Legal Question in Consumer Law in Pennsylvania

Used non-owned auto trade

My son traded in an automobile to purchase a newer auto. The transaction went through yet he was not the owner of the traded vehicle. His mother was the title holder of the trade. The title ownership was never transfered nor was there an agreement for the value of this vehicle to be applied to the cost of the newer vehicle. We still have the title of the vehicle, by law, do we still ''own'' the vehicle? Can we request to get the car back? Also, can they force some ''storage fees'' for the time the vehicle as been at the dealership?


Asked on 3/13/06, 8:03 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
William Marvin Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C.

Re: Used non-owned auto trade

Hmmm. We see lots of questions about people who have regrets after a car deal and feel they got ripped off by the dealer.

It's pretty unusual to see someone asking how they can take advantage of a dealer whose only mistake was being a little careless in checking title when taking a trade. You're asking for help in committing fraud, basically.

Your son represented that he owned the vehicle and could transfer it, and got value in the trade even if the number wasn't specified. And you've got the gall to worry if you could pull off this fraud, whether you might be charged for storage?

And you want free legal advice how to commit this fraud?

Forget it. Do the right thing, get your ex to sign over the title.

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Answered on 3/14/06, 8:32 am


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