Car titles

Every state is different, you can only use information from people that have done this in your state. In California, as long as you have a bill of sale and the title isn't in the system in someone other than the seller's name (and not stolen, of course) you can get a title. It requires an inspection at the DMV, but if the VIN and VIN stampings match it's actually not a big deal. I've bought a few cars with a bill of sale and had no issues getting a title. In some states it's pretty much impossible, if you don't have a title you have a parts car, period. And in some states cars that are old enough don't even get issued titles, just registration. You'll have to wade through the process for your state. You should be able to find all the relevant DMV information online, read all of it. It will be boring and tedious, but you can't count on the workers at the DMV to know all of the codes related to your situation. I mean, you should be able to, but that certainly hasn't been my experience. You have to become an expert in the applicable regulations and then tell them how it needs to be done, and present all the proper paperwork.

Much easier to buy a car with a title, which is generally why cars without titles are so much cheaper. Sometimes that works in your advantage and you get a good car cheap, sometimes you earn your savings back in time and frustration spent at the DMV getting the new title. I have been on both ends of that spectrum, couple were pretty easy, but one in particular I probably lost money between paperwork, fees, and in time spent by the time I finally had the title in hand.