‘Title Pending’ at salvage auto auction meaning
Last edit: March 22 2024 • 7351 view
Reading time: 2 minutes
TL/DR
If you see a car with a ‘Title Pending’ at salvage auction, it means there is no title present at the time of sale. Be prepared to wait for 4-6 weeks to receive it. If you are an exporter, it is better to avoid these cars or be ready to pay for storage.
Introduction
As described in my “Six Steps to Buy Salvage Cars“, it’s crucial to always check and verify the document type in the title. Today, I will discuss what ‘Title Pending’ means. Ss I have recently encountered several cases where customers demand their titles as soon as possible, when in reality, even the auction has not received it yet.
‘Title Pending’ example
Samuel purchased a 2014 Kia Forte with a pending title state on February 15th, 2024. Our lot page displayed a tooltip indicating that there was no title for the car. And that it usually takes 4-6 weeks to obtain the title. While Copart promises it within 30 days, I’ve seen it take months sometimes, but typically just 2-3 weeks.
Export issues
This situation is particularly concerning for export buyers. Most shipping agents won’t even accept a car without a title into their warehouse. It means the car usually waits at the auction storage facility, which can become very expensive. Once, we had to pay over $1,200 in storage fees for a customer in Africa. He was aware of the situation from the day he purchased it though.
Time frame for ‘Title Pending’
If you buy a car with a pending title status, accept the fact that you won’t receive the title within weeks. Most likely, it will be at least a month, sometimes longer. Usually, car dealers sell cars with no title, so once they make a sale, they won’t receive their money until they provide the title. Therefore, it is in their interest to provide it as soon as possible. Based on years of experience, it should not take longer than a month, but be patient. In some cases, it may take a couple of months in the worst-case scenario. Once the auction receives the title, they will mail it out to us. Upon receiving it, we complete the proper reassignment and mail it to you.
I will sue you if you don’t deliver my title
As for seeking legal advice, there is no solution. When you register on our website CARS4.BID, you agree to the terms and conditions on our websites and auction websites (Copart, IAAI). Therefore, instead of wasting your time and money, learn as much as possible before buying a car at auto auctions.
Overview
‘Title Pending’ status at salvage auto auctions indicates that there is no title present at the time of the sale. Be prepared to wait for 4-6 weeks to receive it. If you are an exporter, it is better to avoid these cars or be ready to pay for storage.
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