We’ve entered a new world of automated license plate scanning technology. License plate scanners, technically called Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) devices, can capture and record huge amounts of license plate information without a human user having to do anything but set up the equipment.
There's a car parked at the family farm doesn’t have a title, or the owner can’t transfer it. No problem; you’re kin and can take care of it. Wrong. Unless you are named as Power of Attorney, you could be in for an ugly ride. Let’s take a look at some of the pitfalls, and how we might be able to help you out.
Many states won’t register pit bikes to ride on roadways, but it’s possible to ride yours legally with a legit license plate and registration.
There comes a time when you deal with cars a lot (especially older cars and trucks) that you are probably going to find a car where the actual mileage isn’t known. Let’s take a look at your options if this happens.
Unfortunately, the shop has the legal right to keep your car until the charges are paid for. No matter what your reason is for not settling the bill, you might be facing a mechanic’s lien against your vehicle if you don’t pay the mechanic.
While some surety bonds are based on your credit, a lost title surety bond is based strictly on the value of your vehicle. Most states require your bond value to be 1.5 to 2 times the vehicle’s value as determined by the DMV. You will only be required to pay this if someone else makes a successful claim against your bond.
A lienholder is the lender that owns your car or other property. Basically, they have the legal claim to your property because they gave you the money to buy it – until then, it’s theirs.
Technically, a bonded title is considered to be a provisional document. Some states allow the bonded title to be challenged up to several years after the issue date, so if there is any chance you don’t own the vehicle outright, you need to know how long that window is in your state.
Even if you play by the rules and make your payments on-time, some shady title loan businesses will hit you with hidden fees, penalties, or high interest rates.
When your car has a lien, the lienholder has all the legal rights to your vehicle’s title. For all intents and purposes, that means the lienholder owns your car. That might be the bank, the IRS, or even a mechanic’s shop.
A title lien could come from a loan, unpaid mechanic work, an IRS action, or even a family court settlement.
If the previous owner had an outstanding car title loan before selling it to you, you could be liable! This can be fixed very easily.
A little caution goes a long way. Here’s how to tell if that shiny new car is stolen or belongs to the bank.
Get A Discount On Your Purchase!
Subscribe to our newsletter
