Legal Question in Consumer Law in Massachusetts
Bought car, haven't received plates or registration from dealer.
I bought a used vehicle almost 1 month ago. I traded in my vehicle, swapped my insurance coverage over to new vehicle, paid for the sales tax, title, registration, and to have the plates swapped. When I picked up the new car, the dealer told me I had to keep the dealer plates on it until they received the title to the car they sold me. They have my plates, and I am driving this car with no inspection sticker, no registration, and dealer plates. My insurance policy has already increased in price, my first payment is due next week on the loan. I keep calling the dealer and he tells me they are still waiting for the title. My questions are, do I own the car? Does the dealer have the right to sell me a car they don't have a title for? Should I be paying for a car that isn't registered under me? If I am driving with dealer plates, who's insurance is covering me?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Bought car, haven't received plates or registration from dealer.
Impossible to say. Run a check on the vehicle through Carfax, which you should have done before paying for it. Call the Registry to ask about the title. If the car was stolen, you may not own it. A dealer in Auburn was closed after a couple of years of problems like this, although the Attorney General (AG) had to be shamed into taking action.
You should run the dealer through Google, and check with the District Attorney's office.
You may take civil actions, but this may be a criminal matter. A c 93A action begins with a certified letter return receipt requested outlining what you believe the problem is and stating what you want from the dealer. If the dealer does not respond with a reasonable written offer of settlement within 30 days, you can sue and may get double or treble damages and attorney fees (if you have an attorney).
If the car is worth enough, hire me or another lawyer to do the work.
Or call Help Me Hank or one of the other consumer help people on TV.
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