can you sell a car with a fix it ticket

[RuthLee]

Yes, you can sell a car with a fix-it ticket, but you must resolve the ticket before or during the sale to avoid legal and financial complications. The primary issue is that the ticket is attached to the vehicle's record, and in most states, you cannot legally transfer the title until all outstanding citations are cleared. Selling the car with an unresolved ticket will transfer the problem to the new owner, who will be unable to register the vehicle, potentially leading to a reversed sale or legal dispute.

The correct process is to correct the violation, get it signed off by law enforcement or a court, pay any fines, and then proceed with the sale. This is the cleanest and most ethical approach. The violation, such as a broken taillight or tinted windows, is usually minor and inexpensive to fix. The cost of repair is almost always less than the discount a buyer will demand for taking on the hassle.

If you choose to sell the car with the ticket unresolved, you must be fully transparent. You must inform the buyer about the existing fix-it ticket and negotiate a price that reflects the cost and effort they will need to expend. This should be documented in writing within the bill of sale. However, this path is riskier and may significantly limit your pool of potential buyers, as most will not want to inherit someone else's legal problem.

The following table outlines the general steps and potential outcomes based on how you handle the fix-it ticket:

Action Taken	Potential Outcome for the Seller	Impact on Sale Process
Fix the issue and clear the ticket before listing.	Clean title transfer, no liability, full market value.	Smoothest and fastest process; attracts all buyers.
Disclose the ticket to the buyer and negotiate a lower price.	Sale proceeds, but at a discount; risk of future dispute if not documented.	Limits buyer pool; requires extra paperwork and honesty.
Fail to disclose or resolve the ticket.	Sale could be voided; risk of being sued for fraud; legal liability remains with seller.	Buyer cannot register the car; almost certain to result in a conflict and reversed sale.

Ultimately, taking a day to get the fix-it ticket resolved is the most straightforward strategy. It protects you from future liability and makes your car a more attractive, worry-free purchase for the next owner.

[Morris]

Been there, done that. I sold my old Jeep with a fix-it ticket for a cracked windshield. I was upfront with the guy who bought it. I showed him the ticket, we agreed on a price that was $200 lower to cover the cost of a new windshield and his time to get it inspected. We wrote it all down in the bill of sale that he was responsible for clearing the ticket. He was cool with it because he wanted the project. Just be honest—trying to hide it is a surefire way to get that car back in your driveway.

[DiAnthony]

From a legal standpoint, the ticket is an encumbrance on the vehicle's title. Most state DMVs will block the title transfer until the citation is certified as corrected. The safest course is to remedy the violation, obtain a verification from the appropriate authority—often the police department—and submit that proof to the court to dismiss the ticket. This clears the title, allowing for a seamless transfer to the new owner without exposing you to potential claims of misrepresentation after the sale.