Q: Car auction house doesn't have all the all the paper work I need.
I bought a car at a public aution house. The car had some dmv fees. I took the papers back to the auction house and they said they will take care of it. They transferred the car title to out of state to another dealer in order to remove the CA dmv fees. Then they gave me a temporary registration. Which was provided by a different dealership. Now I have the car title from out of state. Temporary registration and bill of sale from them to me. How ever I'm missing the bill of sale from a dealership(from the temporary registration) to them. They say they are having a hard time getting it. It's been 2 months from the point of when I got the temporary registration. At the 30 day mark I went to the dmv and got an extension for another 30 days. I'm 10 days past that. What can I do. I got the car for 14.7k and have already spent over 1k on repairs.
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A:
In California, when purchasing a car from an auction house, it's crucial that all necessary paperwork, including the bill of sale and title transfer documents, are in order for proper registration with the DMV. If the auction house has transferred the title to an out-of-state dealer to circumvent DMV fees and is unable to provide you with the complete paperwork, this can complicate your ability to register the vehicle in your name.
Given the situation, your first step should be to document all communications with the auction house regarding their commitment to resolve the paperwork issue. If the auction house continues to delay or is unable to furnish the required bill of sale from the dealership that provided the temporary registration, you may need to consider legal action.
You can send a formal demand letter to the auction house, outlining the situation and the need for the missing document. This letter can serve as a formal notice of your intent to pursue legal remedies if the issue is not resolved promptly.
If the auction house fails to respond or provide the necessary documents, consulting with an attorney to discuss your options is advisable. Legal advice can help you understand the feasibility of filing a claim for breach of contract or seeking other legal remedies to compel the auction house to provide the missing paperwork or compensate you for any losses incurred as a result of their actions.
Remember, the goal is to ensure that you have all the required documentation to legally register and operate the vehicle in California. Taking decisive steps to address the issue is essential for protecting your rights as a consumer.
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