Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Missouri

Can I legally sell a car that is not mine but sitting in my garage


Asked on 6/07/13, 1:00 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Anthony Smith LawSmith

If you purposefully try to sell the car as if you own it, you commit a crime and direct yourself to civil liability. If the owner refuses to remove the vehicle, or you don't know who owns it, there is a process to get it out. If the latter is your situation, contact the department of revenue. Nearly every state has a process to declare a vehicle abandoned. In most, the department of motor vehicles attempts to contact the owner of title. Of they don't retrieve the vehicle, the one who owns the property (land / building) where the vehicle sits, greets title to the vehicle. This process can take a year, so few property owners do it.

If you can't wait, it would be better to; give the vehicle owner a written demand to remove three vehicle immediately, and move the car on the street, if they don't. If you decide to ski the car, remember that you have to inform the buyer that you can't pass title to them (before accepting any money). You should try to get the money from the sale, to the owner of record.

Good luck

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Answered on 6/08/13, 4:49 am


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