What are my liability/righttoa car that I sold if the new owner never registered it in his name?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What are my liability/righttoa car that I sold if the new owner never registered it in his name?
I sold a car last month, and I kind of screwed up. I lost the release of liability form that you are supposed to turn in to the DMV. Yesterday, I got a notice in the mail stating that the car is in a tow yard because the guy I sold it to got arrested. Come to find out the guy never registered the car in his name, so I am still the legal owner. Is it legal for me to get the car out of the to yard so I don’t end up with huge fees, essentially getting sent to collections? When the new owner gets out of jail, can he file a stolen car report if I do get the car out of the yard?
Asked on October 28, 2010 under Business Law, California
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Who has the title to the car? Did you transfer the title? Do you have a contract of sale that you can show them? Anything? You need to go down to DMV and speak with someone about straightening out this mess and quickly. I can see your wanting to get the car out of the tow yard and save yourself huge headaches down the road but I am not sure that this is the way to go at this pint in time. Bring your documents to an attorney in your area to review as to liability, etc. and let him or her advise you how to handle the tow yard. Do so quickly. Good luck.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.