Car Selling question

[Maddox]

We purchased a new car in March 2018 and traded our old car into the dealer here in Houston (I took the plates with me and signed the title over).

Today, I got a letter in the mail from a towing company in Baton Rouge telling me that my car has been in continuous storage since 2/3/2019, that it was towed by the Baton Rouge Police Department, was not in driveable condition, and would cost $866 (+$28.50 per day after the letter was sent) to retrieve the car.

The letter states there was no license plate on the car. It also list a Lienholder as American Honda Finance Corp, however we paid off the car in 2008 (car was a 2006).

Did this towing company call Honda and request who the owner of the car was or did they pull the VIN number and get our address? Im trying to figure out what I need to do and how mad I need to be at the dealer when I strom in there tomorrow and ask questions.

[bbqfan5909]

sounds like a simple scan and email to dealership, wouldn’t waste my time visiting.

[Meatcutter]

They pulled the vin number. Whom ever you sold it to never had it registered..

[Maddox]

They pulled the vin number. Whom ever you sold it to never had it registered..

Volkswagon of the Woodlands (Bayway).

[F1addict]

Probably pulled by the VIN of the vehicle. If the vehicle was recently sold by the dealer, you will still show as previous owner. Nothing to worry about.

FYI — alway file a Vehicle Transfer Notification with Texas when you sell or trade a vehicle. It prevents letters like this.

[Maddox]

Probably pulled by the VIN of the vehicle. If the vehicle was recently sold by the dealer, you will still show as previous owner. Nothing to worry about.

FYI — alway file a Vehicle Transfer Notification with Texas when you sell or trade a vehicle. It prevents letters like this.

Figured selling/trading with a dealer I wouldn't have to deal with these issues.

[wsteffen]

You can probably contact the storage / wrecker company and explain that you sold it. They will most likely write it off. They have to contact the last known owner by law. Same thing happened to me with a boat that I sold and was later pulled out of the lake after being sunk.

[F1addict]

Figured selling/trading with a dealer I wouldn't have to deal with these issues.

The paperwork you received from the dealership will prove that you are no longer the owner of the vehicle. However, unless the Vehicle Transfer Notification is completed by the individual owner, it will stay in your name until the vehicle is retailed to the next consumer.

[Maddox]

Im betting Volkswagon sold the car to a third party and never properly submitted any paperwork.

[F1addict]

If a dealer sells the vehicle to another dealer, it would still remain in your name until it is eventually sold to a retail consumer. I have seen vehicles sold between multiple dealers before it is retailed. Not uncommon.

[Maddox]

Just filled the vehicle transfer notification online.

[Stuck]

My favorite part of the whole story is how the storage lot waits a couple of weeks to send the letter so they can run the bill up. Could have contacted you the or at least sent a letter the day after they received it but instead wait a couple weeks.
Had this happen with a stolen truck in 90’s. Police found the truck the next morning and had it towed. Storage lot had it for 2 weeks before they contacted the bank I had it financed through. Haven’t been a member of the 100 club since.

[Meatcutter]

Im betting Volkswagon sold the car to a third party and never properly submitted any paperwork.

Dealers usually don't transfer to their name. They have to pay taxes then.

In texas, by law, a storage lot must notify the title holder within 3 days. not sure about LA.

[WItoTX]

Haven’t been a member of the 100 club since.

The 100 club like the organization that helps the families of fallen officers and firefighters? What is the correlation between the tow company and the 100 club?