Sold a car and new owners did not register it. NEED HELP!

[weirdichi]

Ugh. I got a letter from St. Paul police saying my car is impounded. I sold it a few weeks back to some kids and now it shows up as impounded. They never registered the car so it's still in my name. I did not keep any records at all (yes, stupid me. Grill me another time in another thread.) and just signed the title over to them after they handed me the money.

I called the impound lot and they said I need to go to the DMV and fill out some paperwork. I have no information on the buyers except maybe a couple of cell phone numbers which I'm trying to look up on my online account.

The funny thing is, a few months back I saw a news special about this exact same thing, how the new owners did not register the car and a crime was committed in it and the old owner had to jump through a bunch of hoops to clear his name.

Anybody have similar experiences and can tell me what happens next? I don't want any more $$ coming out of my pockets for this.

**UPDATE** 06-05-08
At the beginning of this week, I called up the impound and they told me to call the county law enforcement offices. I got a CS and she said that the St. Paul Gang Strike Force was handling the case and gave me the number for the officer who was working the case.

The officer called me back after I left a message and said that I was not involved in any way and to call back next week for an update. Apparently the car was used in a drive by shooting.

I did think about going and getting the car and selling it again, but the kids I sold it to were probably gang-bangers and they know where I live, so I didn't want repercussions from them. The officer telling me that my name won't be attached to this case made me feel a bit better and hopefully this will end soon and I will have nothing to do with the car now.

Lesson learned. I'll call next week and see what happens.

 

[imported_Baloo]

Go get the car out of impound, get new title, sell the car to someone else.

 

[Darthvoy]

unfortunately, you are an idiot. When I sold my car I made sure to keep all the needed info. The guy I sold the car never registered it and lo and behold I get a bunch of tickets in the mail. Luckily, I had evidence I sold the car and I was exculpated.

 

[funkymatt]

didn't the title have a bill of sale/relinquish ownership portion you sent to the DMV?

 

[antyler]

I dont think its that big a deal. When i sold a car awhile back, the guy got a ticket and an impound and we got a notice of it as well. Im not sure what we did, but I really dont think its that big a deal.

I cant tell you what to do, cuz i dont remember my course of action, (its been awhile).

I would say your best bet is to go to DMV and explain the situation.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: weirdichi
The funny thing is, a few months back I saw a news special about this exact same thing, how the new owners did not register the car and a crime was committed in it and the old owner had to go through a buncha hoops to clear his name.

That is pretty funny.

 

[OutHouse]

you got owned... life lesson for you. dont ever sell a car without having the ownes sign a bill of sale. if you had a BOS all you have to do is fax the impound lot the form and end of story. not your car not your problem.

besides what kind of help were you wanting? we cant tell you any more than what the impound lot told you. you will have to go down and get it straightened out with them, because as far as they are concerned the car is yours.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: Baloo
Go get the car out of impound, get new title, sell the car to someone else.

:laugh:

 

[AkumaX]

how much did you sell the car for?

if they didn't register it, then it's legally still yours. i'd say that's pretty awesome if :

a) its only going to cost you a few hundred to get it back/clear your name out of stuff
b) the car will cost a few thousand to sell back on the market
c) ??????
d) profit!

 

[rezinn]

This happened to me too. I got it out of impound and resold it.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Why on earth did you not keep the records?

 

[markgm]

Why bother taking it out of the impound lot? Otherwise, resell it.

 

[XZeroII]

Is the car trashed or something? Get it back and sell it again!

 

[skyking]

In my state, there is a neat thing called a "seller's report".
File that the day you sell it with the ID, name and address of the buyer, and you are off the hook.

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: Darthvoy
unfortunately, you are an idiot. When I sold my car I made sure to keep all the needed info. The guy I sold the car never registered it and lo and behold I get a bunch of tickets in the mail. Luckily, I had evidence I sold the car and I was exculpated.

Most states require a bill of sale as well, which is sent to the DMV by the old owner, and a copy of which is used by the new owner to register it and get a plate.

Sucks to be you, might have to pay out for it now.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: funkymatt
didn't the title have a bill of sale/relinquish ownership portion you sent to the DMV?

yup, mine had this when I sold mine to someone and I live in MNPLS.

 

[Vette73]

I would not get the car out. If you do then the first buyers come forward and ask for their car as they have the title/bill of sale. You then might have to eat any fees to get it out.

Even worse you get it out and sell it again and now you are arrested for selling stolen goods. You sold the car and tried to sell something you knew does not belong to you anymore.


Juts leave it at the impound. they will sell it at auction if the buyers do not come for it.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: markgm
Why bother taking it out of the impound lot? Otherwise, resell it.

I'm with you.

 

[JulesMaximus]

So what? Let the impound lot keep it.

 

[Xavier434]

Let this be a lesson to you. You don't hand over the keys until the car is 100% in the other person's name.

 

[Kalvin00]

No bill of sale required here, but the title has this nifty little portion that is titled 'Release of Interest in Vehicle'

They don't do that there....?

 

[waffleironhead]

Originally posted by: Xavier434
Let this be a lesson to you. You don't hand over the keys until the car is 100% in the other person's name.

Good luck with that! Im handing you cash, you better be handing me keys.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: weirdichi
Ugh. I got a letter from St. Paul police saying my car is impounded. I sold it a few weeks back to some kids and now it shows up as impounded. They never registered the car so it's still in my name. I did not keep any records at all (yes, stupid me. Grill me another time in another thread.) and just signed the title over to them after they handed me the money.

I called the impound lot and they said I need to go to the DMV and fill out some paperwork. I have no information on the buyers except maybe a couple of cell phone numbers which I'm trying to look up on my online account.

The funny thing is, a few months back I saw a news special about this exact same thing, how the new owners did not register the car and a crime was committed in it and the old owner had to go through a buncha hoops to clear his name.

Anybody have similar experiences and can tell me what happens next? I don't want any more $$ coming out of my pockets for this.

This is actually a common problem and happens often. Usually on cars that are paid in cash...you are usually given a fake set of credentials as well by the 'buyer'.

I sold my saturn cash, took the guy months to register it. During that time *I* was still responsible for the car...if you can produce your 'buyer' you will be responsible for whatever damages, fees, etc came from this.

If you call your registration office prior to the sale they can tell you the best practice for selling a car like this...

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: skyking
In my state, there is a neat thing called a "seller's report".
File that the day you sell it with the ID, name and address of the buyer, and you are off the hook.

Provided they match up to a real person. Bill of sale and copy of their ID is usually not enough to prove a sale if the person doesn't exist and then goes on a carmaggedon rampage through a shopping mall.

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: Xavier434
Let this be a lesson to you. You don't hand over the keys until the car is 100% in the other person's name.

yeah...not going to happen.

Whenever i have sold a car i have BOS with both signitures then sign the title and make them sign it then make a copy of it.

of course then you need to keep all paperwork (still have it from a car i sold 8 years ago)