seller, who is planning to sell a car in North Carolina, then your quick guide is here.
Let’s see how you can sell a car in North Carolina easily, without any complications!
Steps for selling your car in North Carolina
Keep the license plates
It is important to removing the license plates and the registration stickers from the windshield before handing over your vehicle to the potential buyer. Keep the license plates, and transfer to your replacement vehicle. If you’re not going to transfer them to another car, you’ll need to return them to the DMV.
Certificate of title
It is important for a buyer to know that the vehicle that he is buying is not stolen or totaled. Hence, vehicle title is necessary when selling the car as it shows the ownership. In case you have financed the car, getting rid of the lien is important. Get the lienholder to remove the lien so that you can sell the car.
It must include the following:
Name and address of both the buyer and the seller
Date of sale or delivery
Hand printed name and signature
Odometer reading, if the car is less than 10 years old (Odometer disclosure statement Form MVR-180)
Damage disclosure (Damage disclosure reading Form MVR 181)
Bill of sale
Even though bill of sale is not compulsory in North Carolina, it is recommended to get one as it can help you both if any legal or tax issues comes up.
Bill of sale should be notarized.
Arranging a test drive
To gain the trust of the buyer, a test drive should be arranged. You can clean the vehicle from inside out and after that inspection could be done where the buyer or the third party could check the conditions of the car and can do a test drive.No buyer wants a bad purchase, so you have to allow them to test drive the car. Some buyers will arrive with their mechanic or even an inspection agency to check if the vehicle is in good condition.
Before, test drive, you can prepare your car to catch buyer’s eye. Preparing your can be done through car washing, fixing dents, if any, etc.
Cancel your insurance
You don’t want to pay insurance for a vehicle you no longer own, so make sure to call your insurance company ASAP to cancel coverage for the vehicle.
Transfer the title
This step is really necessary and you can’t afford to skip this. The car title needs to be notarized and transferred when selling a car in North Carolina. Everyone listed on the title needs to be present, so make sure you husband/wife/parent/benefactor is there with you or the notary won’t be able to do their job.
FAQs
Q1. Do you need a notary to sell a car in North Carolina?
When you're selling a car in North Carolina you must have your signature notarized. This is critical in the sale of the vehicle. Without a notary certification you will have to apply for a duplicate title and start the process over again.
Q2. How much does it cost to transfer a title in North Carolina?
The title must be assigned to the purchaser BEFORE coming into the License Plate Agency. The purchaser will then pay $56 to transfer the title, and plate fee which starts at $38.75.
Q3. Do both the parties needs to be present for a title transfer?
A title transfer is simple with both parties are present, and paperwork ready. The transfer should happen within 28-days of the sale else you'll pay a late fee.
