The car will be TOTALLY mine
August 7, 2013 7:06 PM Subscribe
How can I find out if a car really has been totaled?
A few years ago, I co-signed on a car loan for someone (let's call them (e)X). All was well until we parted ways, some time after which I got a phone call that X's car had been stolen and totaled but that for some reason X could not file a police report/charges against the person who stole it and did not have insurance coverage on this car (so, totaled in the 'unfit to drive' sense). This is obviously at least partly untrue. X stops making payments, finance company comes after me. I hired a lawyer to sue but for various reasons on X's part, didn't get too far. I am about to pay this non-car off and claim the title from the finance company, but a thought keeps nagging at me-I want to prove that X is not still actually driving this car. X and I are geographically separated and I do not wish to come in any form of contact with X as long as the sun shines on this earth. I have the VIN and some of X's personal info, can this be done? Thanks, even though YANML.
A few years ago, I co-signed on a car loan for someone (let's call them (e)X). All was well until we parted ways, some time after which I got a phone call that X's car had been stolen and totaled but that for some reason X could not file a police report/charges against the person who stole it and did not have insurance coverage on this car (so, totaled in the 'unfit to drive' sense). This is obviously at least partly untrue. X stops making payments, finance company comes after me. I hired a lawyer to sue but for various reasons on X's part, didn't get too far. I am about to pay this non-car off and claim the title from the finance company, but a thought keeps nagging at me-I want to prove that X is not still actually driving this car. X and I are geographically separated and I do not wish to come in any form of contact with X as long as the sun shines on this earth. I have the VIN and some of X's personal info, can this be done? Thanks, even though YANML.
In California you can enter the VIN online at the Cal DMV and see when it was last smog checked. Things like this may be possible in other states.
Something like CarFax may allow you get a report based on the VIN. (they seem to show a "free" report if you have the vin)
posted by bottlebrushtree at 7:13 PM on August 7, 2013
Something like CarFax may allow you get a report based on the VIN. (they seem to show a "free" report if you have the vin)
posted by bottlebrushtree at 7:13 PM on August 7, 2013
Any reason you can't just call the police and report the car stolen yourself? This sounds like fraud to me.
posted by empath at 9:13 PM on August 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by empath at 9:13 PM on August 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
Ditto. It's stolen, assuming what you believe is true.
But, you're screwed. Let's say the cops do find it. Best case: now you've a car in a geographically inaccessible impound lot, which you're probably paying daily fees on.
So, you've got a great case against someone who has proven they won't pay anything.
posted by converge at 2:24 AM on August 8, 2013
But, you're screwed. Let's say the cops do find it. Best case: now you've a car in a geographically inaccessible impound lot, which you're probably paying daily fees on.
So, you've got a great case against someone who has proven they won't pay anything.
posted by converge at 2:24 AM on August 8, 2013
I want to prove that X is not still actually driving this car
It sounds like you feel it's likely they ARE still driving the car.
It is difficult to prove something which is false.
You could hire someone to drive by X's house and see what cars are parked there.
totaled in the 'unfit to drive' sense
The word you are looking for is inoperable. Even if there is proof the car was inoperable, what you want to know is if it has been repaired.
Also, you don't mention why you want to do this, but if you don't care about ever seeing the car or getting any money out of this, many states have a way to record that you no longer own a car or have it in your possession without reporting it as stolen.
posted by yohko at 2:38 PM on August 8, 2013
It sounds like you feel it's likely they ARE still driving the car.
It is difficult to prove something which is false.
You could hire someone to drive by X's house and see what cars are parked there.
totaled in the 'unfit to drive' sense
The word you are looking for is inoperable. Even if there is proof the car was inoperable, what you want to know is if it has been repaired.
Also, you don't mention why you want to do this, but if you don't care about ever seeing the car or getting any money out of this, many states have a way to record that you no longer own a car or have it in your possession without reporting it as stolen.
posted by yohko at 2:38 PM on August 8, 2013
Please do not trust Carfax or Autocheck with something like this. I work in car financing. Sure, they can be helpful sometimes, but we have gotten reports of a branded title on cars that were not branded and reports of clean titles when we knew the vehicles had definitely been totaled. Asking the DMV is probably your best bet. You usually just need the VIN for the vehicle for this. Plates/registration updates will help, although if they didn't make their payments they aren't likely to renew a registration either...
posted by cobain_angel at 8:57 PM on August 8, 2013
posted by cobain_angel at 8:57 PM on August 8, 2013
cobain_angel, the OP was using totaled in the slang sense, rather than referring to the car being declared a total loss and receiving a salvage title. If the police were not called, the DMV is not likely to have any info.
posted by yohko at 9:14 AM on August 9, 2013
posted by yohko at 9:14 AM on August 9, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 7:12 PM on August 7, 2013 [2 favorites]