Gloveboxes are often where people keep important paperwork for their car. The registration, manual, and upkeep records are typically stowed in the glovebox.
After finding it in a customer’s vehicle, one mechanic is warning people against keeping one document in their glove box. He couldn’t believe it was in there.
In a TikTok with over 259,300 views as of this writing, mechanic (@theclawboss) reveals what he found.
“I found something in the glovebox that I shouldn’t have found… This customer inside their car has their title,” he shares.
Clearly worried, he explains the potential severity of the situation if your car gets stolen.
“If a car thief steals your car with the title inside, they can just sign their name and steal your car,” he says.
He acknowledges that he doesn’t know the ins and outs of the law and that there may be a loophole. “If someone gets a hold of your title and signs it over to themselves, what do you do from there?” he asks. The mechanic offers a simple solution to this potential problem.
“Don’t leave your car’s title in your car. It’s not a good idea. You’re giving car thieves ammunition,” he says.
He told Motor1, “In New Jersey, all you do is sign the title and hand it to the next buyer. In other states there’s more to it like getting the title notarized and things like that.”
He further said there’s no good reason to leave your title in the glovebox.
Is it Dangerous to Leave A Title in the Glovebox?
The glove compartment is a common place to store car-related materials. This typically includes the owner's manual, insurance documents, registration, a tire pressure gauge, a flashlight, and other items.
According to Carfax, it’s best to leave your car title in a secure location, such as a home safe or a safe deposit box. There’s no good reason to leave it in there, since police don’t need to see the title during a traffic stop or collision. And it can be extremely difficult to replace a lost or stolen title.
If you do feel the need to keep a copy of the title, simply take a photo of it with your phone. You can also do this with other documents, such as your insurance card, license, and registration. Capital One reports that digital versions of these documents are typically accepted during routine traffic stops.
If your title is in the glove compartment and your car gets stolen, thieves could theoretically sign it over to themselves and sell it, transferring the title to an unwitting buyer. Then you’d have the potentially onerous task of getting it back from the buyer.
Additionally, Capital One recommends not leaving other important documents, such as your driver’s license, state ID, marriage certificate, and custody orders, in your glovebox.
‘Yep Title At The House, Registration In The Car’
Viewers agreed that the title should absolutely not be in the glove box.
“Car titles belong in a safe not your glove box; most titles say keep in safe place not in the registered vehicle,” one commenter wrote.
“Yep title at the house registration in the car,” another added.
“Registration and insurance should be the only thing in your glovebox and maybe the wheel locks keys if you got them,” one suggested.
Other viewers offered suggestions on how to protect yourself in the event your title is stolen.
“You file a police report and notify the DMV they will freeze the title so it can't transfer,” one wrote.
“In Pennsylvania that title doesn't mean [expletive] if it’s not signed or notarized by the person who owns it,” one shared.
“It has to be notarized at the DMV for it to be a legal sale,” one commented.
“Only some states do this. Most do not,” one replied back.
