Stolen F430: title advice

Condolences regarding your situation.

Doesn't CT require VIN verification and emissions? Hard to do those when you don't have the vehicle because it's stolen.

I would push back on the insurance company regarding proof of ownership, bill of sale and out of state title (with insurance card) are sufficient from a law enforcement perspective, so why not theirs?

Rather than trying to find some exception on your own, I would inform them that you can't title it in CT and have them offer an exception first. Always fun dealing with insurance!

 

Yeah - that's a tough situation, sorry!

I would ask someone who is a licensed dealer in CT for advise. I am sure the situation where someone totaled (for whatever reason) a car before completing title paperwork must have happened before?

Maybe they can issue you a "Salvage" title at a lower cost? Or some other mechanism to stay legal but not require you to pay the same amount for a title on a car that will not be licensed and/or registered for use?

 

You might try calling Doug at Switchcar in Ohio, he has dealt with cars stolen from transports. Might have ideas for you.

 

I would wonder what any state (Montana too) would say though if you tried to register a car, I assume is in a database under stolen (regardless of it not being in your possession). Even with a title, if you take that to any state DMV, that VIN would be flagged as stolen, and no DMV is going to furnish a title for the car.

I'm in CT too, but can't think of a route to accomplish this without some very large hurdles.

One would think the insurance company would only need some sort of proof of ownership (BoS), and a police record, along with the in hand title you have, to be able to do their job (pay you for it being stolen, and not in your possession).

 

If the car is in the stolen database you can't register it.

Also... Your insurance company should be reimburing you for your sales tax.

But if you have a stated value policy we'll... You get what you get. I understand you want to keep as much as possible but... Ruinnging it through another state probably isn't smart. Also if you give them a title in another state will they void your insurance because it wasn't garaged in your state?


If you can't get inspections you can't get a title.

The biggest thing is you can register a stolen car. The DMV is supposed to call the police and try to keep you there until they arrive if you try.

 

It sounds like your insurance company simply does not want to pay. I know of no rule that requires a car to be registered for it to be covered by insurance if it is stolen. It is property. If you bought a painting and you paid to have it insured when you bought it......and it was stolen in transport......they would deny the claim?

In addition.....most States have it the other way around where they require proof of insurance to register a car.

Now in your case ......I suspect timing is the issue. You paid for the car and it was stolen before you picked it up. Something tells me the circumstances surrounding the theft and when insurance was agreed to have something to do with their reluctance to pay (in addition to the high payout) and no premiums to support it.

Do not try to register it in another State ......that is really asking for trouble. Hire an attorney now who is experienced with auto insurance claims and let them handle this. I'm not an attorney but I would hire one in a heartbeat for the money that you lost. Plus.....it sounds like their was some negligence somewhere that allowed this to happen.

 

I'm sorry to hear this happened to you and also intrigued to hear what happened at the same time.

In Texas, you can transfer the title into your name without registering the car, and no inspection need.
That way you get a title in your name, you just don't get plates... if that makes sense
Example: You purchase a non-running project car , you want ownership, before spending all the money to repair... the DMV will do that for a minimal fee.

Maybe this is an option your DMV will consider,?

Good Luck!

s

 

When my car was totaled they reimbursed me for sales tax. Have you asked the insurance company about that?

 

It's great to get some ideas from people here, but you really need expert advice from a lawyer, or maybe a CPA, in CT.

 

You should disclose the name of the insurance company so we can avoid them.

 

If it’s agreed value then you’re probably just stuck with that amount, but the agreed value should have accounted for sales tax to make you whole too. If it didn’t, you may be SOL. Bad situation, hope it works out.

 

That’s why you need a good attorney……no way this should have happened. Get an attorney and have the dealer, insurance company and the shipper explain to the Judge why they shouldn’t be held responsible for the full value plus attorney fees.

 

Do you have the direct # to the DMV or are you just calling regular customer service?

 

God speed

 

I wouldn't waste your time with chasing sales tax with an attorney.

It's probably 8kish and the attorney is going to cost you that. At least a 5k retainer and then you have to wait... And wait and wait ...

Take your money now and you can sue later.

Just get to moving on.