Blog

About That Mistake on the Title: Can I Make an Alteration?

All vehicle transactions are not seamless and sometimes mistakes happen when titling or registering a vehicle.  Did you know you can often correct an error after the fact without having to unwind a deal?   Texas Administrative Code, §217.5 outlines the process regarding alterations: 

4) A Statement of Fact may be requested to explain errors, corrections, or conditions from which doubt does or could arise concerning the legality of any instrument. A Statement of Fact will be required in all cases:
(A) in which the date of sale on an assignment has been erased or altered in any manner; or
(B) of alteration or erasure on a Dealer's Reassignment of Title.
(c) Rights of survivorship. A signed "rights of survivorship" agreement may be executed by a natural person acting in an individual capacity in accordance with Transportation Code, §501.031.

Statements of Fact are requested to explain errors, corrections, or conditions from which doubt does or could arise concerning the legality of any document. A person relevant to the issue in question is usually required to complete a statement of fact.  Some conditions, however, arise which necessitate that a particular person complete the statement of fact as shown in the following examples:

• When the purchaser's name or date on the assignment has been erased or blacked out,
the execution of the statement is restricted to the seller.
• When there is any question relating to the lien information, the execution of the
statement is restricted to the lienholder.
• When the lien information is completely erased on the assignment of manufacturers'
certificates, the execution of the statement is restricted to the seller shown on the
assignment.
• When the name on a title is different from the signature on an assignment (because of
a name change resulting from marriage or divorce, or indicates Sr./Jr.), the execution
of the statement is restricted to the person in question.

The statement of fact must properly identify the vehicle. The vehicle description should include, at the minimum, the vehicle identification number.
Corrected Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin (MCO) Motor Vehicle Title Manual 7-2 TxDMV April 2019.

To reduce the requirement for Statements of Fact only line through incorrect information on the assignment or any other document and show the correct information. The department does not allow the use of white-out or liquid paper on any title transfer documents. If an obvious error is lined through and the correct information is shown, the department accepts the transaction provided there is no conflict elsewhere in the
transaction.

Comments

There have been no comments made on this article. Why not be the first and add your own comment using the form below.

Leave a comment

Commenting is restricted to members only. Please login now to submit a comment.