In California, you must renew your vehicle registration every year. If your car was repossessed 3 months ago and you just received a registration renewal notice from the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), here's what you should do:
1. Check the Notice Carefully:
- Review the registration renewal notice thoroughly to ensure that it is truly for your repossessed vehicle and not for another vehicle that you may own.
2. Understand Your Liability:
- You may still be legally responsible for the registration renewal fee, even though your car was repossessed. Registration renewal fees are based on the vehicle's ownership status as of a specific date each year.
3. Contact the Repossession Agency:
- Reach out to the repossession agency or lender who repossessed your car. They should be able to provide you with information about any outstanding fees or payments related to the vehicle, including registration fees.
4. Determine Your Course of Action:
- Based on the information you receive from the repossession agency, you can decide whether to pay the registration renewal fee or not.
5. Payment Options:
- If you decide to pay the registration renewal fee, you can do so online, by mail, or in person at a DMV office.
6. Notification of Sale or Transfer:
- If you decide not to pay the registration renewal fee because you no longer own the car, you should notify the DMV about the sale or transfer of your vehicle. You may need to submit specific documents to complete this process.
7. Potential Consequences:
- Be aware that failing to pay the registration renewal fee or failing to notify the DMV about the sale or transfer of the vehicle could result in penalties, fines, or complications in the future if you ever try to regain ownership of the car or register another vehicle in California.
8. Seek Professional Advice:
- If you are uncertain about your rights and responsibilities, consider seeking legal advice or consulting with a knowledgeable auto industry professional to ensure that you take the appropriate actions.
