In some trouble

Bummer man.
I have some faith that it's not a stolen car.
The dude sounds a little off-kilt, but it is possible that he just fucked up sending it in the mail or something. Be persistent and tell him your honest concerns. If doesn't straighten out time to take legal action.

sounds sketchy as hell.
What town is this in?

Use this as a lesson to never let someone owe you something during the sale of a car. In my experience, if it's not on/in the car when you take it home, you're not gonna see it from the seller.

all this talk of stolen cars and none of you seem to know that you can find out if a VIN has been reported stolen online (and for free). just google it, I'm not going to bother linking it for you fags

Well, you're fucked. The degree to which you are fucked depends on how the situation plays out and the particulars of how the DMV operates in your state

Since you don't have a signed and notarized copy of the title, you don't legally own the car. The bill of sale is really only helpful in so far as legally establishing what price you payed for the car when you go to pay taxes, and as an additional proof of sale if you have to go to court. As it stands now, how do you even have a plate on the car? How do you have insurance?

If he sent the title through certified mail, he has a tracking number with the USPS, get it, and call the USPS yourself to see if he even sent the title.

Provided you get the title, how do you intend on getting it signed and notarized? (most states so far as I know, require both of you to sign the title in the presence of a notary, are you going to drive back to Oklahoma to get that done?)

If the title is just farts in the wind, your only recourse will be a lawsuit. Depending on the state, it will either be filed in small claims, or the circuit court for the county where he lives. It would be fairly easy to represent yourself, but it will require multiple trips back for court appearances, would probably be cheaper just to retain a local attorney.

What's the car? How much did you pay?

Ouch, lpg laying it out.

This is a harsh way to learn one of my craigslist rules.

If it comes up once itll come up again.
Sounds like its been sitting unregistered, beig worked on maybe?

It was over 5 grand, wasnt it?

There is just certain shit you NEVER do, and buying a car without title in hand is one of them. The original owner OP bought the car from could report it stolen to his insurance, and if OP get pulled over, he gets to spend the next month fighting a GTA charge (don't laugh, I've seen this happen in real life)

Seller could also have had some kind of payday loan lien on it, and can't get the title. First thing I would do is take the VIN and call the DMV in county OP where the seller lived and have them run it to see if it has any brands or liens against it

Op here. Where I live, in kansas, you're able to use your tags from your previous car as 60 day tags as long as they're still good. I bought the car for 3000$. He said he was getting the title notarized for me there (he works at a dealership). The title is being signed over to me as if I bought it from his dealership even though I bought it privately from him. I know this because on the title in the pic he sent me has the dealership as the seller and his dealer license #, etc. The tracking number part you said is a good point, i actually called the post office and they told me the same thing, all certified mail comes with a tracking number. Hopefully will have more info soon

Sorry to hijack thread but can someone explain what a title is? In Canada we have a registration and you transfer the registration over upon sale. If you lose that piece of paper you simply go to any of the millions of insurance places and give them your license and they will print you a new one for $15. I always thought it was the same in the US but you guys are making it seem like a much bigger deal. Someone fill a snow Mexican in?