Sold a car over a year ago- still getting parking tickets

[Kyle]

Ugh so frustrating- I sold my car over a year ago, submitted the required paper work/report of sale, and about 1.5 months ago received 3 or 4 over due parking tickets w/ a notice that they would be sent to collections if I didn't reply by xxx date.

The process to get the tickets off my name is to mail them the ticket along w/ the report of sale that I submitted back when I sold the car. Fine. I do that, get the notice a week or 2 later saying the pending tickets are off my name.

Today, there's a fucking new over due parking ticket notice in my name. I called the courts and was basically told there's nothing more I can do and nothing they can do to get the car out of my name until the bitch who bought it registers it in her name. I think by now it's clear she has no intentions of doing that. I was basically told I'm screwed but if she gets pulled over she'll get a ticket for not registering the car in her name- or something like that.

So...I get the pleasure of printing/mailing in the bill of sale for every ticket she decides she wants to rack up - including tickets for outdated tabs and of course not paying the metered parking. Maybe I'm crazy but I just assumed the bill of sale would take the car out of my name but I guess not. So now I just have to hope one of those overdue notice slips doesn't get lost in the mail or something and have collections after my ass for this...If it matters, I live in Seattle- honestly I haven't done too much research yet in to what else I can do- but I was thoroughly discouraged by the person I spoke to today @ the municipal courts.

 

[Zorro]

Why didn't you keep the tag ?

 

[Kyle]

Why didn't you keep the tag ?

The license plates? Well first off I hadn't found anything saying to do that when I was reading up on what's needed when selling a car etc- and not sure how she'd drive off w/ it if the car had no plates.

And secondly I figured the report of sale was getting my name off the car/plates - I didn't realize that only happens when the new owner registers the car in their name.

 

[sixone]

Look at the locations on the parking tickets. Find the car, and repo your plates - you only sold her the car, not the plates.

 

[dbk]

Hmmmm I guess you need to track down your plates. I can't believe that there's nothing that can be done. Don't you have a bill of sale with the buyer's address?

I sold a car in the summer. The out-of-state buyer brought in a temp tag and drove the car off without any plates. I promptly turned my plates in to the DMV. We also went to her bank and got the bill of sale notarized. Now you know.

 

[Kyle]

Hmm, guess it's lesson learned- remove plates before selling a car- I've never done that w/ any other car I've sold- I figured it didn't matter once I filled out the paperwork w/ the DMV.

 

[sixone]

If you go get the plates, be sure you have your registration form with you, to show any cop that objects to what you're doing.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Depends on the state fellas. In Texas, the plates stay with the car.

 

[Newbian]

Or better yet take the car back as it's still in your name then charge her parking fee's until she comes to collect it.

 

[sixone]

Hmm, guess it's lesson learned- remove plates before selling a car- I've never done that w/ any other car I've sold- I figured it didn't matter once I filled out the paperwork w/ the DMV.

It matters a LOT. You should never sell a car without requiring the buyer to meet you at the tag office, so that they pay the tax and registration immediately.

If that car is involved in an accident, and the driver doesn't have car insurance, the state may come back on you, as the last registered owner of the car. They don't care whether you sold it.

 

[Kyle]

"Why you should file
As the seller, you’re responsible for filing the report of sale. If you don’t file, you may be held liable for tolling bills, towing charges, and other civil or criminal liabilities incurred by the new owner.

The new owner is responsible for transferring the title. "

I would hope I'm not responsible for anything that happens from this point forward, I'm just annoyed to constantly have to re-prove it every time.

 

[dbk]

Hmm, guess it's lesson learned- remove plates before selling a car- I've never done that w/ any other car I've sold- I figured it didn't matter once I filled out the paperwork w/ the DMV.

OK in your state, the plates stay with you! Hmmm.

https://fortress.wa.gov/dol/rosprod/ <-- i just googled that

 

[Kyle]

OK in your state, the plates stay with you! Hmmm.

https://fortress.wa.gov/dol/rosprod/ <-- i just googled that

yep that's what I filled out the date of the sale - and have to use proof of it every time "I" get a ticket.

 

[IGBT]

DMV still hasn't figured it out?? Just think..the same people that run DMV will run obama care.

 

[Rakehellion]

Look at the locations on the parking tickets. Find the car, and repo your plates - you only sold her the car, not the plates.

Boom. This.

 

[Lifted]

Contact the buyer and tell her that since she never registered the car under her name she has 24 hours to return the plates to you before you report them stolen.

 

[Kyle]

Boom. This.

Unfortunately it's been in down town Seattle so far- that'd be tough to pull off.

 

[BoomerD]

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.16A.200

8) Transfer. (a) Standard issue license plates follow the vehicle when ownership of the vehicle changes unless the registered owner wishes to retain the license plates and transfer them to a replacement vehicle of the same use. A registered owner wishing to keep standard issue license plates shall pay the license plate transfer fee required under RCW 46.17.200(1)(c) when applying for license plate transfer.

 

[halik]

Look at the locations on the parking tickets. Find the car, and repo your plates - you only sold her the car, not the plates.

This.

 

[Kyle]

So that looks like usually the plates xfer unless I wanted to keep them myself and pay an extra fee..

But I guess they still see me as the "registered owner" and I can't change that unless the new owner does her part. It just seems stupid that the report of sale that I filed will get me out of paying tickets/fines etc, but I have to re-submit it each time.

 

[AkumaX]

You still own the car. Find it and take it back!

 

[Kyle]

You still own the car. Find it and take it back!

hmm...I do still have a spare key...

 

[MotionMan]

Maybe go down to the DMV and see if they can straighten things out (haha).

Bring the bill of sale, etc.

You never know.

On a side note, I find it interesting that people assume that every state handles plates the same way.

MotionMan

 

[Bateluer]

OK in your state, the plates stay with you! Hmmm.

https://fortress.wa.gov/dol/rosprod/ <-- i just googled that

Same with Arizona.

Dealing with a similar issue right now with a vehicle I sold back in February. The douche never registered the car in his name, nor did they get insurance on it. So eventually I started getting letters from the MVD that the vehicle had been cited for no registration. Call the MVD, with my Bill of Sale in hand, they pull up their records, say 'Yep, we see the sale record, just making a correction here and you're good to go.' Few weeks later, I get another letter from an impound lot saying the car was impounded, call them, they're completely useless and as unhelpful as possible. Call the MVD again, they report that since there's a bill of sale on file, I'm not liable for any fees or fines. Couple weeks later, got another letter from the impound lot now saying the vehicle is being considered abandoned and that I'll be held responsible for the fines, unless I present a bill of sale. Oddly enough, the bottom of that letter claims they have a bill of sale on record and that I'm not liable for it.

Irritating. Next time, I'll just trade in the old vehicle at the dealership.

 

[yhelothar]

DMV still hasn't figured it out?? Just think..the same people that run DMV will run obama care.

Obamacare won't be running the hospitals.