Transferring a logbook on TIMS without losing three weeks
9 May 2026 · 6 min read
Vehicle transfers stall on record mismatches between buyer, seller and the NTSA database. Check these before money changes hands.
A TIMS transfer requires both parties to hold active, correctly linked TIMS accounts. If the seller's account was created with a different identification number than the one on the logbook, the transfer cannot be initiated at all.
Run a vehicle search before paying. It reveals the registered owner, any recorded encumbrance and whether the record carries a caveat.
Once initiated, the seller must approve the transfer in their account. Buyers regularly discover at this point that the seller has lost access to the phone number tied to the account.
Confirm insurance and inspection status separately. A clean transfer on a vehicle that fails inspection is not a completed purchase.
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