Loaning your car to a friend: When a car owner lets another person drive their car, most jurisdictions will treat the car owner as sharing liability for any car accident caused by the borrower. As far as the public is concerned owner liability helps ensure that there will be insurance coverage for the accident, because the owner of a car will typically be insured but a borrower is less likely to be insured. If your car is stolen: Owner liability does not usually extend if a car is stolen. However some jurisdictions will hold an owner liable if they leave the keys in the ignition and their car is stolen and then involved in a car accident.
When Selling a Used Car: Sometimes the car owner will let the buyer use the plates that are on the car. The only reasons for a buyer to want to keep the old plates are to avoid registering the car, or to avoid buying insurance for the car.
Car buyers are generally permitted to drive a newly purchased use car from the point of sale to their home, or to a location where they can register the vehicle, even without having plates on the car. There is no reason why a car seller should permit a buyer to keep the license plates.
But suppose a car accident occurs while in transport. Who do you think is laible?
Following the successful sale of a vehicle: the seller should fill in the necessary information on the title to transfer ownership. Ideally this will be done at a DMV office, so that the buyer can immediately transfer the title. If that is not possible or is determined to be inconvenient, the seller should keep a copy of the completed, dated transfer of title.
Life events happen, car accidents happen and you may find yourself to be in the need of an attorney that had not been planned. What will you do? Can you afford to be in this situation?
