Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“When the car was sold to you, the previous owner should have notified the DMV that you are the new owner. In order to sell the car to a new buyer and transfer the title, the car needs to be in your name.
As far as the DMV is concerned, you’re the owner of the car and you’re liable for any accidents.
You can try to insure the vehicle without transferring the title, but some state laws will prevent you from insuring a car that’s not in your name.
The best plan is to transfer the title under your name and add your new vehicle to your existing
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.