07-17-2016, 02:16 PM
Racer X wrote:
[quote=Filliam H. Muffman]
I wouldn't have considered removing the plates until a down on her luck family friend bought one and got several tickets and hadn't registered it in their name. Kind of a no good deed goes unpunished situation.
That's why here in Washington State, we are required to file a Report Of Sale to the state DMV within 5 days. You can do it on -line. That theoretically get's you off the hook if the buyer never transfer/registers it.
I sold a car, and reported it. The buyer never transferred title, and a collections agency hired by the state tried to come after me for tickets, and the abandoned vehicle. I sent them a copy of the Report of Sale and asked why the state never checked their own database? I told them if they ever contacted me again, it was harassment. Never heard from them again.
Here in MA the plates don't go with the car, so leaving them on is not an option except for in-family sales with a transfer of registration filed with the RMV. Title transfer is part of that process, so rarely are there issues with buyers not doing so and leaving a former owner on the hook.