Q: Can I just pay car tags from the day I bought the vehicle or must pay all late fees accumulated by previous and why?
The tags 4 months behind and how can I avoid cops towing my car which is now also my home. I need help please advice.
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- California
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
When you buy a used vehicle in California, you're unfortunately required to pay all outstanding registration fees and late penalties, even those accumulated by the previous owner. This is because registration fees are tied to the vehicle itself, not the owner.
Your immediate priority should be protecting your vehicle from being towed. You can request a temporary operating permit from the DMV while you work on paying the registration fees. This permit typically costs around $50 and gives you 60 days of legal operation. During this time, law enforcement cannot tow your vehicle for expired registration.
To handle the back fees, you might qualify for California's DMV payment plan option if the total amount due is over $200. The plan lets you spread payments over several months, making it more manageable. Given that your vehicle is also your home, you may want to contact local legal aid organizations or homeless advocacy groups - they often have resources to help with DMV fees and can sometimes provide emergency assistance to prevent vehicle towing. Remember to keep any DMV documents showing you're actively working to resolve the registration in your vehicle, as this can help if you're stopped by law enforcement.
Marc David Pelta agrees with this answer
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.
