Nantz v. Lexington Lincoln Mercury Subaru

The issue involves the question of when title to a motor vehicle passes from seller to buyer for the purposes of liability insurance coverage. The transaction was from a dealer to an individual. The Nantz and Smith cases arose from the same automobile accident.

Lexington Lincoln-Mercury-Subaru sold a 1982 Chevrolet to Delbert Roberts, d/b/a Roberts Used Cars, and provided Roberts with the title, a registration receipt, and a vehicle transaction record (VTR). Roberts, a licensed dealer who was not required to obtain a certificate of title because he held the car less than 15 days, as provided…