Ticket after selling car

Jun 04, 2007 13 Replies

Hello all,



My friend sold a broken-down '90s Accura in NJ in January for $400 cash, and got no receipt. It was broken down in her driveway. They came, fixed it so that it drives ok, and took it away. A few days later, it got a ticket in NY for $95 for some kind of bad or missing plates, but the car was not re-registered until mid-March, according to the judge/DMV.



Is there anything she can do to resolve this, or does she just have to pay up and call it unlucky?



Thanks for any help!



DeanB



IMHO this is why you should always photocopy the title when you assign it to the new owner.

nate

Looks like she may also owe the MVC $25 because the title wasn't transferred within 10 days.

formatting link
The clowns in Trenton sure are creative coming up with ways to suck money out of people...

days.http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Vehicle/TransferringVehicle.htm>

I don't understand - you give the title to the buyer, so how can you transfer it in 10 days? Isn't this for the buyer to do in 10 days?

It's always a good idea to remove any registration stickers, and keep any registration documents not necessary for transfer, along with keeping the license plates registered to you upon selling/transferring a vehicle to prevent getting tickets meant for someone else. I live in NY and I believe a statement like that is printed on our registration window stickers.

When some jerk off did that to me, I had to go before a JP and swear that I sold the vehicle on a certain date. The police then stopped the arrest warrant for the unpaid ticket.

Mike

86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00 Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view! Jan/06
formatting link
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Until the title is transferred, as far as the state is concerned, the car still belongs to the seller. So, regardless of who is supposed to do the paperwork, ownership and responsibility are not changed until it is done.

I don't believe this is the case, at least in NC. When I sell a car, I have to have the title notarized. The new owner doesn't necessarily have to get a new title immediately, but I sure has heck turn in the old plate immediately.

Ed

formatting link

You're not supposed to understand Comrade, you are just supposed to keep forking over money to the legislature. They will then decide who gets what and how much of it.

Have your friend get a lawyer...

Fwed

First off your friend should have gotten a receipt, so this is something to remember in the future. Secondly, your friend should have gone down to the DMV after sale and immediately told them the car had been sold and who it was sold too. That act will remove your name from the records even if the new owner fails to reregister.

Your description indicates the judge has seen the DMV records so it would appear she has already gone to court. If that is the case she is out of luck. If not get all of the evidence available and bring it to the court well ahead of time. Sometimes the local DA will show up early to bargain down cases. Otherwise when court time comes explain what happened and hope for mercy.

It is definitely the case in Texas. In fact, if the car is recovered by the police for any reason, it goes back to the titled owner. They don't change the license plates here either. They stay with the car.

There's some sort of procedure in Illinois by which one can renounce the title and disclaim ownership.

There's a form you can submit (for a fee) in Texas also that declares the car has been sold.

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required