Dealer never put TITLE in my name, am I stuck??

[TL_Wanderer]

In 2015, after years of health problems, I bought a used motor home in the hopes of traveling while I still had time. I cashed in my retirement account to do it. No sooner had the ink dried then I was sick again. Bought online (never again, lesson learned) paid in full. The title, after being delayed all summer, was supposed to be given to the driver - it wasn’t. The dealer stopped returning my calls.
The motor home sat in a rented site since then and I spent most of my time too sick to care. In fall ‘18 a mechanic picked it up to give it a full checkup and inspection so it would be ready to travel at last.
Then I found out I was stuck. I have insurance on it, but no inspection without a Registration and I can’t get that without the Title.
I am in Pennsylvania, I bought the vehicle from a dealer in Florida, and the motor home may (or may not ) have been owned by someone in Georgia, but I don’t have their name.
PA told me to talk to Florida DMV- FLDMV said there was a temporary registration in 8/15 but no Title was ever created, so I should go back to the dealer. Dealer said the salesman doesn’t work here anymore and stopped returning my calls.
Now what? I’m feeling rather hopeless. I don’t know if my health will hold out for a legal battle, but I’m disabled and every penny I had is in that used motor home.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Tracey

[wanderingaimles]

If it is any help, check with the state where you are. You have reciepts showing storage for over a year, and may be able to get a salvage title if all else fails.
It will hurt the value when you sell, but may allow you to use it now.

[rgatijnet1]

Chum lee wrote:
Oh no, paperwork nightmares! I can't say for sure in PA, but, in CA, where I've spent most my life, the sticks and bricks licensed car/truck dealership is responsible for completing the transfer of ownership documentation unless you purchased the vehicle as is, on consignment, or, in some other non-standard way. (auction, estate sale, online trade, etc.)

IMO, your best bet (as others have mentioned) is to become a pest at the dealer where you purchased the vehicle. If you purchased the vehicle on the up and up, you should not have to be involved in any legwork concerning the paperwork. That's what you pay the dealer for. (license and registration fees are collected by the dealer and paid to the state) If no avail, I would contact the state of PA regarding the car dealers license status and make a complaint there. Make sure you retain any paperwork showing that you paid the applicable fees. They can't stay in business as a reputable car dealer without a dealers license. Time is of the essence! Sorry you have to face this with health limitations.

Chum lee

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With the sale taking place in Florida, and the buyer located in Pennsylvania, the dealer should not have collected any fees for license or registration. I am sure that the buyer would be licensing the RV in PA and paying the sales tax in PA. The temporary registration would have allowed him to take the coach back to PA for registration but at this point in time, I'm not sure that the temporary registration is still valid for travel to PA. Another temporary registration can be obtained in Florida if he has the proof of sale, etc. I should add that Florida and many other States have digital titles so there MAY NOT actually be a paper title to hand over to anyone.

[time2roll]

Contact the dealer and see what is up. Be nice.

Then take your paperwork and RV to the DMV and register the vehicle if no action by the dealer in 30 days.

[dodge_guy]

Since you have the bill of sale, file for a lost title. The DMV will do a search and if it comes back free and clear they can issue a new title.

[cudntherd]

I do not say this very often....Time to hire a lawyer.

[Chum_lee]

Oh no, paperwork nightmares! I can't say for sure in PA, but, in CA, where I've spent most my life, the sticks and bricks licensed car/truck dealership is responsible for completing the transfer of ownership documentation unless you purchased the vehicle as is, on consignment, or, in some other non-standard way. (auction, estate sale, online trade, etc.)

IMO, your best bet (as others have mentioned) is to become a pest at the dealer where you purchased the vehicle. If you purchased the vehicle on the up and up, you should not have to be involved in any legwork concerning the paperwork. That's what you pay the dealer for. (license and registration fees are collected by the dealer and paid to the state) If no avail, I would contact the state of PA regarding the car dealers license status and make a complaint there. Make sure you retain any paperwork showing that you paid the applicable fees. They can't stay in business as a reputable car dealer without a dealers license. Time is of the essence! Sorry you have to face this with health limitations.

Chum lee

[rgatijnet1]

Are any of these RV's the one that you bought? RV's sold
The dealer does not have a lot of good comments on Google.
You can spend a lot of money on a lawyer but with you being in PA, the sale done in FL, and the previous owner possibly in GA, the lawyer fees will exceed the cost of the coach.
Right now you need to find out who has the title and a history report and contacting the previous owner should give you that.

[Lwiddis]

After three years you may have a statute of limitations problem. Dealers are licensed. Go to that Florida state agency with a complaint. Keep it brief and knock out all the personal troubles.

[Tyler0215]

Call the dealer, at 9AM ask to talk to the General Manager, ask for his name. Get the name of the person you are talking to. Wait on hold, don't let them tell you
he will call back. If you get disconnected, call back and ask to talk to the first person you talked to. Be a pest. Sooner or later you will get to talk to someone who will help you.
However, after 3 years you may need a lawyer.

[rgatijnet1]

The vehicle history report can fill in the blanks. In other words the last owner that was registered, whether it was the dealer or someone in Georgia. From that point, and with your temporary registration, you should be able to make some progress.
If you find the previous owner in Georgia, you can contact them and find out what their deal was with the dealer and whether or not he ever got his funds from the sale. If it is still registered to him, he can then issue you a title if you can prove that you bought the coach and bypass the dealer completely.

[rgatijnet1]

On your Contract/Bill of sale, you should have a VIN. Here is a website that will give you a history report, including who it was/is last registered to. This may give you a place to start. VIN History

[TL_Wanderer]

The Florida DMV searched on the VIN. It was never titled in Florida, only activity was that temporary registration before my hired driver took it for delivery

[TL_Wanderer]

The dealer was John Greer auto sales in Bradenton, FL . I contacted them in January or February and was told someone would call me back before close of business... ha! When I called them again they said the salesman didn’t work there anymore and acted like it wasn’t anything to do with them. Now I don’t get a call back at all. They advertise being in business since 1957, but I don’t see how with this work ethic.

[rgatijnet1]

Which Florida dealer was handling the transaction?It does not matter if the salesman has left.
If you have a VIN, a search can be made to find out the current title status.