Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California

Buyer took car title but have not registered the car

Hi, I made a very stupid mistake which caused me a lot of head ache. Please help...

I sold an old Toyata Corolla to a stranger for $300 in cash and signed over the title to him without writting down his name and driver license. We intended to sell the car to a junk yard for about the same price so I thought this would save me a trip to the junk yard.

I've been kicking myslef ever since. The man promised to come back the next day to tow the car away but he never came back for it. It has been 10 months and the car is till sitting in front of my house. I can't have it tow away because it's still legally registered to my parent in law . I can't sell it to the junk yard because the other man have the title. I don't know what to do .

Please help


Asked on 7/12/02, 3:18 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Michael Cortson Law Office of Michael D. Cortson, Esq.

Re: Buyer took car title but have not registered the car

You can get a duplicate title from the DMV as the original was stolen. It will cost you a few bucks and take a week or so. Then you can dump the car. Possession is still the issue. That guy only has a piece of paper.

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Answered on 7/12/02, 3:23 pm
Lyle Johnson Bedi and Johnson Attorneys at Law

Re: Buyer took car title but have not registered the car

fHaving read the other two answers, I am only supplementing them. If you are the registered owner sell the car and have the $300 ready to give to the buyer if he ever returns.

If the title has been transferred to the name of the buyer, park the vehicle on the street and notify the local law enforcement agency that the vehicle has been abandoned. They will tow it away after a few days or weeks depending how quickly they respond.

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Answered on 7/14/02, 5:38 pm


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