[Halon]

I don't understand why you don't just call it in stolen? You'll get it back and it'll be done. Getting a court involved seems like the last and final course once all other options have been exhausted. Court is time consuming, slow, and expensive (once you start adding in lawyer costs especially). Winning the case is only half the battle. Getting any money out of him is another battle. If the court awards you $2000, what if he doesn't have the money? Now you're paying a collections agency to try and get you your money.

Take care of it outside of court if you can. Calling it in stolen seems like a logical next step, and it's completely truthful considering he has the car and has never paid you. Even if you had some sort of verbal agreement, the fact that he hasn't lived up to his half of the deal, hasn't paid you, and you still have the title, that = stolen in my book.