Legal Steps After Selling Your Car: What to Do if the New Owner is Using Your Toll Tag and Vehicle Plates

Introduction

After selling your car, finding out that the new owner is using your toll tag and vehicle plates can cause confusion and even legal complications. This article outlines the legal steps you should take to prevent additional charges and complications.

Canceling the Toll Tag Account

The first step is to log into your toll tag account and cancel it. By doing this, you prevent the new car owner from accumulating more charges on your account. Although previous charges are unlikely to be removed, this action will help avoid ongoing financial burdens. It’s important for you to act promptly to close the account.

Concerns with Vehicle Plates

One critical issue to address is whether the new owner is using your vehicle plates. Selling plates along with a car is uncommon and typically prohibited by state laws. If this situation actually occurred, the new owner might need to have their own plates re-registered. If the plates are still under your name, you could face unwanted charges and legal responsibilities.

In most states, selling a car with plates doesn’t transfer the plates to the new owner automatically. The new owner would need to go through a process of getting new plates and registering the car in their name. If the new owner bypassed this process and didn’t file the car title under their name, they would be at risk of toll agencies billing you for the tolls. This could lead to additional charges being sent to the registered address associated with the plate number.

Handling the Situation

If the new owner is using your toll tag and plates without updating the plates or transferring the car title, it is wise to take immediate legal action. This inappropriate use of your license plates and toll tag could be considered theft.

To take care of this, you might want to:

Inform law enforcement. If you feel that the new owner is intentionally using your toll tag and plates, you can file a report with the police, indicating the vehicle as stolen until they complete the necessary paperwork. Notify your DMV. It is essential to inform your DMV that you have sold the car, and that the plates and toll tag should be updated to the new owner’s name. This ensures that any further legal issues can be resolved as soon as possible. Check for any releases of liability. Verify if you signed a release of liability when selling the car, and if you notified your DMV of the sale. Some states require this action as a legal requirement when selling a vehicle. Failing to do so could mean you are still considered the legal owner of the car and could be held responsible for any issues related to the car after the sale.

In case the new owner has difficulty getting a trip permit to drive the car home, point them to the available options in your state, such as a 5 dollar trip permit in Virginia. These permits allow the buyer to drive the car home without a license plate.

Conclusion

Selling a car includes several responsibilities, and one of the most important is to ensure that all plates, toll tags, and other identifying information are updated post-sale. By taking the necessary legal actions and informing relevant authorities, you can protect yourself from unnecessary charges and legal complications.