Vehicle Registration Problems Solved: Untangling the Chaos of No Title, No Signature, and Other Challenges

I need to register my vehicle, but the previous owner didn’t sign his name on the title, and I cannot find him. The car itself is not stolen or anything, and the VIN is good. What should I do?

This is more common than you might think. You buy a used car in good faith, only to realize later that the title wasn’t properly signed over, and now the seller is nowhere to be found. Fortunately, there’s a way forward.

Most states, including Montana, offer what’s called a bonded title. It’s basically a way to prove ownership when the original documentation is incomplete or flawed. You’ll typically need a notarized bill of sale, a VIN inspection, and sometimes a surety bond equal to the car’s value.

Montana allows for a bonded title if you submit Form MV10, provide a notarized bill of sale, and pass a VIN inspection, according to the Montana Department of Justice’s Vehicle Services Bureau.

Once approved, your bonded title acts like a regular title, just with a little more paperwork behind it.

Does a new owner of a used car in California need to get the car smog checked again before registering the vehicle?

If you recently bought a car in California, you may be asking yourself if you need another smog test—even if the previous owner just had one done. The short answer? Yes, in most cases.

A smog certificate must be issued within 90 days before the date of transfer, and is required before registration, according to the California Bureau of Automotive Repair.

There are exceptions—like for newer vehicles under eight years old or fully electric cars—but for most used vehicles, a fresh smog check is required before you can complete your registration.

How to register a car without a title

Missing titles are another hurdle that many car owners run into, especially if they bought the vehicle from a private party or inherited it without the paperwork. While it might feel like a dead end, there are ways to fix this, too.

One of the most common solutions is applying for a bonded title. In Montana, that means filling out Form MV10, completing a VIN inspection, and securing a bond if the vehicle is valued over $1,000.

Montana permits bonded titles for vehicles with incomplete ownership records, requiring a completed MV10, VIN inspection, and a bond if valued over $1,000, according to Montana Code Annotated § 61-3-208.

Other options may include pursuing a court order title or working with a title recovery service, depending on your state’s laws. The process takes a little legwork, but it’s totally doable.