First off, I'm certainly not against you OP, I had similar problems when I was young. If this had happened to me, I would have gone directly to the DMV and filled out the required paperwork, even if it's three months late. (BTW, I would still consider this because that car may have been used in a crime (Sorry to worry you)).

I would then have sent a registered letter to the tow yard telling them that I sold the car. I would give the name, address, date, etc. and tell them if they contacted me again I would turn it over to my lawyer. This is how an old guy would do it and it seems to work for me, lol.

At this juncture, I would place a lean on the car and then give the buyer the right to pay the lean on the car and get it back. I would be very, very nice to him and leave it up to him. Please note he can come with the police and get the car any time he wants, because it is his car. You could always take him to small claims court (which I would mention that I was going to do if he takes the car using the law) and maybe win the yard fees back.

I'm sorry you are going through all of this, but these are the things that make you smarter in the end.

How can you say something like this seriously? If it's "his property" (the buyer's) then him abandoning it doesn't make it "yours" (the OP's).

Besides all the posts saying not to steal the car, here are some others saying what to do:

No. He was probably fine reclaiming the car and telling the buyer he could have it back for fee. It only became wrong when he reclaimed it and decided to immediately resell it. His other option was to go to the DMV, straighten out the ownership and then tell the impound lot he didn't actually own the car anymore.

Also, he said he would only give it back to the buyer for $600 - more than his fees.

Finally, lol at NLSoldier who clearly has no idea what he is talking about, so just claims everyone is trolling.

Maybe that's because we read the OP.

NLS,

Nobody is trolling you or OP, this is some pretty black and white **** here.

Had OP filed what he was supposed to when he was supposed to, he'd have nothing to deal with here.

Since he didn't, he made it more of a pain for himself to straighten this **** up after the fact, but that was still his responsibility. The car and associated fees were between the owner and the tow yard to deal with. Because he didn't get things squared away when he should have, clearing that up for them might have involved a couple of discussions with the tow yard and possibly even contesting an incorrect collections attempt/report. That's what happens when you don't take care of your ****.

How could that matter? OP sold the guy the car. It's not OP's car to take back if the guy abandons it. Seriously, how do you think this makes any sense?

i was under the impression that OP would have had no prob giving the guy the car back if he paid the fee. i still have 0 doubt that OP would have preferred the buyer go get the car and pay the fee than to pay the fee himself and get the car back. i also have 0 doubt that the buyer had 0 intention of ever taking the car back or paying any fees.

I was also under the impression that the 30 days to file the paperwork (proving sale in case of buyer no registering the car in his name) had expired, making that avenue much more difficult if not impossible.

wahoo,

Wrong. You don't have liability because I tell you you have liability. You have liability if you actually have liability.

He asked the tow yard if he had to pay so they said yes. Now it is on him to explain to them that he is not the owner of the car. That may involve doing some stuff w/ DMV, sending a letter, getting a lawyer involved, or even going to court. But that's what happens when you don't take care of ****.

Would be awesome if buyer just swung by his house, thanked OP for paying his impound fees, and drove the car away.

Would be interested in hearing from lawyers as to whether or not buyer owes OP those fees. My guess is he doesn't, since he clearly told OP not to do anything, but OP just took it upon himself to get the car out of impound.

ok im done for real

NLS,

Once you sell me something, I own it, not you. If I leave it somewhere, you don't just magically get to take it because you once used to own it. How on earth is this confusing to you in any way?

Yes if the original buyer came to me today and paid me the $421 I would give him the car.

I am not immediately selling the car. My plan is to wait till Jan 30th and see if I hear from the original buyer. Jan 30th is the date that the towing company would have auctioned off the car.

I'm not trying to make a quick buck, just trying to not be in debt and ruin my credit.

NLS,

I can't stick you with liability by not registering a car you sold me, that just sticks me with unregistered car fines etc. The buyer did not stick OP with any liability.

Yes, the OP would likely be owed the fee. OP would likely have a valid claim for unjust enrichment - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unjust_enrichment.

So even after all this, you still don't plan on doing the right thing to make sure that the DMV knows that you sold the car and no longer own it? I am nearly at a loss for words at this point.

Why were you claiming that you would only give it back for $600 before? I think this is why people are against you, your story changes, which makes you just seem shady.

This interests me as well. I'm guessing the same thing, but the OP might be able to get some sort of deal out of an eighteen year old.

Op, you are not going to get another title to sell that car unless you either lie or get the buyer to sign the title back to you.

You guys are *******s. OP might have gone about this is a silly way, but he did everything in good faith with the buyer. The DMV told him to do something and he did it.

OP is guilty of not transferring the title when he was supposed to. That's it. He did not steal a car.

I am 100% not trolling in this thread. I have been serious in every post. And I am truly struggling to understand the point of view of those who disagree with me on this thread's topic.

I have told you many times that I talked to the DMV. I have done exactly what the DMV told me to do.

Why don't you call your local DMV and act like you are in my situation. Let's see what they tell you.

"
Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability
The person who buys your used vehicle should transfer the title and register the vehicle in his or her name within 30 days, but that doesn't always happen. If the buyer fails to complete the transfer, it creates legal issues for you as the owner of record on the vehicle. To avoid civil liability or other problems, fill out the Notice of Sale and submit it to your local county tax collector's office within 30 days of the vehicle's sale."

am i wrong in thinking that if i don't submit the notice of sale then you can indeed "stick me with liability"?

yes OP obviously ****ed up by not filing the notice of sale, but it seems to me that the buyer had 0 qualms about leaving OP on the hook for the fees which obviously should have been the buyer's responsibility so I don't blame OP for doing what he had to do to limit his liability at that point.

He sold a car. He took back possession of said car with the intent to resell the car if not contacted by the original buyer. I honestly can't see the wiggle room that makes this anything but theft.

A new title will be another $100 bucks and I had to put 2 quarts of oil and $10 in gas which is another $20. So I guess if he gives me $550 we can call it even.

this post sums up all i've been trying to say.

i believe OP was acting in good faith the whole way, and at some point the buyer clearly stopped acting in good faith.

my position is really super simple:
i think the buyers actions of 1. not registering the car. 2. doing w/e he did resulting in the situation with the impound fees 3. having no qualms about trying to leave OP on the hook for the fees (whether OP is actually on the hook or not it seems obv that the buyer at least thinks OP is on the hook), 4. cutting off contact

are farrrrr worse than

1.not filing proper paperwork to ensure transfer of ownership in case buyer turns out to be a douche who doesnt register it
2. taking the car back after the DMV told him he was liable

It was suggested that you go there in person since this sounds too complicated for just a phone call. The thing is, you know that you sold the car, so it should seem weird to accept that you can still own the car, right?

NLS: OP stuck himself with liability. It is on him to clear it up, he doesn't just get to steal the car back.

Ez: Buyer specifically told you not to do anything. It is not his problem you decided to put oil in or get a car wash or whatever the **** you did. I hope you do sell the car, wiper and co track down you and buyer, and buyer gets to push car theft charges on you plus win a civil suit against you for $800 plus fees.