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I'be been buying and selling cars on Craig's list for years and over the years I have been pretty lucky and managed to buy/trade vehicles with honest folks who are not out to screw people over BUT I just had an experience that proves once again that you really can't and shouldn't trust everyone.
I recently purchased an Isuzu Trooper. The vehicle was very clean inside and out. Everything worked perfectly and I was content that it would be a good purchase especially since the owner had just smogged it and the tags were good till November of 2014 not to mention he provided me with a thick folder with every receipt for every little thing that had been done to the car from oil changes every 3K miles to major repairs like the timing belt etc.
So after I make the purchase I go to our local AAA office to have the vehicle transferred under my name. Expecting to only pay 30 dollars or so for the transfer fee I was shocked to see that I owed 180 dollars for the transfer fees plus registration and late fees. I was informed the tags expired in January 2014 even though the plate had the sticker showing November. The AAA agent went outside and verified what I had told her and then proceeded to go above and beyond and managed to find ways to get the fees waived and the correct month/year stickers for me. Ended up paying only 39 dollars thanks to the amazing customer service by the AAA employee. Had I gone to the DMV I'm sure I would have been S.O.L. and forced to pay.
The good news is that the DMV will now go after the previous owner for the fees and fined for selling a vehicle with false registration.
It just goes to show that if you buy a used car from a private party you are seriously taking a gamble on what happens next. I got lucky this time.
Wait that makes no sense. The month sticker on a plate doesn't get changed. Only the year sticker does. You sure the guy didn't just keep doing a extension for registration after it was due where it expired in Nov 13 but he extended it month to month so he wouldn't have to pay the full registration? And maybe you didn't look or misunderstood him?
Hell when I sell a car I make it part of the sale that we go to AAA and it comes out of my name before you drive it off. I actually turned down sales with people who didn't want to do it. I smog and pay the registration clean the car and pretty much tip top shape when I sell but once sold I don't want the liability and not willing to trust someone will transfer title.
Last edited by Electrician4you; 03-15-2014 at 07:54 AM..
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