City Code Enforcement Abandoned Vehicle

[stanlee]

We have car property tax in VA so we notify promptly. Nothing like getting a property tax bill a year after you sold/traded/junked a vehicle. Ask me how I know lol.

 

[slo town]

In California I've always filled out the DMV form stating I sold the vehicle to an individual and who the new owner is. For automaker dealerships I do not.

As an aside, years ago I traded in a Toyota truck at an official Chevrolet dealership. I had some remaining payments on the truck. About 2 or 3 months later I got a call from the lender, asking why I hadn't made my payments. I told them that I traded in the vehicle. I remember the woman on the phone telling me (pretty much verbatim) that "It's not our problem that you gave the vehicle away to someone else. You owe us money."

I called the Chevrolet dealership only to find they had gone into bankruptcy. Thankfully they finally paid up.

Scott

 

[DBMaster]

Since we're telling stories, I'll relate my similar experience. I traded my 1989 Accord in when I purchased my 2012 Mazda3. The Honda had been severely damaged in a hydroplaning accident, but was still drivable. I figured it would go to auction as I got very little for it. A couple months later I was contacted by both the Mesquite Police and the Mesquite impound lot for the purpose of getting my car back. I explained that I had traded it in and no longer owned it. Apparently, whoever was driving it got arrested which was why the car ended up impounded. Both entities told me to simply disregard the issue. I still submitted the required form to the state DMV to notify of change in ownership and will now do so consistently in the future. It seems that doing so isn't a high priority for dealerships.

 

[Gasbuggy]

That's why I advocate putting the situation in writing rather than discussing on phone, email, etc. Hand deliver if needed.

Hand delivery and send another copy certified mail. I'd send something to the dealership too..

 

[Duckless]

Soo you're saying you traded in a vehicle, it's still in your name and you just owe some fees on it? Claim it, apply for lost title, resell?

 

[D60]

A friend had this recently with her '98 CRV, but it was the tow company pursuing her for fees (Denver area). She called the tow company and to my surprise they said no problem, happens all the time, don't worry about it. I guess they figure they can file for title and recoup some costs, although a dead '98 CRV won't bring enough to cover the average tow fee.

I wouldn't be surprised if their contract with the state/county/city states they can bill $XXX if the owner can't be located or costs are greater than vehicle value.

 

[K2K2]

Soo you're saying you traded in a vehicle, it's still in your name and you just owe some fees on it? Claim it, apply for lost title, resell?

Brilliant

 

[thastinger]

I received a notice in the mail from the city that my car was abandoned on a public street and it has been towed to a city yard with a $25 fee per day. The VIN and description match a 2011 Mazda 6 I previously owned but traded in about 2 years ago to a Honda dealership when I bought another car. The car had over 200,000 miles when I traded it but otherwise it ran okay. The notice said it had front and rear damage and missing hubcaps. I Google street viewed the location and it’s in a very very slummy area about 15 miles away.

I left a voicemail for the code enforcement official whose phone # was on the notice but haven’t received a response yet.

My guess is it may have been auctioned, or sold on the lot of one of many sketchy buy here pay here lots and never registered?. The notice does not list any plates on the car so I’m assuming it never had plates or they were removed or it had temp paper tags which are a plague on this city.

Do dealerships not notify the DMV when you trade in a car? I do not have a copy of the signed over title. All I have proving I traded the car is that all the vehicle information is noted on the retail purchase agreement on the new car showing that I traded it in.

What gives?

The title was never put into anyone else's name at the DMV.