So I turned in the plates & paid $1.00. They didn't ask any questions & I didn't volunteer anything, although I was armed with documents out the wazoo in case my record was flagged. I suppose they could come after me later, but so far, so good.
 
All digits crossed!
 
-Susan

A *reality check* is the money I don't make from music! :D:D

I think I know that guy!

Susan G
Hi All-
 
Sorry if this is a little long, but...
 
I bought a car from a dealer on 8/6. I was told I could transfer the plates from my old car and they would take care of transferring the registration. While at the dealership, we contacted my insurance agent and told them about the purchase and transfer, so my new car was insured and my old car wasn't from that point.
 
14 days later (on 8/20) I received new plates and a new registration. I called the dealer and asked why the new plates. They apologized for the error and told me they would refund me the amount of the registration and that I should go ahead and put the new plates on and get the car inspected. Did that.
 
I contacted the DMV about surrendering my old plates and they said since I wasn't carrying liability insurance on my old car I'd be charged an $8.00/day fine. I had no idea, and at this point I'm looking at $152 in fines.
 
This seems to me like more fallout from the dealer's failure to transfer the plates as promised in the first place. This could have all been avoided if they'd just done that.
 
I have an email from the dealer saying it was their error, but I'm gearing myself up to contest the fine with the DMV and/or throw it back on the dealer.
 
Just looking for moral support or holes in my argument ;).
 
Thanks-
 
-Susan

 
FWIW, I had something a bit similar happen a number of years ago. Thankfully, I paid for the car with American Express. The only way I finally got cooperation from the dealer was when I threatened to stop payment on the car and leave it on the dealer's lawn. He told me that I couldn't do that and asked if I realized the trouble I be causing myself. I told him that was my concern, but Amex was behind me (I'd contacted them and they were in full support). He complied with my request immediately.
 
Dealers really don't like any problems with the hierarchy for a number of reasons: it affects their relationship/rating with the manufacturers and creditors, it's bad PR, etc. $152 is chickenfeed for a dealer (although I grant that their profit margin is not as high as many believe) and, as you noted, it was their mistake. If the dealer does not comply with your request and you try something similar to what I did, it will cost them far more than $152 in the long run. He certainly does understand that.

 
Good luck. Please let us know how you do.
 
SORRY!  I wrote all the above before I read to the end of the thread. It looks like you did pretty well. Congratulations!

Susan G
So I turned in the plates & paid $1.00. They didn't ask any questions & I didn't volunteer anything, although I was armed with documents out the wazoo in case my record was flagged. I suppose they could come after me later, but so far, so good.
 
All digits crossed!
 
-Susan

I wouldn't rely on the clerk at DMV not catching the insurance lapse.   I speak from experience. If you wait, then it's going to be more difficult to get the dealer to reimburse you.

Randy P

Susan G
So I turned in the plates & paid $1.00. They didn't ask any questions & I didn't volunteer anything, although I was armed with documents out the wazoo in case my record was flagged. I suppose they could come after me later, but so far, so good.
 
All digits crossed!
 
-Susan

I wouldn't rely on the clerk at DMV not catching the insurance lapse.   I speak from experience. If you wait, then it's going to be more difficult to get the dealer to reimburse you.

 
Hi Randy-

I understand the advantage of being preemptive, but do you mean I should tell the dealer I *might* get charged a fine? At this point, I only paid $1.00 to DMV to surrender the plates, so I don't know what I'd be asking the dealer to reimburse me for. They've already said they'll reimburse me for the new registration fee. I guess I can call them and ask for an assurance they'll pay the fine if I'm assessed one. Is that what you're suggesting?
 
Thanks!
 
-Susan

It's been a long time since I read an insurance agreement, but I seem to remember that if you have an insured vehicle and buy another, your insurance will automatically cover it for a period of time. You may have to retroactively pay for that period, but I'm sure you're covered.
In North Carolina.

57Gregy
It's been a long time since I read an insurance agreement, but I seem to remember that if you have an insured vehicle and buy another, your insurance will automatically cover it for a period of time. You may have to retroactively pay for that period, but I'm sure you're covered.
In North Carolina.

Hi Greg-
 
I'm definitely covered for my new car. State Farm transferred my insurance as soon as the dealer called them saying I'd purchased the car. I don't owe SF anything; the question is whether or not the DMV will assess a fine for my "allowing" the insurance to lapse on my old car, even though if the dealer had transferred the registration as all parties agreed instead of issuing a new one (and new plates) there wouldn't have been a problem.
 
Thanks-
 
-Susan