Lots of states don't issue titles after its 20 years old...
I've bought a couple of cars like that but you need to do your I'd and cross your t's. NJ all ways issued me a title but you will run into issues with flippers from those states who never registered the car, those you just walk away from unless its a rotted cheap parts car. Flippers tend to be the laziest scumbags in my experience, want top dollar for polishing a turd and will try to talk ya into using Vermont or another state to title wash it. For my state you need
- A notarized statement from the seller to the buyer that includes all of the following information about the vehicle sale: year manufactured, make, VIN, date of sale, and price of purchase. Both parties must sign the statement prior to having it notarized.
- A pencil tracing or a printed-out photograph of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate
- The last registration card that the seller has for the vehicle showing that the vehicle was registered and owned by the seller. Without the registration your screwed.
I would pass on it for his asking price after the video showing the condition after owning it a year. The prices are dropping for driver quality cars even though asking prices are mostly still sky high. I'd still considered that a flip car at his prices vs the condition. With the interior ripped apart like that when those repo parts are cheap. Doesn't take much to figure out what's done parts wise to one of these cars besides the cam, a $12 bore scope will tell ya if its a stock motor or not, some I've scoped you can read the piston part numbers and figure out what's it is.