California DMV problem...

[palmdesertcards]

If anyone can help with this please advise:

I know i made one mistake so dont turn this into a blasting me thread please.

I buy a car from my neighbor as a project. I didnt transfer the title until I was done with the project, (in CA it must pass a smog test to transfer title, being not running that wouldnt have worked anyway) but it got to be too daunting so I chose to scrap the car. Instead of transfering the title, I just gave it to the junk yard to be scrapped. I did not take down the persons info and send in the top portion because I assumed it was being crushed to a cube.

The guy sells the car to someone else instead of junking it. They are driving it in my name, and got a red light camera ticket for me. Im not worried as much about that but that the car is being used, possibly for criminal activity.

The DMV says it my fault for not doing the title right and have said I am outright toast now.

I dont know who the person is I gave it to junk, or the person that has it, I know NOTHING.

What can I do? I have a key for the car, but dont know where it is. The only solution seems to be to take possesion of the car again, but cant unless its impounded. They are driving the car with suspended registration, expired registration, and with no insurance.

What can I do? If this dude robs a bank, Ill get arrested.

Can anyone give me an idea what I should do? Im so pissed..

It is in my name because my neighbor filled out the top part and mailed it to DMV, so my name is on it now.

[Oxxon]

Report it stolen.

[duane1969]

Report it stolen.

I was thinking something along the same lines except that would be filing a false report since he knows it isn't stolen.

Cali laws are weird.

I would go to the police, explain that you "donated" the car for scrap metal purposes and someone now has the car driving it without your permission. Ask them how to proceed. Just see if there is any way that they can do a BOLO for it and do a traffic stop if spotted.

When you gave it to the scrap yard did you get a receipt? If so that will go a long way towards helping clear things up.

[palmdesertcards]

I was thinking something along the same lines except that would be filing a false report since he knows it isn't stolen.

Cali laws are weird.

I would go to the police, explain that you "donated" the car for scrap metal purposes and someone now has the car driving it without your permission. Ask them how to proceed. Just see if there is any way that they can do a BOLO for it and do a traffic stop if spotted.

When you gave it to the scrap yard did you get a receipt? If so that will go a long way towards helping clear things up.

I was on the exact same thought, I would love to call it in, but its not true. I didnt get a reciept, figured it was just like every other time I scrap a car, get a $200 and away it goes. I screwed up not getting all the info, but since i didnt even transfer it into my name I cant do the liability release form, they have my info because my neighbor sent it in with my info on it when I got it.

really sucks im worried about this dude robbing a bank or doing a hit and run.

[palmdesertcards]

This is the guy, know him? lol

[Star_Cards]

man that's rough. Did you give the car to a company or just a guy. I'm confused how you don't know who you gave it to.

I wouldn't report it stolen but I'd go to your local PD and tell them the story and get it on record. Surely they have come across this before and can give you some suggestions of how to fix the issue.

[palmdesertcards]

man that's rough. Did you give the car to a company or just a guy. I'm confused how you don't know who you gave it to.

I wouldn't report it stolen but I'd go to your local PD and tell them the story and get it on record. Surely they have come across this before and can give you some suggestions of how to fix the issue.

I gave it to a guy who "said" he had a company. It was a craigslist ad so anything goes. I mean I know the guys name, but its a common asian name that a name alone wont do anything. Problem is, its not the guy in this picture. I dont know who this guy is in the picture, but would kill to find out.

If I can pinpoint the location of the car, my extra key will solve this issue for good.

[moceanwerker]

I think your only course of action in CA is to file a release of liability TODAY (well Monday since they are prob closed today) for the car.

If you had done this when you donated/gave away/junked the car, you would have been protected from the ticket - which you prob know now. I don't think there is anything else you can do short of paying the ticket and take someone to small claims for the amount....but you'd lose since you have no receipt/contract of sale etc. I had this happen to me in cali once (sold the car and it was towed/impounded, and they tried to collect from me).

Unfortunately, probably going to be an expensive lesson learned....good luck :)