Garner, NC asked in Contracts and Gov & Administrative Law for South Carolina

Q: Why did the title to my old car come in the mail after I made the trade for a new car ?

I just traded my 2017 ford mustang in for a 2024 model, today the title for the 2017 came In the mail and it had my name listed as the owner , I’m confused as to why did the title come in my name ?

1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
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Answered

A: When you trade in a vehicle, the dealership typically handles the transfer of ownership and title to the new owner (which would be the dealership in this case). However, there can be a delay between the time you trade in your old vehicle and when the title transfer is officially processed by the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles).

Here are a few possible reasons why you might have received the title for your 2017 Ford Mustang after trading it in:

1. The title transfer process was initiated before you traded in the vehicle, and the DMV processed it after the trade-in.

2. The dealership may have experienced a delay in submitting the necessary paperwork to the DMV.

3. There could have been a clerical error or miscommunication between the dealership and the DMV.

In any case, since you no longer own the 2017 Mustang, you should contact the dealership where you traded it in and inform them that you received the title. They will likely ask you to bring the title to them or provide instructions on how to proceed. The dealership will then handle the necessary steps to ensure the title is properly transferred to them as the new owner.

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