DriveTime Auto Sales (formerly Ugly Duckling) dealer accepted my trade-in car as part of down payment, then sold it at auction and the title was never transferred out of my name Glendale Arizona
Feb, 2005 I traded in a 1994 Mercury Topaz at DriveTime and purchased a 2003 Chevy Cavalier. I paid processing fees, doc prep fees, etc.... and signed over the title to my trade in. In March, 2006 I received a letter from DMV stating that the registration on my 94 Topaz was expired. In speaking with DMV, the vehicle is still in my name. Anyone else have this problem?
Sally
Phoenix, Arizona
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Dan
Phoenix,Arizona,
U.S.A.
Automobile Registrations
#3Consumer Suggestion
Thu, March 16, 2006
When you sell, trade or dispose of a vehicle, you must take the registration and note on the back the dispositon of the vehicle (sold, junked or whatever) and turn it in to the DMV. Do not let the new owner have the registration. This forces the new owner to re-register the car (to stay legal). The DMV will note in their computer that you are no longer the owner. The title does not covey ownership (and liability) as far a the state or insurance compay is concerned. That's why PD/DPS want to see the registration when they pull you over, not the title. You can sign (notarized) the title and give it to the new owner. The title is similar to a 'Bill of Sale". It shows who has a monetary interest (lein, if any) against the vehicle.
The importance of removing the registration came to me several years ago. I turned in the registration to the state when I sold my Mercury several years ago. The car turned up in Compton, CA with a parking ticket attached. CA wanted me to pay the ticket because the title was still in my name. The new owner never retitled (or registered) the car. AZ notified CA that I wasn't the registered owner. Never heard anything from CA.
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Sally, no big deal, just do this
#3Consumer Suggestion
Sun, March 12, 2006
Sally,
This is common. Just send a copy of the bill of sale/trade in to the DMV along with an affidavit that you no longer own it.
The title/reg will not get changed until another retail customer purchases it and puts it in their name.
This is because when you trade it in and also when the dealer sends it to auction, the title is not transferred out of your name. The section on the title for dealer assignment of title is used.
Apparently another dealer bought it from the auction and it has not been resold to a customer yet.