West Palm Beach, FL asked in Consumer Law and Contracts for Florida

Q: I was sold by a person a car without a VIN on the windshield. It's been almost 4 years since I own the car. Need help

In 2021, I bought a car from a friend with an agreement to pay in monthly installments. Due to financial changes, I fell behind on payments, and we agreed I could defer until selling the car. However, the car lacks a VIN on the windshield (though it’s present elsewhere), preventing me from selling it. My friend insists I sell it without disclosing the missing VIN, but I believe that’s unethical and illegal.

Questions:

• Who is responsible for fixing the VIN issue?

• What legal risks do I face if I sell without disclosing the VIN issue?

• Could my friend be held liable for selling me the car without a proper VIN?

Related Topics:

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.