I just received a letter in the mail from a towing company that I owe $597 for a towing and impound fee... Funny thing is, I traded this car into a dealership over a year ago. And not even a B lot, but a well-known, good reputation dealership. I called the towing company, who informed me that the car is legally registered in my name. I asked how that could be, they told me the dealership had to of sold my car without switching the title.
I know I need to call the dealership to get this straightened out. But, I would also like to know if there is any legal action I should/need to take against the dealership. According to my mother, if something had/has happened (accident or so forth) with my car, I am legally responsible since the car is still legally mine. Also, whoever was driving my car could not have had insurance.
Please don't suggest that I go pick up the car- I don't want it. It's over 10 years old and was a pain in the *** when I got rid of it.
Any advice would be helpful.The dealership sold my car without changing the title? It has been in my name for over a year...?
you dont have to call the dealership, just send a copy of the bill of sale to the towing company that shows you are not the legal owner of the car, then they have to sue themThe dealership sold my car without changing the title? It has been in my name for over a year...?
Car dealerships are not responsible to switch the title over, that is up to the buyer to do when they buy a used vehicle.
But don't worry, just notify the tow company that the car was traded in to (dealer name) and to contact them to find out who the vehicle was sold to, and that should be the end of it.The dealership sold my car without changing the title? It has been in my name for over a year...?
Contact your DMV. the dealer and state's consumer protection people. Your Mother is correct. This could all come back to haunt you. Get this straightened out ASAPThe dealership sold my car without changing the title? It has been in my name for over a year...?
There are two things. A title and a registration. In many places dealing with a title is different for a dealership. This is to make it easier for them, but they would still have some limited time to switch things around. But you would have had to do something with the old plates. Did you turn them in or are you still using them. Also you would have had to do something with the insurance ont the vehicle. At the very least you would have had to inform the insurance co that you sold the other vehicle. Did you do this in writing? Email? Did you have any email correspondence with the dealership? You may also with to verify the information you presently have with the DMV or %26quot;car facts%26quot; online.
Once you have collected what you have then the next stop is the dealership:
It could be that they never sold your vehicle. Perhaps they have just kept it and thought they would change the title when someone else bought the vehicle. I think you need to go not to the one who handled your transaction but to the head of the company. Write a letter explaining what you know and what you have. Explain very nicely that if the matter is not cleared up within a week you will then turn the matter over to the state attorney general, better business bureau, the DMV and the local papers. You will reserve your right to sue for damages including legal fees. And thank them very nicely for their attention.The dealership sold my car without changing the title? It has been in my name for over a year...?
With the recent auto dealer debaucle, many dealerships are out of business now, so even calling them might not solve your problem.
What you need to do, is go get your paperwork from your purchase showing that you traded the car in - the vin number WILL be on the purchase paperwork, for your trade.
Then, you go to your dmv, and fill out a form called SOMETHING like, %26quot;affidavit of transfer or sale of vehicle%26quot;. You'll show the DMV your trade in paperwork, to verify the date you stopped owning the car, and file that paper. You'll get a receipt, which you can show the towing company, as proof you no longer own the car.
