sold car shenanigans

[blankall]

After I sold my wife's car, I went to the insurance broker (who also deals with transfer and sales tax) with the new buyer and registered the car/insurance in their name. A bit awkward, but was great for peace of mind. The system in BC is a bit more involved, as there is sales tax owing on private used car sales. Another reason why it makes more sense to into the broker and ensure that everything is sorted.

Another thing to think about is that if the vehicle is in your name, you're potentially liable for any accidents caused. This can be particularly troublesome, if the car is being driven without valid insurance.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by Madman

Thanks for that, I guess I've always swapped my plate to another vehicle.

Although, does handing in or swapping your plate legally absolve you from that vehicle then? What if I want to simply park it and not drive it anymore?

You show them the bill of sale at the registry if you sold vs just canceling the registration to store the vehicle for example

Also I have always gone to the registry with the new owner to transfer ownership as it is easier for them as well to have both parties present to remove ownership and registration and get in new parties name

[81MC]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

The issue is the OP left the license plate on the car, didn't unregister, then reported as a stolen license plate

Nope. I reported it as lost, in the advice of the agent. It wasn’t stolen and didn’t require a police report. I did cancel the registration at the time as well. Between that and the correspondence with my insurance company indicating it was sold, I’m not too worried anymore. Ain’t my bag.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Madman

So this raises the question then, how long is someone obligated to retain a bill of sale as a seller?

What if the buyer never ever registers said vehicle and I am the last person on their list? Does that mean I need to keep every bill of sale forever?

Seems like there's a step missing in the whole process that involves notifying the registry that the car has been sold, so no matter what the new owner does with it, I am no longer responsible for it.

This happened to me. Over a year after selling a car I got a letter from the impound lot because the guy never registered it. When I called they told me the guys mother had come in with the bill of sale and paid the fees. Seems odd you can drive a car around for a year and not register or insure it but if you pay the fee they give it to you. I'm guessing I will be getting more of these letters in the lifetime of the vehicle. I took my plate off but it stills show me as the last registrant. The guy was super shady, hanging on to that bill of sale forever incase I get accused of something.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by blankall

After I sold my wife's car, I went to the insurance broker (who also deals with transfer and sales tax) with the new buyer and registered the car/insurance in their name. A bit awkward, but was great for peace of mind. The system in BC is a bit more involved, as there is sales tax owing on private used car sales. Another reason why it makes more sense to into the broker and ensure that everything is sorted.

Another thing to think about is that if the vehicle is in your name, you're potentially liable for any accidents caused. This can be particularly troublesome, if the car is being driven without valid insurance.

ouch

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by 81MC

Nope. I reported it as lost, in the advice of the agent. It wasn’t stolen and didn’t require a police report. I did cancel the registration at the time as well. Between that and the correspondence with my insurance company indicating it was sold, I’m not too worried anymore. Ain’t my bag.

Sorry my bad - I meant lost not stolen

The issue is not taking your license plate off and unregistering at time of sale.

Not saying it's your fault (well it is but mistakes happen) - Was answering the question posted about WHY there isnt a process to avoid this from happening. There is a clear process for what should be done on a private sale.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by dino7c

I took my plate off but it stills show me as the last registrant. .

Did you cancel the registration at the vehicle registry?

There is a really easy and clear process. Taking off the plate, or forgetting to remove the plate, will still show you as registered

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by 81MC

Nope. I reported it as lost, in the advice of the agent. It wasn’t stolen and didn’t require a police report. I did cancel the registration at the time as well. Between that and the correspondence with my insurance company indicating it was sold, I’m not too worried anymore. Ain’t my bag.

They do, actually. I do them all the time, 'cause you are far from the only person who leaves their plate on something they've sold and doesn't think about it. It's usually utility trailers that it's done with though.

It gives you a report number and a paper trail, so that if you start seeing tickets showing up in the mail or illegal actions are taken with 'your' plate (like gas drive offs), you can just reference the police report to get them cancelled (providing, of course, that the report pre-dates the ticket) pretty easily.

[81MC]

Originally Posted by dino7c

ouch

It’s even worse in other provinces…you pay tax on what the Gov. determines the value is. That’s super messed up, paying a tax on the hypothetical value of something that was already taxed. Gross

[Raekwon]

Originally Posted by 81MC

81 Monte Carlo.

You sold the car you created your username after?

[BeltlineFan]

Originally Posted by 81MC

81 Monte Carlo.

Username definitely checks out.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by BeltlineFan

Username definitely checks out.

Don't fall for that. This is all just his long game cover story to get us to try to forget he's with the HA. Nice try, 81MC, I'm not buying it!

[Jason14h]

This whole thread is so MC81 can show the courts he sold his car and shouldn't have to pay his impound fees

We know it was you all along

[mrkajz44]

Pro tip with bill of sale retention - just email the person who bought the car a copy of the bill of sale when the transaction is completed. You essentially retain your email forever and it's strong proof that the other person agrees to the sale as there is a paper trail of which they are part of.

[Barnes]

My parents once got a call from the Miami Dade police dept in the middle of the night telling them to come pick up their car from the airport parkade as it had been there for 6 months.

My parents had traded it in and it was bought from the dealer by 2 old Swedish ladies who drove it down there and they just left it at the airport when they flew home. No idea how they traced it back to my parents because it had different plates.

[zamler]

No idea? Cars have unique identifiers known as a VIN.

[81MC]

Originally Posted by Raekwon

You sold the car you created your username after?

I bought this 81 Monte Carlo for extra parts for my 81 Monte Carlo. Tuned it up and turned out to be a totally legitimately drivable project that someone else could do something real with.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Did you cancel the registration at the vehicle registry?

There is a really easy and clear process. Taking off the plate, or forgetting to remove the plate, will still show you as registered

No, I assumed most reasonable people who spend thousands of dollars on a vehicle would register it.

In my case I have the bill of sale which legally clears me of anything, I was actually considering getting it out of impound myself if it looked like he just abandoned it. We are talking about a 10k SUV with some value assuming he hasn't totally trashed it.

Same guy said he wanted to return it after a couple days of driving over 500kms (free road trip rental?) and if I didn't give him his money back he would be at the door with chief so and so who has jurisdiction in Sharp Hill apparently. I know some higher ups in RCMP and had him straightened out pretty quick.

[Jason14h]

Okay so hopefully everyone has learned something

When you sell a car you go to the registry and turn in your license plate.

You will also get a refund on the registration minus a $10 processing fee

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by zamler

No idea? Cars have unique identifiers known as a VIN.

Sorry, no idea why they would have traced it back to my parents. I know how they did it. Seems like a lot of work for an '89 Corsica.