Title problem

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All I know is I can't sell it on this title as the first time the buyer takes it to get it titled in their name, it will get rejected.
Maybe, maybe not.

Did you ask a first line clerk at the DMV if a duplicate title takes precedence to the original? Or did you say I am the rightful owner of a vehicle and have the original title and executed title in my possession, and proof of sale to me. A duplicate title was issued erroneously or with criminal intent.

The response from a senior person at the NC DMV might not match the response you received from a first line DMV employee when more detail is provided.

I was the section lead/ senior person in interpreting codes, statues, regulations, laws, and policies. Many times the team members I worked with issued a opinion based on the information presented to them. I would verify, validate, and accredit some of the opinions they issued. Although their opinions were typically spot on, in some circumstances more information made their opinions erroneous.
 
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I didn't ask the clerk's position on the phone, but she told me a duplicate title voids all previous titles. I don't see what the criminal intent would be. It's not like he could sell the car to someone else with the duplicate title since car is in my possession.
 
I didn't ask the clerk's position on the phone, but she told me a duplicate title voids all previous titles. I don't see what the criminal intent would be. It's not like he could sell the car to someone else with the duplicate title since car is in my possession.
Nothing you posted suggested criminal intent, but thought relevant to insert that as part of this good discussion.

"she told me a duplicate title voids all previous titles"..... does that stand if the duplicate title was issued erroneously or with criminal intent?

If you posed the question this way instead? A duplicate title was created for a motor vehicle titled in your state erroneously as the original is in my hand, it was not lost, stolen, or mutilated. I am the lawful owner of the motor vehicle. What is the status of each title?... the answer from the DMV may have been the same, or it may have been different.....
 
You bought the car in May. The new title was issued in March.
You should have bill of sale, cancelled check, or something.

Contact the seller, as others have said. Should be easy to clear up.
Good on you for not selling the car to a 3rd party with this paper mixup...

I understand buying a car, fixing it up and selling it to someone without actually putting it in your name.
I have done this numerous times, as one of my hobbies is to help people who need a set of wheels.
Biggest problem I had was for a nice '97 Camry I got for a needy family.
They kept going across the SF Bay Area bridges and the toll charges were sent to me! Sheesh!

Good luck.
 
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I am the lawful owner of the motor vehicle. What is the status of each title?... the answer from the DMV may have been the same, or it may have been different.....
Although there is a clear paper trail of the transaction, I wouldn't be the legal owner to transfer this title to the next buyer if the title used to transfer ownership to me is void. I only messaged the seller this afternoon so it will take to a few days to see how it all pans out.
 
In Minnesota a Duplicate Title states: "This Duplicate Certificate of Title may be subject to the rights of a person under the original certificate."

Here, you would be free to sell to the car since you hold the original title (assuming you transferred it into you name or have a dealer's license). The fact a duplicate title was issued doesn't void the original title - they are only issued if the title is lost, mutilated or stolen, and clearly none of those apply here - the original title isn't lost - you have it.

Laws in the states you are working in may vary and ultimately this is a legal issue.
 
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In Minnesota a Duplicate Title states: "This Duplicate Certificate of Title may be subject to the rights of a person under the original certificate."

Here, you would be free to sell to the car since you hold the original title (assuming you transferred it into you name or have a dealer's license). The fact a duplicate title was issued doesn't void the original title - they are only issued if the title is lost, mutilated or stolen, and clearly none of those apply here - the original title isn't lost - you have it.

Laws in the states you are working in may vary and ultimately this is a legal issue.
This is not what the DMV told me earlier this year. My title never came in the mail and I was instructed to get a duplicate. I asked about the original floating around in space and the DMV worker said the original title is void as soon as a duplicate is printed. I believe they know based on a title document number, in the case it's been duplicated more than once.
 
This is not what the DMV told me earlier this year. My title never came in the mail and I was instructed to get a duplicate. I asked about the original floating around in space and the DMV worker said the original title is void as soon as a duplicate is printed. I believe they know based on a title document number, in the case it's been duplicated more than once.
The two scenarios are not the same.

You are describing a scenario where the title actually was lost and is still in your name, never transferred. In that case, the chain is clear.

What the OP has described is a case where they bought the car and a title transfer should have taken place. If they are a dealer (and based on how many cars it seems they flip, they would be classified as one here), they don't have to do that on the actual title, but there is paperwork that documents the transfer of interest.

In other words, if the title is actually in your name, not a huge issue to get a duplicate title. If the title was not transferred in the correct form for the states involved, and the OP has not stated that took place, then good luck...
 
I'll also state in the OP's defense, I read the initial post incorrectly. It appears the title used for the transfer was out of date when it was used - ie: The duplicate title existed before the sale occurred.

Always worth verifying the title is valid before the sale.

Good luck sorting that one out...
 
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