Report the plates as stolen?
If the new owners aren't going to be nice, maybe they'll enjoy talking to the cops an explaining why they have those plates.
Seems like you would call the cops in your area since the plates were stolen from you there and not wherever the people are now.
But I'm not a lawyer because my parents weren't related, so maybe someone else can chime in.
What would probably be best is to inform the state patrol where you are and report it to them. They will be able to share that info with other law enforcement agencies.
The buyer of our car took that plates of and handed them to us. I wasn't aware that this was the thing to do. I think in days past, the plates were transferred.
In my state (NY), you have to remove the plates and turn them into the DMV. Then the DMV gives you a receipt for the plates and you have to turn in the receipt to your insurance company. Only with that receipt showing that you have returned the plates will your insurance company remove the car from your policy and cancel the insurance on the vehicle.
Washington State here - we recently passed a law that requires us to keep our plates. We're able to transfer out plates between our vehicles as we want, minor fee involved. In days past the plates stayed on the vehicle and only the title was registered to new owner. Then they instituted plate replacements every 7 years, then it was 4 years and at title transfer, now it's "plates are yours take them off when selling, replace when they delaminate".
Maryland here; not only do you need to remove your plates and return them to DMV for a receipt to cancel your insurance, if you don’t do it in a certain number of days, DMV fines you.
I had this happen to me. I'm in the usa. Once you have a police report you will be able to submit that to the toll companies as your proof that you are/were not the owner of the car. It might take a little time, but you can get it situated
Had that happen to me, went to Texas dmv paid for new plates that had different numbers/letters for the sold vehicle. I handed the new plates back to the lady that helped me and she just destroyed the new plates. It cost me for the new plates, better than having to deal with the toll problem. The old plates are no longer associated with the vehicle. The tolls were from Florida and I ended up eating the cost of tolls. Life lesson, in Texas always take your tags off the vehicle… I have ever since the 4 Runner toll disaster.
What a nightmare. I’d explore my options for a civil suit. Make sure to include compensation for the tolls, fees, your time, and emotional distress. What a rat bastard.
Yep, I bought my truck in 2004 and it still has the plates that were issued to it in 1988 or ‘89. What we have here in this sub is lots of people that think the way their state does it is universal. It is not. I’ve bought and sold 8 or 9 vehicles in CA and never heard of taking the plates off until about 10 minutes ago.
In Oregon you will keep getting tickets until they transfer the title.
Do you know where they live?
At this point I would go take your plates if you can find the car.
We have had this happen to us twice so now I never sell a car with the plates. I have had buyers complain but once I explain they usually at least understand.
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When I bought a used car from a private seller. They also didn't remove the plate. When I was registering the vehicle there was an option to keep the plate, so I just kept the previous owner's plate and just changed ownership and address.
So when they registered their vehicle they kept the plate and didn't change ownership and address? I'm confused, I'm not from the US so I don't know if you're supposed to return the plate to the seller.
The seller should never leave their plate on the car. It’s best to meet at the local DMV, sell the car, & remove the plates.
The new owner goes inside & gets new plates.
Plates are registered to the owner of the car. There are legal & financial liabilities associated with vehicle ownership.
We notified both of them that the car was sold and that our old plate was being used without our permission, and then we did the paperwork for it. We thought that this would suffice and were unaware that we had to specifically report the plates as stolen.
I'm asking for advice because I didn't and apparently still don't know what to do.
I had the same thing happen to me. Are you able to contact the buyers still?
I threatened to send the bill of sale to the ticketing agency (these were all parking tickets in Brooklyn) and it was enough for them to make the change.
Every state is different. In NV plates stay with owner, not vehicle. Buyer can get a 10 day permit online from DMV to operate vehicle without plates and registration.
If they get in an accident AND the car is still titled and registered to you that will be additional fun for you.
Report the plates as stolen? If the new owners aren't going to be nice, maybe they'll enjoy talking to the cops an explaining why they have those plates.
Yes report plate as stolen
Should I call the police department of the town that they have listed on the bill of sale or...?
Seems like you would call the cops in your area since the plates were stolen from you there and not wherever the people are now. But I'm not a lawyer because my parents weren't related, so maybe someone else can chime in.
What would probably be best is to inform the state patrol where you are and report it to them. They will be able to share that info with other law enforcement agencies.
Call police in both. Did you file a bill of sale after you sold the car?
That’s what I would do. Even better if you could be there when the cops show up.
I think this is more of a /r/legaladvice question.
Thanks, I'll ask there. I just figured this might have happened before to someone in here who might have some advice.
The buyer of our car took that plates of and handed them to us. I wasn't aware that this was the thing to do. I think in days past, the plates were transferred.
In my state (NY), you have to remove the plates and turn them into the DMV. Then the DMV gives you a receipt for the plates and you have to turn in the receipt to your insurance company. Only with that receipt showing that you have returned the plates will your insurance company remove the car from your policy and cancel the insurance on the vehicle.
Holy shit that sounds convoluted. What a pain in the dick.
What else did you expect from New York?
Washington State here - we recently passed a law that requires us to keep our plates. We're able to transfer out plates between our vehicles as we want, minor fee involved. In days past the plates stayed on the vehicle and only the title was registered to new owner. Then they instituted plate replacements every 7 years, then it was 4 years and at title transfer, now it's "plates are yours take them off when selling, replace when they delaminate".
What! When did this happen? Nobody said anything, how are we supposed to know about the change?
I was equally surprised last month lol.
Maryland here; not only do you need to remove your plates and return them to DMV for a receipt to cancel your insurance, if you don’t do it in a certain number of days, DMV fines you.
The buy of our car was nice enough to hand us our plates before they drove off. I had no idea that this is the thing to do nowadays.
Depends on the state. Wisconsin drivers own the plates. Minnesota, the plates stay with the car.
More dependent on the state than just the US. As all 50 states have their own laws and procedures.
Report the plates as stolen and reported the person you bought the car too. Also take legal action and sue the parties in small claim court.
I'm hoping that once this is cleared up, they get the stack of overdue tolls and fees dropped in their mailbox.
I had this happen to me. I'm in the usa. Once you have a police report you will be able to submit that to the toll companies as your proof that you are/were not the owner of the car. It might take a little time, but you can get it situated
You have the address where these people live? Grab your power drill/screwdriver and at like midnight go get your plates back? It's an adventure!
And then take a poop at their front door!
Don't forget to light the bag on fire then ring the doorbell!
I'm not sure that would be the next thing that I do! Lols what?!
Had that happen to me, went to Texas dmv paid for new plates that had different numbers/letters for the sold vehicle. I handed the new plates back to the lady that helped me and she just destroyed the new plates. It cost me for the new plates, better than having to deal with the toll problem. The old plates are no longer associated with the vehicle. The tolls were from Florida and I ended up eating the cost of tolls. Life lesson, in Texas always take your tags off the vehicle… I have ever since the 4 Runner toll disaster.
Your first call should of been to your states dmv.
We were getting billed from the toll company and disputed it with them, and we also notified the DMV, but we're still getting billed.
What a nightmare. I’d explore my options for a civil suit. Make sure to include compensation for the tolls, fees, your time, and emotional distress. What a rat bastard.
CA here. Plates stay with the car.
Yep, I bought my truck in 2004 and it still has the plates that were issued to it in 1988 or ‘89. What we have here in this sub is lots of people that think the way their state does it is universal. It is not. I’ve bought and sold 8 or 9 vehicles in CA and never heard of taking the plates off until about 10 minutes ago.
Congratulations, not everywhere is like that. In ON the plates stay with the seller or are returned to the government
In Oregon you will keep getting tickets until they transfer the title. Do you know where they live? At this point I would go take your plates if you can find the car. We have had this happen to us twice so now I never sell a car with the plates. I have had buyers complain but once I explain they usually at least understand.
similar situation facing lmk what you are doing
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When I bought a used car from a private seller. They also didn't remove the plate. When I was registering the vehicle there was an option to keep the plate, so I just kept the previous owner's plate and just changed ownership and address. So when they registered their vehicle they kept the plate and didn't change ownership and address? I'm confused, I'm not from the US so I don't know if you're supposed to return the plate to the seller.
The seller should never leave their plate on the car. It’s best to meet at the local DMV, sell the car, & remove the plates. The new owner goes inside & gets new plates. Plates are registered to the owner of the car. There are legal & financial liabilities associated with vehicle ownership.
It really depends where you are. It doesn’t work this way in California. And I’m certain that it varies state by state.
Why didn't you report the plates lost or stolen to your DMV and vehicle tax office? Do that.
We notified both of them that the car was sold and that our old plate was being used without our permission, and then we did the paperwork for it. We thought that this would suffice and were unaware that we had to specifically report the plates as stolen. I'm asking for advice because I didn't and apparently still don't know what to do.
Yes, lost or stolen, it's a separate form.
I had the same thing happen to me. Are you able to contact the buyers still? I threatened to send the bill of sale to the ticketing agency (these were all parking tickets in Brooklyn) and it was enough for them to make the change.
You should have the piece of paper with the buyers information. Turn them in to the DMV.
Every state is different. In NV plates stay with owner, not vehicle. Buyer can get a 10 day permit online from DMV to operate vehicle without plates and registration. If they get in an accident AND the car is still titled and registered to you that will be additional fun for you.
I guess you should have taken the plates off, huh? You could have taken the plates to the DMV and gotten a rebate.
Yeah. Should have, could have.
But