PA State Regulations

There is a lot more to buying and selling PA vehicles than what you may think, with a lot of emphasis on consumer and seller safety. There are a lot of forms required and a great deal of process that goes into a vehicle transaction these days to ensure that the seller is lifted from liability and that the buyer is getting a product that is worth the money.

Selling a PA Vehicle

  1. Your name must be printed and signed on the rear side of the title in the designated Section A, which must be done in front of a notary public.
  2. The buyer is required to do the same thing.
  3. Make sure to take your tags off the vehicle to keep or surrender to the PennDOT office.
Buying a PA Vehicle

  1. Make sure that you have your auto insurance handled before making the purchase as it will be needed to drive the vehicle once you buy it.
  2. Ensure that the seller completes the title on the back Section A.
  3. Take the title to a notary public to print and sign your name.
  4. Record the odometer reading of the vehicle.
  5. Visit PennDOT Vehicle Service Center in order to complete the title transfer into your name, as well as register the car in your name. You can then apply for new plates or transfer your old vehicle’s plates to the new car.
  6. If you are required to have valid emissions inspection certification, and those with the vehicle are no longer valid, be sure to get the vehicle inspected within the 10 days you are allotted.
PA Vehicle Transactions without Paperwork

Just like with most of the other states, a vehicle’s title will be requested before the registration is issued. For this reason, it is important that you receive the title from the seller before you even pay for the vehicle. While the registration paperwork isn’t as essential to the sale, it definitely shortens and eases the registration process.

  • Use caution if you are offered a vehicle for sale without the title.
  • Not having a title for the vehicle typically signifies that the vehicle may be stolen or branded as salvaged.
  • Make sure that if you are selling a vehicle but cannot find the title, you follow the appropriate steps to ensure a replacement title is on the way – otherwise you are likely to have trouble selling the vehicle.
PA Lemon Law

All used car buyers have that fear that they will drive off in the vehicle only to find that it isn’t the vehicle they thought as more and more problems ensue and the vehicle stops running shortly later. This fear is backed by the fact that a lot of people do try to flip vehicles that aren’t even worth the money.

  • The Lemon Law is in effect in Pennsylvania.
  • Make sure that the vehicle you are buying is covered before making a decision.
  • Always get a vehicle history report as the Lemon Law doesn’t always come to your rescue.
Tips for Car Buying

  • Just because a vehicle costs more, it doesn’t mean it is worth more. Always make sure that you are checking out the vehicle first before you trust the buyer’s word.
  • Most of the best deals offered for new car purchases can be between July and October as dealerships are preparing for the new models to be introduced, as well as during December when end-of-the-year quotas must be met.
  • When purchasing a used vehicle, a mechanic’s opinion is always worth a million bucks. You should have a mechanic ensure there aren’t any issues you will pay for in the end.
  • If you are asked to sign a financial form that is blank, kindly refuse.
  • Make sure that all promises made are made in writing.
  • Be wary of giving a dealership your license during a test drive for insurance purposes as this is usually a rouse to get your information for a credit check that you have not authorized.