Should I buy a car with an open title?

Help. I want to buy a used car from a guy that doesn;t have Title in his name.?

• I am trying to purchase a used Jetta from a guy that doesn't have the title in his name. For whatever reason, he does not want to pay to get the title in his name. I heard that if I were to purchase the car from him and try to put in my name it is considered title hopping which is apparently illegal. Is there any options I have. I found this service autocheck online, and I'm thinking of purchasing it. I have a clause in the contract that I believe pertains to this matter. Should I purchase it or is there another way around this. The car is in excellent shape and he's giving me a great deal. Here is part of the clause under covered Title risks from Autocheck: COVERED TITLE RISKS The Covered Title Risks are: 1. You do not have Title because the party You purchased the Vehicle from had no legal capacity to transfer Title to You. 2. Someone else has rights affecting Your Title arising out of fraud, forgery or impersonation. 3. Someone else has a lien on Your Title not registered with the DMV for the state where Your Title is registered on the Policy Date. 4. Someone else has rights affecting Your Title arising out of duress, incompetency or incapacity. 5. Your Title is affected by any of the following Title Defects: (a) salvaged title; (b) lemon law title; (c) junked title; (d) prior police title; (e) prior taxi title; or (f) odometer not actual mileage title. 6. There is Odometer Rollback Evidence with a DMV that is not shown in the Vehicle History Summary. 7. There is any other Title Defect affecting Your Title.

• Answer:

  Do not ever, ever purchase a car from someone that does not have a clear title to the car. If he does not have a clear title to the car, he does not own the car and can not sell it to you. The car could even be stolen.