Do I have to pay registration on a totaled new car?

by MoInsuranceGal » Tue Dec 09, 2008 04:49 pm

Purchased a car 1 month ago; total loss this weekend. First payment not due for another 11 days and car not yet registered to me as still have not received lienholder info, etc. from dealer (loan company doesn't even have title yet). Insurance company says I must register car in order to get settlement; but settlement goes straight to loan company. I am in Kansas; any options?

Total Comments: 16

Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:43 pm Post Subject:

Part of the total loss settlement will include the cost to register the same type of vehicle. So you will be paid for your loss of registration money.

You bought the car (signed the buyers agreement) so you need to follow through and have it moved into your name. If you don't, you won't have suffered the loss of the vehicle but the loan company is still going to hold you accountable for the loan. I would think that part of buying the vehicle would include the cost of the registration. That is, that you would have already paid this fee. If not, and you did not pay to have it done, I suppose the prior owner of the vehicle could sign a power of attorney to complete the transaction and do it without your assistance. They could then pay the full amount of the claim to the lien holder (including the registration fee). Of course, your lien holder and the person who sold the vehicle are not going to be all too happy about your unwillingness to follow through with the transaction.

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:41 am Post Subject:

He's right and so is the adjuster you need to move quickly to get this registered so they can pay the claim you are incurring additional interest every day you delay (or the claim payment is delayed by your delay)...step on it honey, and get this resolved.

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:58 pm Post Subject:

This is also where Gap insurance would come in handy correct? I read a post where a vehicle losses alot of value as soon as it leaves the lot. If its totaled and the poster doesn't have GAP insurance it would leave him/her with out of pocket expense unless it wasn't nrand new right?

Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 01:46 pm Post Subject:

This is also where Gap insurance would come in handy correct?

yep

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 03:06 am Post Subject: registration fee

My car registration expired May 31, 2010. On May 30, 2010 another driver crashed into my parked car. I have already made my registration renewal payment but haven't received the slip or new tag yet. If my car is declared totaled (collision shop said it should be quite expensive but no estimate as of yet), is there a way that I can get my registration fee back? I would hate to pay $300+ in registration fees for a car that I never drive again and then pay for registration on whatever car I decide to get next. Thanks in advance, I'm in CA.

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 11:43 am Post Subject:

Check with CA's DMV, but why wouldn't you be transfering your plates to whatever vehicle you replaced this one with, (if it totals)? If indeed all or a portion of that money is lost, I'd certainly bring this to the adjusters attention.

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 06:49 pm Post Subject:

I don't know what the process is for a totaled car. If the plates and registration usually follow the vehicle owner in this situation, I would assume that is what will happen. I don't have an estimate from the collision shop and my insurance company hasn't told me anything about the car yet, but the collision shop made it sound like there is a very expensive amount of damage so I want to be prepared.

Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:44 pm Post Subject:

If the plates and registration usually follow the vehicle owner in this situation, I would assume that is what will happen.

In all states I'm aware of you can transfer the plates from vehicle #1 to vehicle #2..people do this all the time, when they trade in a vehicle...if the GW is the same. As long as you no longer own vehicle #1...

I don't have an estimate from the collision shop and my insurance company hasn't told me anything about the car yet, but the collision shop made it sound like there is a very expensive amount of damage so I want to be prepared.

Never hurts to be proactive...If you'd like post the year/make/model and mileage of your vehicle, and we can let you know about 'how much' in damages it will take to total it...

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 12:34 am Post Subject:

Thanks for your help. Collision shop says his estimate is a little bit north of $17,000 and KBB private party value on my vehicle is just above $22,000 (08 Tacoma PreRunner Sport Pkg Long Bed Tow Pkg 16,000 miles). Collision shop said it will probably be totaled, but if not it will take about 4 months to fix (said the frame will need to be replaced). I don't see why they wouldn't total it.

"if the GW is the same"- What is GW? Gross Weight? I will probably go from a truck to a car.

I haven't paid too close of attention, but I've never heard of transferring plates/registration from 1 vehicle to the next. Haven't been to a dealership in awhile, but I thought I remembered every used vehicle already having a plate. I'll let you know what happens.

Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 09:51 am Post Subject:

Check with CA's DMV, but why wouldn't you be transfering your plates to whatever vehicle you replaced this one with, (if it totals)? If indeed all or a portion of that money is lost, I'd certainly bring this to the adjusters attention.



Doesn't exactly work this way in California. Plates are registered to the vehicle, not the owner, with the exception of "vanity" plates and certain other specialized plates (like press photographer). In California, passenger autos are assessed a flat registration fee and additional license fees based on the value of the vehicle (commercial vehicles are assessed license fees according to the unladen weight of the vehicle). Even if one can take their plates to a new vehicle, the fees paid on the old vehicle are not transferrable. Sale, theft, total loss, doesn't make a bit of difference.

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