Purchased vehicle on a lien sale, then taken by police 16 months later saying it was reported stolen by original owner (rental car)

[HA21]

A police officer knocked on my door to tell me that the vehicle that I bought on a lien sale 16 months ago was reported stolen. The vehicle was towed on a DUI, then the tow company put a lien on it. The tow company had the vehicle over 100 days before they sold it to me. After purchasing it I went to DMV where they inspected the VIN numbers, all was good and I completed the registration. Two weeks later I received title in the mail. An officer knocked on my door 16 months after having the vehicle and told me that the vehicle that I had in my possession with a title from DMV was reported stolen and that he needed to take it from me. Vehicle had not been put into system as stolen until 10 months after I registered it. How can they take away my vehicle if the original owner didn't report it stolen right away? This is so crazy and unheard of.

[westender]

Always comply with the police, but write everything down. Take pictures too of everything. Then, phone your insurance agent. With title, you have ownership rights. Or at least insured rights of ownership. You will get either money or car, one way or another.

I would ask your insurer to provide you a rental car of equal value while this gets worked out.

[cb73]

File a written complaint with DMV. Include a copy of your title. They will pull all the paperwork for the lien sale and most likely (hopefully) contact the police agency to see what the story was.

If it turns out that the owner had the car stored while they were out of town or whatever and didn't discover the theft until they returned, then it's a valid stolen recovery. If they received the tow notices, didn't want to pay the tow fees then reported it stolen to get it back for free, you may have recourse.

[gemstone1]

Appears as tho' the search for a bargain....wasn't such a bargain after all....chalk it up to a lesson learned...I learned mine on a salvage title vehicle.

[City Guy997S]

Originally Posted by HA21

A police officer knocked on my door to tell me that the vehicle that I bought on a lien sale 16 months ago was reported stolen. The vehicle was towed on a DUI, then the tow company put a lien on it. The tow company had the vehicle over 100 days before they sold it to me. After purchasing it I went to DMV where they inspected the VIN numbers, all was good and I completed the registration. Two weeks later I received title in the mail. An officer knocked on my door 16 months after having the vehicle and told me that the vehicle that I had in my possession with a title from DMV was reported stolen and that he needed to take it from me. Vehicle had not been put into system as stolen until 10 months after I registered it. How can they take away my vehicle if the original owner didn't report it stolen right away? This is so crazy and unheard of.

Nope.............I would have showed that it is registered in your name, DMV titled it etc.

I would have not released the car to the cops. Tell them this is clearly a civil matter and they would likely walk away.

[Bitey]

Too late afterward, but you should have demanded to see a court order instead of just taking him at his word. Possession is 9/10ths of the law, so whoever has the car now is most likely going to end up with it. If it's still in the police department's possession, you may still have time to file an injunction prohibiting them from releasing it into anyone else's possession (except maybe the court's possession) until the matter is resolved.

[NORTY FLATZ]

Originally Posted by HA21

A police officer knocked on my door to tell me that the vehicle that I bought on a lien sale 16 months ago was reported stolen. The vehicle was towed on a DUI, then the tow company put a lien on it. The tow company had the vehicle over 100 days before they sold it to me. After purchasing it I went to DMV where they inspected the VIN numbers, all was good and I completed the registration. Two weeks later I received title in the mail. An officer knocked on my door 16 months after having the vehicle and told me that the vehicle that I had in my possession with a title from DMV was reported stolen and that he needed to take it from me. Vehicle had not been put into system as stolen until 10 months after I registered it. How can they take away my vehicle if the original owner didn't report it stolen right away? This is so crazy and unheard of.

LOL, welcome to the site.

(Now, let's see if they ever show up, again...)

[1AngryTaxPayer]

Originally Posted by NORTY FLATZ

LOL, welcome to the site.

(Now, let's see if they ever show up, again...)

Have you EVER had a cop knock on your door?

[NORTY FLATZ]

Originally Posted by 1AngryTaxPayer

Have you EVER had a cop knock on your door?

I take every 1-post wonder, with a grain of salt. Doesn't matter what the subject is. Especially if they never come back to the site, to even read the responses they got.
As far as a cop coming to my door, yes. But, the German's got nothing to do with it!