Automotive Forums  Where Car Enthusiasts Go to Discuss Cars Online

Hi All,

I am new to the forum and sign up seeking advice if possible. Here is my situation:

1) I was staying in the US with an international student visa. I found a job after graduation, but the initial working visa application got denied. Therefore, I left the States in Feb, 2011.

2) The company I worked for was supposed to submit a new application with a better attorney, giving me the idea that I would return to the States in a couple months. However, the bad economy strike and they struggle financially and now they're on the edge of going out of business and can no longer afford another headcount.

3) My driver license, insurance, registration all expired after I left.

4) I am now trying to sell my car, or simply trade it in to a local dealer.

Now the problem is:
1) I can no longer locate the pink slip. I see there's a replacement form on California DMV but the signature need to be notarized.
2) I am physically across the Pacific Ocrean and the car is sitting at my friend's warehouse.

So here is the question:
How do I authorize my friend to sell the car for me without a pinkslip?

I try contacting DMV and dealers but none can give me any help. I think they're worrying that it's some kind of scam or my car is a stolen one, etc

I can definitely need some advice as I am now umemployed and frustrated with all my belongings stuck in the States. Thanks in advanced.  

Flea market, you can try      

were you a AAA club member when you were here.. if so.. is your membership still active.. they have legal advisors available to members..

there are LOTs of places that will ship your stuff home for you..  

this really does sound like a scam..

you can get legal papers notarized at  U S embassies.

california has the forms online.. so they are easy to download...

you can also contact..  lien sale companies. as they might be able to help...   was the car in your name???? registered and insured???

or did you just have a signed title and never finished the transfer.???? thats GOING TO BE HARD..  as all the previous owners need to be contacted.. and papers signed off that they have sold the car..

this is where a lien sale company comes in handy..  as they do this all the time..

if you post what city or area your stuff is stored in.. and what country you need it shipped to.. i might be able to look up one of the many companies who ship personal items home.. then it would just be up to your friend to box and deliver it to a business address to get it shipped..  

Thanks for the reply. I really appreciate it as that is the only advice I ever get.

Here is some more info that may help:
- I bought the car brand new in Nov 2003 at a Honda dealer. I have been the sole owner of it since.
- I've used State Farm and All State car insurance throughout the years, but never a AAA member. My All State insurance expired after I left the States.
- The car was registered under my name, but the 2011 registration expired in Nov and I couldn't renew it online without insurance.
- My driver license expired in Feb 2011 too and I couldn't renew that without a legal status to stay in the US
- The car is currently sitting at a warehouse at Huntington Beach, California

My other belongings should be fine as I can ask my friends to move little by little to me. But selling my car is top priority right now.

After reading your post, I guess what I can do right now is to get the pink slip replacement form downloaded, signed and notarized at the US Embassy in Hong Kong. Then I'll Fedex it to my friend and that should allow him to sell/trade-in for me? Or do I need some kind of authorization letter as well? Thanks  

another form...

you might be able to get the limited for vehicle sales form..  and that might take care of the whole deal.. allowing your friend to get a replacement pink slip..  california does have a quick pink available..  when you need to sell it fast with a lost title..


probably a LIMITED power of attorney..  limiting him to ONLY have powers to sell your car..

http://www.uslegalforms.com/powerofattorney/californiapoa.htm

California Power of Attorney & Health Care Forms

Exclusive Access to Attorney Quality Forms!

We offer State Specific Power of Attorney Solutions for your Specific Needs!California Power of Attorney forms to comply with the laws of California.  Forms are provided for the care of a child, health care, property, special or limited purposes, statutory, durable and non-durable forms.  All States have specific laws dealing with the validity of Power of Attorney forms and standardized forms (one form for all States) are not valid in all States.  Our attorney staff updates all forms on a regular basis.   Free Previews and law summaries are available.


Limited or Special

Special or Limited Power of Attorney for Real Estate Sales Transaction By Seller
Special or Limited Power of Attorney for Real Estate Purchase Transaction by Purchaser
Limited Power of Attorney for Stock Transactions and Corporate Powers
Special Durable Power of Attorney for Bank Account Matters
Power of Attorney for Sale of Motor Vehicle
Limited Power of Attorney where you Specify Powers with Sample Powers Included  

here is a list of what hondas are listed for in the los angeles area...

i found this on carpricegraph

2003 4995 Accord HONDA ACCORD !!! (Valencia) 2011-12-02 05:39:30
2003 6499 Civic HONDA CIVIC Si (LOS ANGELES) 2011-12-01 23:37:41
2003 4000 Civic Honda Civic Hybrid (Los Angeles, CA) 2011-12-01 22:30:35
2003 5000 Civic Honda Civic LX (Redondo Beach) 2011-12-01 22:25:59
2003 n/a Accord Honda Accord Sdn EX 2011-12-01 21:57:36
2003 8450 Odyssey Honda Odyssey Green 6 Cylinder Automatic Van (Los Angeles) 2011-12-01
2003 6400 Odyssey Honda Odyssey LX SILVER 144219 miles, (Anaheim) 2011-12-01 18:25:13
2003 7900 Element Honda Element EX 2WD w/Silver, Auto, One Owner & Clean Title! (LA,) 2011-12-0
2003 7900 Element HONDA ELEMENT EX 2WD w/Silver, Auto, One Owner & Clean Title! (LA,) 2011-12
2003 9950 Accord HONDA ACCORD EX V6 SEDAN w/NAVI 2011-12-01 12:59:49
2003 7900 Element HONDA ELEMENT EX 2WD w/Silver, Auto, One Owner & Clean Title! (LA,)
2003 6200 Civic HONDA CIVIC . 100k miles CLEAN TITLE . (SEAL BEACH) 2011-12-01 12:12:46
2003 7500 Odyssey Honda Odyssey ((great Family transportation)) (Torrance) 2011-12-01 11:30:04
2003 n/a Civic Honda Civic Si 2011-12-01 10:56:09
2003 6999 Civic Honda Civic LX 128050 miles, red (Inglewood) 2011-12-01 10:42:32
2003 6850 Accord honda accord lx (downey) 2011-12-01 10:10:20
2003 11000 Accord Honda Accord EX V-6 (San Bernadino) 2011-12-01 07:50:27
2003 2250 Accord Honda Accord EX (los angeles ) 2011-12-01 06:10:59
2003 5999 Civic HONDA CIVIC Si (LOS ANGELES) 2011-11-30 22:23:23
2003 n/a Odyssey Honda ODYSSEY 2011-11-30 22:10:36
2003 6000 Civic Honda Civic LX (Cerritos Ca) 2011-11-30 22:04:47
2003 7900 Pilot Honda Pilot (Hawthorne) 2011-11-30 21:49:14
2003 6800 Civic CIVIC LX 4DOOR HYBRID CLEAN TITLE VERY CLEAN$6800/OBO 2011-
2003 9000 Civic Honda Civic EX Coupe, Automatic, Low Mils, Free Car Fax & Warrant 2
2003 7995 Accord Honda Accord LX (Montebello) 2011-11-30 13:12:48
2003 5000 Honda Honda Civic EX clean title or trade (4doors H. Civic 2006-2010) (Sherman Oaks)
2003 10995 CR-V Honda CR-V 4WD EX Automatic (SANTA ANA) 2011-11-30 12:41:02
2003 n/a Civic Honda Civic Si Hatchback 2D (west covina) 2011-11-30 11:34:46
2003 7500 Odyssey Honda Odyssey (Great Transportation) (Torrance) 2011-11-30 10:07:02
2003 7500 Odyssey Honda Odyssey **V6 Engine** (Torrance) 2011-11-30 10:06:06
2003 6900 Civic Hondan Civic EX (Harbor City ) 2011-11-30 09:05:26
2003 7500 Accord honda accord (southbay ) 2011-11-30 09:00:20
2003 17700 S2000 honda s2000 12,100mi (whittier) 2011-11-30 06:38:24
2003 6350 Odyssey Honda Odyssey EX-L  

Thank you waynep7122!!

I'll take a look and study a little more at that site for legal form packages. Looks like I should be able to get it done.

Thanks again. Really appreciate it.  

I looked throught the Power of Attorney form like this one:
http://www.uslegalforms.com/samples/CA/CA-P0100.pdf

And I have couple questions:

1) Can I simply print that sample out and get it notarized to make it effective? Or does it need to be purchased. What is the difference between the sample in the link above and the actual thing?

2) It actually allow another person to sign Bill of Sale, Title and other documents.
Does that mean that I should ask my friend to fill our the pink slip replacement form for me then?

3) I found a similar form on DMV California site:
http://dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg260.pdf
That it does not requires witnesses or notarization at all. Is that a valid form to use in my case?  

the 260 form might work...

still has to be signed properly..  

does your friend here in california have AAA.. as they will have legal advice for automotive transactions in some offices..

i just don't know enough about the car transfer issues to be more of a help..

the california vehicle code handbook sections are download able.. its all printed out there... at the dmv.ca website..  

Thanks waynep7122.
You already helped a lot. Without your comment, I don't even know there's the power of attorney form and notarization service out there.

Sadly, my friend is not a AAA member as well. I tried calling DMV but they still couldn't give me answer I'm looking for and keep going in circle which tell me to go to their office which I said numerous times I can't.

I still have 2 questions remaining:
1) Form 260 ( http://dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg260.pdf )doesn't have a notarization section anywhere. So I'm not sure if I just sign it to make it effective?
2) Form 260 authorize someone to sign all document to do the transaction, does that include signing form 227 ( http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg227.pdf )?

Please if anyone can answer these 2 questions I'd really appreciate it.  

ALL the rules are HERE

the california vehicle code... table of contents...

http://dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/vc/vctoc.htm



you might want to start at these sections..

Division 3 Registration of Vehicles and Certificates of Title
Chapter 1 Original and Renewal Registration; Issuance of Certificates of Title
Article 1 § § 4000-4023 Vehicles Subject to Registration
Article 2 § § 4150-4166 Original Registration
Article 3 § § 4300-4309 Registration of Foreign Vehicles
Article 4 § § 4450-4467 Evidences of Registration
Article 5 § § 4600-4610 Renewal of Registration
Article 6 § § 4750-4766 Refusal of Registration
Article 6.5 § § 4770-4775 Refusal of Registration for Nonpayment of Toll Evasion Penalties
Article 7 § § 4850-4853 License Plates
Article 8 § § 5000-5024 Special Plates
Article 8.1 § § 5030-5039 Motorized Bicycles
Article 8.3 § § 5050-5052 Historic and Special Interest Vehicles
Article 8.4 § § 5060-5075 Special Interest License Plates
Article 8.5 § § 5100-5112 Environmental License Plates
Article 8.6 § § 5151-5160 Specialized License Plates
Article 9 § § 5200-5206 Display of Plates, Tabs, and Stickers
Article 9.5 § § 5301-5309 Registration of Fleet Vehicles
Article 10 § § 5350-5354 Registration of Trailer Coaches
Article 12 § § 5500-5506 Surrender of Registration Documents and License Plates


Chapter 2 Transfers of Title or Interest
Article 1 § § 5600-5604.5 Procedure to Transfer
Article 2 § § 5750-5753 Endorsement and Delivery of Documents
Article 3 § § 5900-5912 Notice and Application
Article 4 § § 6050-6052 Transfer by Department
Article 5 § § 6100-6105 Transfers Through Wholesale Auctions

Chapter 2.5 Miscellaneous Title Provisions
Article 1 § § 6150-6154 Certificate of Title as Evidence
Article 2 § § 6160-6162 Inspection and Cancellation of Titles for Exported Vehicles
Article 3 § § 6171-6172 Return of Stolen Motor Vehicle Retained as Evidence
Chapter 3 § § 6300-6303 Filing Instruments Evidencing Liens or Encumbrances

Chapter 4 Permits to Nonresident Owners
Article 1 § § 6700-6703 Exemption of Nonresidents
Article 2 § § 6850-6855 Foreign Commercial Vehicles
Article 3 § § 8000-8002 Reciprocity Agreements
Article 4 § § 8050-8058 Apportioned Registration
Article 5 § § 8100-8104 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Program
Article 6 § § 8200-8204 Enforcement of Liens on Apportioned Fleet Vehicles
Chapter 5 § § 8800-8804 Offenses Against Registration Laws and Suspension, Revocation, and Cancellation of Registration
Chapter 6 Registration and Weight Fees
Article 1 § § 9101-9107 Exemptions
Article 2 § § 9250-9271 Registration Fees
Article 3 § § 9400-9410 Weight Fees
Article 4 § § 9550-9565 Payment of Fees
Article 5 § § 9700-9711 Partial Year Payment of Weight Fees
Article 6 § § 9800-9808 Enforcement of Liens

Division 3.5 Registration and Transfer of Vessels
Chapter 1 § § 9840-9845 General Provisions and Definitions
Chapter 2 § § 9850-9880 Registration (Vessels)
Chapter 3 § § 9900-9928 Transfer of Title or Interest in Undocumented Vessel

Division 3.6 Vehicle Sales
Chapter 1 § § 9950-9955 Advertising, Brochures, and Manuals
Chapter 2 § § 9975 Manufacturer’s Responsibility for Safety Defects
Chapter 3 § § 9980-9982 Engine Manufacturers
Chapter 4 § § 9990-9993 Disclosure of Damage