There are approximately 1.96 million registered cars in the state of Maryland. Majorly known for its busy seaports, most cars bought in Maryland are privately owned. When owning a car, title registration becomes essential. Title registration is a legal document concerning your car that proves that you are the rightful owner of your car. In Maryland, title registration is important because it provides important information such as the model, the make, the year of manufacture, and the VIN(Vehicle Identification Number).
One of the most important reasons why title registration is important is because it plays a vital role if you ever consider selling or registering your vehicle.
Here are a few basics you need to know about car title registration.
The Basics: What is a Car Title?
A car title is proof of ownership of the car. The sale of the total number of automobiles has increased by 14.5% in Maryland. Therefore, it is natural for new buyers to try and understand the formalities and paperwork that a vehicle purchase comes with.
A car title helps identify your car with details that are unique to the car. Details such as Vehicle Identification Number(VIN), model, make, weight, and different meter readings are entered in the title.
Car Title Vs Car Registration – What is the Difference?
A Car Title in the State of Maryland, America, is issued either by the DMV(Department of Motor Vehicles) or the DOT (Department of Transportation). As mentioned before, it contains crucial information about the vehicle that differentiates it from other vehicles of the same stature.
A car’s registration is a document that legally allows the driver to drive the vehicle on the road. It is common for people to mistake a car title for car registration. On the other hand, a car title is documentary proof of your owning the vehicle.
Having a car title can help ease the process of selling the vehicle in the future.
What Information is Included in A Car Title?
The details on a car title can vary based on the type of vehicle and the state. However, this is some basic information you’d find during a Maryland title registration process for your car.
- Name of the owner: The name and address of the person who owns the vehicle.
- Vehicle Identification Number(VIN): It is a 17-digit number that helps identify the vehicle. It is a mix of letters and numbers.
- Reading of the Odometer: If you are buying a new or used vehicle, the odometer reading is supposed to tell the car’s worth. Putting the odometer reading on the car title can also help prevent tampering.
- Weight: Vehicles are given classes based on their weight of the car. There are classes ranging from 1 to 8. The weights are based on Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and help recheck the car based on what the manufacturer claims.
- Lienholder: If you have taken any financing or an automobile loan through a financing company or a bank, the car title will have the loan lender’s contact information.
Steps to Take While Selling A Car:
In case you are trading your car in for a new car, the car dealership generally takes care of generating a new car title.
If the vehicle is sold to another individual, you’d need to fill in a car transfer form and get it notarized.
If you have taken a loan to buy the car and have not fully paid it off, yoyou’deed to pay the loan off before selling the vehicle.
These are some basic information you need to know about a Car Title.
