Private Sellers Rights

[jamiesonhollyanne@hotmail.com]

In November my fiancee and I sold my old car to someone through Craigslist.

We were a little sceptical only because he didn't want to sign the title because he said it was for his brother. We didn't make a copy of the title, but did sign and date it. He also signed a written bill of sale. We took off the plates from the old vehicle and have turned it in. The car is off our insurance policy also.

My fiancee had heard of an instance where a car was sold and the next owner never registered the car. It then got in an accident where it killed someone and they came after the prior owner.

Is there anything that we can do to protect ourselves at this point?

The car by DMV standards is still listed in my name. It doesn't show in car facts that it has transferred ownership.

Thank you,
Holly

[Eagle]

This happened to me once too. I sold a car to someone in Jersey City and he never transferred the title. A few weeks later the car was found abandoned in Jersey City and I was sent a ticket for abandoning a vehicle. To make a long story short, all I had to do was send a copy of the bill of sale (it was a hand written document) to the Jersey City Municipal court and they dropped the ticket.

In your case you should write a letter to NJ DMV and explain the situation so they can make appropriate changes in their records.

[jamiesonhollyanne@hotmail.com]

I've been to the DMV at least 3 times in the last two months and called also about 3 times, but they have not lead me to believe that the vehicle can be taken out of my name. I have been there and asked if the vehicle was still in my name and plead my case all three times and they haven't suggested that they could take my name off the vehicle registration. I did hear today that the registration will expire in a month.

[Eagle]

You should write a letter to the DMV and send it via certified mail return receipt requested. Explain the situation in the letter.

[jamiesonhollyanne@hotmail.com]

Thank You- at least it will ease our minds. Hopefully nothing ever happens, but I want to make sure I'm prepared if it does.