1. Civil Liability: You may still be held legally liable for any damages or accidents caused by the car until the new owner registers it. This is because the car is still legally considered to be in your name until it is properly registered.
2. Unpaid Parking Tickets and Tolls: If the new owner fails to register the car, they may not receive any parking tickets or toll violations issued to the car. These tickets and violations may accumulate and remain your responsibility as the registered owner.
3. Renewal Notices and Fees: You may continue to receive renewal notices and fees for the car's registration. If you fail to pay these fees, the DMV may suspend your driver's license and/or registration.
4. Impoundment: If the car is involved in an accident or other violation and the new owner cannot produce valid registration, the car may be impounded by the police. You, as the registered owner, may be responsible for any towing and storage fees.
5. Fraudulent Transactions: If the new owner uses the car to engage in fraudulent transactions or criminal activities, you may be held liable for these actions as the legal owner of the car.
To protect yourself, it's important to properly transfer the ownership of the car to the new owner and ensure that they register it promptly with the DMV. This can be done by completing and filing the necessary paperwork, including the title transfer and registration documents, with the DMV. You may also want to provide the new owner with a bill of sale and other relevant documentation for their records.
