Can You Register A Stolen Car

Permit'south say you bought a car and the seller didn't have a championship for it. Perhaps it was some overgrown project car you dug out of the seller'due south back chiliad, or maybe the seller collection it to a meetup and it seemed to run simply fine. Hold on a sec! What if you just accidentally bought a stolen vehicle without knowing it? What happens adjacent? Are you going to jail? Did you do anything wrong?

While it may be obvious that yous didn't steal the automobile, you could still face penalty for Possession of Stolen Property. That means it'due south best to do your research and avoid this situation altogether.

Let's expect at the nigh likely scenarios for your future right later on we discuss how to avoid this situation altogether.

How to Avoid Ownership a Stolen Auto

Good news: y'all can easily spot a stolen vehicle even if y'all don't know much almost cars.

Commencement, is ownership a car without a title a problem? No. (Although information technology may be illegal in your country.) Replacing a car championship is like shooting fish in a barrel when the title is simply lost or missing. It's what we exercise here at Clay Legal, but this isn't nigh that; this is near you possibly buying stolen property without knowing it.

The problem is that "I had no idea" is exactly what a thief would say, so you can imagine how dicey this state of affairs can get if the police force gets involved.

When purchasing a car with no title yous should:

• Get an ironclad beak of auction from the seller

• Copy or photograph the seller'southward driver's license or ID

• Run the vehicle'due south VIN before money changes hands

Information technology'south Piece of cake: Practice a VIN Bank check

Purchasing a VIN written report is the best way to avoid accidentally buying a stolen vehicle. Even if the car has a clean championship, the VIN check might uncover subconscious terrors like by accidents or prior theft history. We strongly suggest that you make this a part of your car buying feel every fourth dimension. You tin also phone call your local authorities and give them the license plate number to see if the vehicle was involved in any crimes.

Get peace of heed by using our VIN Check Service.

Follow those easy precautions to avoid ever accidentally buying a stolen vehicle. For argument'south sake let's assume you lot did none of them, and let's look at the other ways you could all of a sudden realize that squeamish gentleman from the Internet actually sold you a stolen car.

three  Ways to Detect Out You lot Accidentally Bought a Stolen Car

i. Effort to Title It

Likely upshot: Arrested on the spot

This is how well-nigh people observe out they have a stolen automobile. You prowl down to the local DMV office in your shiny new ride. Yous park 2 spots from the door, walk inside, and at that place'south nobody in line – today'southward a skilful day. Y'all arroyo the counter and inquire about recovering a lost championship. Y'all give the amanuensis your machine's VIN number. Then you become arrested on the spot for attempting to title a stolen vehicle.

Well that escalated quickly.

Unlikely consequence: The constabulary hear you out

If the law know there'southward a stolen vehicle in the parking lot, they're not letting you walk abroad. They probably won't even inquire for your side of the story until you're dainty and comfortable at the station. In some states you might be jailed and have to bail yourself out. "Sorry boss, I can't make information technology back from lunch – I'thou in jail. Long story." I bet it is.

Your pleas of "I swear I didn't know the automobile was stolen!" will probably fall on deaf ears, and the officeholder will most probable exist obligated to arrest y'all even if your caption is equally smooth as poetry.

Either way: There's the potential for jail time and a plush legal battle, your car will exist impounded, and you will lose the money you spent on it.

ii. Get Pulled Over

Likely result: Arrested on the spot

Maybe in all the excitement of ownership that car you didn't notice it had a tail light burned out. Sometime later Johnny Law pulls you over, and this is what happens:

• The officeholder runs your motorcar's license plates. They're either stolen or unregistered. You go to jail.

• Or your car doesn't have plates, and then the officer asks for your paperwork.

• You don't have a title, so you produce the Bill of Sale. The Pecker of Sale contains the VIN.

• The officer runs the VIN number. It comes back stolen. Y'all go to jail.

No thing what, the inarguable fact is that you're driving a stolen vehicle – that's Possession of Stolen Belongings. You're gonna be sleeping in a cell this evening with a pillow fabricated of fear and regret.

Unlikely result: The police hear you out

If you live in a small boondocks where Johnny Law'south sister is your daughter'south fourth-grade instructor, maybe your story will be heard. Just the officer may still be legally required to have you lot into custody for driving a stolen vehicle even if he godfathered your first child.

Either way: At that place's the potential for jail time and a plush legal boxing, your car will exist impounded, and you volition lose the money you spent on information technology.

3. Attempt to Sell the Car

Likely event: The police are called

Maybe it doesn't bother you that your machine doesn't take a title. You lot always obey all traffic laws, you never become pulled over, and your plates are never run. It'due south entirely possible to drive effectually similar this for years and people do it all the fourth dimension, but it'southward nevertheless illegal as heck. If this is you lot, there's a run a risk you accidentally bought a stolen vehicle and don't even know information technology. You should not proceed to have that chance.

Although information technology'due south a common exercise, driving an unregistered vehicle is illegal in the United States. Fifty-fifty a uncomplicated traffic end could upshot in fines and legal fees. If the motorcar was stolen, you could be imprisoned.

Yr later on year the problem of vehicle theft continues to abound, and more people are getting history reports or VIN checks earlier buying a machine. Weeks, months, or even years downwards the road, y'all're going to want to sell that motorcar of yours. And when y'all do at that place's a strong chance someone's going to investigate its history. Best to beat that person to the details and get ahead of any strange things in the machine'south history.

Permit's say you go to sell a stolen car to someone. They run the VIN. "I didn't know this car was stolen" volition fall on deaf ears. The would-be buyer won't even bother telling you lot they chosen the police. Knock knock, who's at that place? The 5-0.

Unlikely result: Yous're stuck with a stolen car

Some people don't want to go mixed upwardly in other people'south business concern. Others are (mayhap too) trusting and will believe that you accidentally bought a stolen car. At present y'all've got a hot ride you tin't sell and shouldn't drive, and any money you spent on it has gone down the bleed.

Either way: There's the potential for jail time and a costly legal boxing, your auto volition be useless, and you volition lose the money you spent on it.

No Thing What

If you are defenseless driving a stolen vehicle, even if you were not aware it was stolen, the automobile could exist impounded and you may go to jail. If you lot bought the car y'all will lose the money you spent on it. To recover that money you must find, sue, and win a judgement against the person who sold you the auto. You may spend thousands of dollars over several years suing someone who can't pay you lot anyway. Or yous may never find the person to begin with. Worst of all, you'll feel like a sucker. Nobody likes that.

Accept the proper precautions before buying a vehicle and call back: fifty-fifty if y'all bought a stolen car past blow, yous however bought a stolen car, but that doesn't mean you're the thief. You aren't on the claw for the theft unless yous stole the car. Nosotros would suggest contacting an chaser in that example, especially if you discover yourself existence charged with Possession of Stolen Belongings or whatsoever other criminal criminal offense.

Clay Legal Can Assist

Accidentally buying a stolen vehicle tin and does happen. Some states take even made it illegal to buy or sell a vehicle without a title, something that happens all the time, but you don't want to get nabbed for Possession of Stolen Holding or any other litany of offenses from ownership a stolen vehicle – even if it was an accident.

Our VIN Check and Vehicle Accident Study services are there to assist you lot avoid this terrible situation. It's something you never want to experience. Inquire u.s. how we know.

Please don't hesitate to contact u.s. with any titling questions or concerns. Keep in mind nosotros're not attorneys – contact an attorney if you lot're worried you may have accidentally bought a stolen vehicle.

We are not attorneys. This commodity is not legal advice.

Source: https://www.dirtlegal.com/blog/what-happens-if-you-buy-a-stolen-vehicle-without-knowing

Posted by: whiteheadbuffecaper73.blogspot.com

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