Have you ever bought a car with a lein title out here?
We did and it was a huge mistake. The car cant be smoged inless we put another 2,000 into it (for one part) at least and we cant register it back home because they need more information then just the lein title which is all CA needs (besides the smog test). What seemed like an ok car has been a nightmare and I wont sell it to anyone because they would be stuck in this mess. We thought about giving it to a dealer for what little they would give us but then we are out a car and cant afford to buy one from a dealership. All we wanted was a family car that had four doors so our daughters carseat could fit. I feel so hopeless and stupid at this moment. Most of all I am out of ideas how to fix this problem. Only thing I have left is the dmv back home said if I fax her the paperwork she will go over what all I need and maybe just maybe we can figure out a solution. 

What is the lien for? Who did you buy it from? From what I understand something with a lien on it cant be sold until the lien is paid. A lien is when someone files paperwork on something you own cause you owe money, have a judgement against you, something like that. 

Are you sure its a lien? Or will it just not pass smog? You can register it out of state but to register it on base you have to have a smog. 

Just like I thought it is illegal to sell a car with a lien on it. Google it. I would go to base legal and see if they can help you with the issue. 

I was always under the impression that CA required seller to provide the smog certificate to the buyer. 

I was always under the impression that CA required seller to provide the smog certificate to the buyer.
Also true. People sale cars all the time without one though. There is ways for a someone who is selling a car to cover there butt from being sued without one though. Its up to the buyer to make sure everything is done properly. But if it truely has a lien on it the sale was illegal in the first place, no matter if the buyer new about it or not. 

Wow, that sucks, you got screwed. Base legal! 

You can't sell a car without clear title. I mean, you can, if the buyer is assuming the loan, but you would be crazy to leave it up to someone else to keep your credit clear.

If there's a lien, the seller needs to pay off the loan and get a lien release before it can be titled in the buyer's name. 

A towing company took the car and had permission from the dmv to sell on a lien title. They sold it to a man would then sold it to us. We then found it didnt pass smog. We did not realize you were aloud to by law go back to the seller within 30 days and have them get it to pass smog or give you your money back until it was too late. We tried to register it back home but so far can't. 

So then there is no lien currently on the car, your problem is getting it to pass smog. Where are you from? So you have the title? 

If you spend $700 to try and get it to pass smog CA will pass it regardless of if it does or not. Not that anyone wants to pay that much. 

The lien is still on it. He never got it registered. Is that $700 any money you put in to trying to get it to pass smog? What prove do you need to show you spent over$700?

We are from Nebraska 

Than I would go to base legal and you might be able to get your money back. Its illegal to sell a car with a lien on it. Even though technically it should of been taken it off it might be your way out of the car if thats what you want. 

My dad owns a tow compnay back home and deals with liens all the time. Here is the thing the first guy that took the car with the lein needed to pay the registration on the car and got it smogged before he sold it too you. I would definetly go to base legal you are not allowed to sell a vehicle without a smog in california its the sellers resposibility unless you signed something saying "seller not resposible for smog sold as is" the main thing is the buyer of the lein is resposible and should have registered it before even selling it. Good luck. 

Ok Thank you all