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A car title serves as a record of a vehicles legal owner. If your name isnt on the title, you dont have the legal rights to register or sell the car. States allow you to put multiple names on the title if theres more than one owner. If youre buying a car with someone else, its important that the title includes the names of all the owners and the way theyre listed can make a difference depending on where you live.
Types of Multiple Owners
If theres more than one name on the title, the order in which you list the names can make a big difference later on. For example, if you use the word "or" between the names on a California title youre creating a joint tenancy between owners. This means either can act for the car and, if one owner dies, the other becomes the sole owner. However, if you use the word "and" between the names in Virginia, theres no right of survivorship and each owner can leave their share of the car to whoever they want if they die. If youre unsure, talk to an attorney in your state or the motor vehicle department to make sure the names on the title accurately represent the proper status.
