I would think step one would be to acquire an unfit vehicle certificate (ownership) from DMV in his name and I'm almost certain that requires a title search, the cost of which he will need to pay (is a small fee) * a written letter will need to be drafted explaining how the vehicle came to be in his possession. Then on having the unfit ownership in hand, he owns it and can sell it without ever having to provide proof of insurance coverage.
The end buyer will need to have it certified and insured prior to plating it for the road again.
All starts with the VIN, but it sounds like the OP has no idea about motor vehicles and vehicle identification numbers.
* I only know this because I once had a slimy nefarious dealership abscond with my VIN after they replaced my frame, returned my motorcycle to me without any VIN at all and built a motorcycle around my old repaired frame and VIN, then sold it years after the fact, the dirty rotten sod.