Used Car Buying Question - need answers

[SolidSnake84]

So i am hoping i'm not going down the path of a used car buying horror story, but let me tell you what has happened, and somebody with knowledge can set me straight.

About two weeks ago, I bought a used Ford truck from a major dealership in the NoVA area. I will not name them as i have friends that work there and do not want to stir up any trouble at this point. I bought a fantastic used truck that is older, but runs and drives well, and looks good. They gave me only a paper registration card, that will expire on March 30.

I have made two attempts at getting the title. The day i bought the truck, they told me they will mail the title to me. One week later after no mail, i called the dealership and they said not to worry, that they were "sending that soon".

Another week went by and I have nothing. Today, i called the dealership again, asked about the title - they told me they didn't know, and would ask their title clerk to research it on Monday. I asked the person straight up if the vehicle actually had a title when they took it in - he said "I don't know".

What happens to me if it comes to find out that this truck does not have a title, or that the dealership never got it from the previous owner? Am I going to have to give the truck back? I really like this truck but it is useless if I have no way to register / tag it. What happens if the dealership, for whatever reason, cannot get the title??