posted
I live in Georgia. I recently paid cash for a cheap old used car, a trade-in from a new-car dealer.
I took my required paperwork in to the DMV today so that I could register my car and get my tags. (have been driving w/ temp. tags for two months, but that's another story.)
So then she tells me how much I owe -- substantially over the standard $20 Georgia tag fee. "Excuse me?" I say. She then tells me that the previous owner didn't pay the taxes, so I have to pay them. When I look at the paperwork, I'm being charged ad valorem and penalties for both 2003 and 2004. "Excuse me? I didn't even buy the car till 2005! So track down the previous owner!" I say. "I know it's not fair, I'm sorry, I don't know what to tell you, talk to the dealer."
I just do not get how this is my problem.
Well, the finance guy at the dealership is off today so I will call back tomorrow and talk to him rather than start up with a new person. I'm pretty sure the dealership only had the car a couple of weeks before I bought it. But they are a Georgia dealership and if that is really the law here then they should make sure that is taken care of before selling it to a third party, shouldn't they?
posted
Call a consumer advocacy group in your area and ask what your rights are. If you know, you will be much better armed in a confrontation with the dealer.
My gut reaction is that if there were leins on the vehicle they would have to have been either cleared up or you would have had to be advised of them before they could legally sell the car to you. (Again, I don't know this. And Georgia might be different from PA anyway.)
Or it's possible that the person at the DMV didn't know what she's talking about. You might try asking to speak with a supervisor. They could confirm what you were told (or not), and they should know what the law is regarding used car sales (one would think).
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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BTW, the whole point of title insurance is that the insurer becomes liable for any outstanding fees attached to the asset in question. When you bought the car, was title insurance part of the deal?
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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posted
Yeah, I was in Va before and was pleasantly surprised at the low fee here. Not to mention the short wait at the county tax office (not really a DMV) where I got the tag. There's another difference--where I grew up it was licence plates. Other places they are car tags. And here in GA there is only one of them, on the back.
Tom, as far as title insurance--nope, don't have that. I'm sure it would have cost more than the amount in question--really only $115, but it's the principle. Not to mention the low balance in my bank account currently!
posted
OK, well, just goes to show that sometimes it doesn't pay to get all worked up over things. I wanted to do battle with the dealer all prepared, so I took your advice and called the Clark Howard consumer advocacy people, who sent me to the GA Dept. of Consumer Affairs, who sent me to the Sec. of State of GA used Car board. Who told me to talk to the dealer and if they don't give me satisfaction to file a complaint.
So I finally talked to the dealer who said, "What? You're kidding! Son of a . . . that should have been all taken care of." He was really nice and took all responsibility and so I'm faxing him my reciept and he's going to reimburse me the back taxes and penalties.
Thanks for all the advice! ;-)
Posts: 3149 | Registered: Jul 2005
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And part of Superman's charm is that Clark Kent was really nerdy. (At least, before they gave him a ponytail and stuff. )
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Well, I guess Clark Howard is a Superman in reverse. His super persona is nerdy. Maybe he has a buff and super-strong secret identity.
Posts: 4077 | Registered: Jun 2003
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(At least, before they gave him a ponytail and stuff. ![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
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