Bought a Cobra

[trs900]

I wonder if the only safe way to do a vehicle transaction is through a escrow service. I have never used one, but... I personally would never sign and hand over a title without the cash in my hand even if I still had car in my possession and I don't think any dealers here in Florida will either. Here in Florida it can take a month to receive title after registration, etc. The problem today is titles can be phony, checks bad etc, it is very hard to trust anyone, damn what has become of this world oh it has always been this way.

[nevermind65]

Originally Posted by trs900

I wonder if the only safe way to do a vehicle transaction is through a escrow service. I have never used one, but... I personally would never sign and hand over a title without the cash in my hand even if I still had car in my possession and I don't think any dealers here in Florida will either. Here in Florida it can take a month to receive title after registration, etc. The problem today is titles can be phony, checks bad etc, it is very hard to trust anyone, damn what has become of this world oh it has always been this way.

That is interesting. In Ohio, you can get a new title in a matter of hours depending on which title bureau you visit. You drop it off, and a few hours later, stop back and pick it up.

Well, as of now, this gentleman seems adamant about jumping title and not paying tax, so I am basically going to walk away from the deal if he doesn't change his mind. If he were in my home state, it wouldn't be an issue, but this being an assembled car, the dollar amount involved, the original owner in California, the guy who is claiming to be the owner in Michigan, and some buddy of his who has possession of the car in Florida, this sounds like a screw over waiting to happen.

I'll find another one. There are a lot of them for sale.

Thanks everybody!

[fsstnotch]

Originally Posted by trs900

I wonder if the only safe way to do a vehicle transaction is through a escrow service. I have never used one, but... I personally would never sign and hand over a title without the cash in my hand even if I still had car in my possession and I don't think any dealers here in Florida will either. Here in Florida it can take a month to receive title after registration, etc. The problem today is titles can be phony, checks bad etc, it is very hard to trust anyone, damn what has become of this world oh it has always been this way.

Actually, that is the way most of these scammers get away with the money. they send you a link to an escrow service. It looks totally legit! But in fact you are sending the scammer the money for the sale. It never sees an escrow account.

If an escrow is the only way... YOU set up the entire deal with a known escrow provider!

Josh