Temp tags expired, dealer refuses to give me new ones and they still don't have mine

[Terruko]

No driving for now since my town is filled with cops

[FX86]

use whiteout and a black sharpie

[MuseChaser]

A few years ago I had a horrific experience with a local independent used car dealer. I won't detail it, but it was months long and involved their loss of titles, eventual suspension of my license for supposedly not insuring a car I no longer owned and could PROVE that I had sold to the dealership, blah blah blah. I solved it by contacting the DMV in person, the local sheriff's office, and the District Attorney's office.

If what you say fully describes the situation (you've satisfied all of your obligations in the sale, and the dealer has not lived up to their's), contact the DMV immediately and follow through on any suggestions they may have.

Good luck.

Barry

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by MuseChaser

........................If what you say fully describes the situation (you've satisfied all of your obligations in the sale, and the dealer has not lived up to their's), contact the DMV immediately and follow through on any suggestions they may have.

Good luck.

Barry

There ya go ......


humfrz

[humfrz]

Originally Posted by FX86

use whiteout and a black sharpie

humfrz

[Tcoat]

I like our system.
Buy car.
Plates picked up from MOT office within minutes of walking through door (by you or the dealer)
Plates installed
Drive away with the permanent plates on the car

[PetrolioBenzina]

The NJ DMV must be a hellish place to visit.

[PetrolioBenzina]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

I like our system.
Buy car.
Plates picked up from MOT office within minutes of walking through door (by you or the dealer)
Plates installed
Drive away with the permanent plates on the car

Not enough graft in that system, no good for us.

[NA_FRS86]

Same thing happened to me when I purchased my FRS. I got stationed in New Jersey and my temp tags were waaayyy over expired. Pulled over once by the police w my tags already 2months expired because the dealer was having trouble transferring over my previous vehicle that I exchanged for the FRS. The officer asked why I have not received my Jersey plates yet and I explained to him the situation and he told me to not worry. In my case it may have only helped because I am active duty military and this is something that a lot of military members experience. Only thing the cop said was that I keep pressuring my dealer to expedite the plates. like MuseChaser said just explain that the dealer has not fulfilled their part of the deal.

[Terruko]

Originally Posted by NA_FRS86

Same thing happened to me when I purchased my FRS. I got stationed in New Jersey and my temp tags were waaayyy over expired. Pulled over once by the police w my tags already 2months expired because the dealer was having trouble transferring over my previous vehicle that I exchanged for the FRS. The officer asked why I have not received my Jersey plates yet and I explained to him the situation and he told me to not worry. In my case it may have only helped because I am active duty military and this is something that a lot of military members experience. Only thing the cop said was that I keep pressuring my dealer to expedite the plates. like MuseChaser said just explain that the dealer has not fulfilled their part of the deal.

So call the DMV and tell them it's been a month and the dealer hasn't given me my plates yet?

[MarkR171]

Same thing happened when I bought my FRS. I bought it at a dealer about an hour away from where I live. Never heard from them about registration, plates, or anything and my temp tags expired. They never called back when I left messages and were never available when I called. I finally went there myself and they never even filed the financing. At this point I had the car for almost a month, hadn't paid a cent, no paperwork was filed, and I ended up having to sign new financing papers (deal was the same) and a new temp tag.

Got my plate two weeks after that.

[NA_FRS86]

Originally Posted by Terruko

So call the DMV and tell them it's been a month and the dealer hasn't given me my plates yet?

I tried that as well but they said since the dealer is handling my plates and registration there is nothing you can do. So just wait it out. It seems to be a typical issue so if you get pulled over just explain to the officer your situation. If it really worries you there is always going to the dealer and asking for updated temp plates. It only cost them $20 or so to make you a new one.

[Terruko]

Originally Posted by NA_FRS86

I tried that as well but they said since the dealer is handling my plates and registration there is nothing you can do. So just wait it out. It seems to be a typical issue so if you get pulled over just explain to the officer your situation. If it really worries you there is always going to the dealer and asking for updated temp plates. It only cost them $20 or so to make you a new one.

I asked for another one and they said no. I read somewhere that dealers aren't allowed to give another temp tag here in NJ. I'll just have to wait, hopefully it's this week 😞

[MuseChaser]

Originally Posted by Terruko

So call the DMV and tell them it's been a month and the dealer hasn't given me my plates yet?

You're not informing the DMV about the dealer's failure to provide you with the plates for your protection, you're reporting the dealer's unlawful conduct to the DMV so that the DMV can either take action against the dealership or suggest the appropriate law enforcement entities in your state for you to contact about the matter. The Department of Motor Vehicles is just that; a department in charge of motor vehicle transactions, licensing, and registration. They have at least some jurisdiction over licensed dealerships. Report the dealership. It might be worth it to contact the dealership first, politely but firmly express your disappointment that you can't drive your recently purchased car legally because of their failure, and that you you'll need to report the issue to the DMV and other authorities if they can't rectify the situation immediately. Again, be nice about it. It may get you further faster.

Again, good luck.

Barry