Tractor Title

Hi,
Helping a widow sell a Ford 5000 tractor. She states there is no title for the tractor.
Is this usually the case? This is around northern California. If no title we'll just
do a bill of sale.
thanks for advice,
Curtis

I never bought one with a title .

No title is most common practice in the USA. Many other countries require license and title/registration for road use. A bill of sale is all that is needed. Make it a real document including engine number and tractor serial number with all letters and designations. A separate document with known history, like where and when it was purchased etc. is also a nice touch. Down load a bill of sale form from Word (or what ever processor you use) to make it nice. Jim

Unless it requires some type of registration it won't have a title. Check with the state.

Rick

As far back as I know farm tractor's have never had a title.

I like to add in the bill of sale a line something like:
"Seller makes no claim as to the useability or condition of this tractor."

Jan I am curious why would you have him mention ENGINE serial number? Seems to me it would be a lot more important to mention MODEL of the tractor like ford 4000 or whatever. I have sold over 4000 tractors in my life both new and used and can,t ever remember a sales document listing engine serial number. In fact the original invoice from Kubota to the dealer does not even mention engine serial number . Model and serial are all that is required in most states.

Title as a vehicle for a tractor not required in US with rare exceptions. Titles usually linked to license plates for road use and since 'implements of husbandry' aren't usually used on public road reguraly, not required. The only time I heard about titles for tractors and some offroad equipment is when a loan was taken out for the equipment and state vehicle laws had liens linked to title numbers- title was a partially financial instrument for recording liens on things with motors or was need for insurance for road use- that was a New England state that would issue a title for tractors and equipment used for road maintenance since the insurance forms needed a title number if their wasn't a license plate that would lead to a title-tractor used for mowing of roadside and snow plow use, later sold with title and that was so rare it got noticed. 2 years back or so is thread, Maybe Fawteen area? California is a state that might have some kind of title for new tractors now- the state is near broke and has fees, pollution inspections and registration for golf carts, dirt bikes and ATVs , snowmachines and motorcycle forum has note about title on CA dirtbies financed from ealers. Eh, maybe in California tractors might get titles- Teasing Alert!, might fall into ocean before that. Bill of Sale sold as is, as shown, and with some identifiable numbers, provinence notes would be good enough. RN

It is just one more piece of data. Knowing what the number just keeps the numbers together. History is way difficult to recover after a sale. Jim

Make up a bill of sale with serial number on it.