Well despite the fact that I sold this car 8 months ago, it seems that I still own it. I just got a notice that it was towed and impounded today and I am the owner of record. I guess this means that the new owner did not transfer the title, and I forgot to send in the notice of sale. Oops.

The impound fees are nearly $500.

I guess my two options are

a) pick up the car, and file for lost title to reclaim it
b) let the state auction it off. If it is auctioned I may still be responsible for a $250 fine or more.

I'm leaning toward option a, but I'm not sure what would happen if the buyer ever decided to turn in the title (which I'm thinking is quite unlikely). In WA you are supposed to transfer the title within 15 days to "avoid a penalty". I do not still have the buyer's information to contact them.

What do y’all think?


Edit: I found the report of sale form, so I now have the buyer's address, but it is quite far away, and I seem to remember him saying that he was moving to the area where the car was impounded. I guess I will send him a certified letter stating that I have picked up the car from impound, and that he has 7 days to claim the car from me and re-pay the impound fees to me or I will re-claim ownership of the car.

I do not have a key for the car, so I will have AAA tow it home for me and order a key from the dealer.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Coming full circle... I think you were destined to own this car for a while longer.

Hey, congrats. We've got the identical car. Mine is also a 1983 from CA, so the color was definitely available that year. Take a look at the plate in the door jamb for the manufacture date.

Related question: Why does the driver-side rear door window always fail on this model? Mine is also inop from both switches. Is it a design flaw?

This one is an '85 with the Cali emissions stuff. The window switches usually get gummed up from people sitting coffee and soda in that area. You can disassemble them and clean them.

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Congratulations on the new MB, that blue is my favorite color. If you are referring to those diagonal supports in front of the radiator, there is only one if the car didn't come with AC.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

go to the dmv and file to the title. After that is done, get the car out of impound,
then decide what to do with it.

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83 300SD Dark Silver Dark brown inside

Well it turns out the guy picked it up and paid the fees. The impound lot guy said that you have to present photo ID to pick up a car, and this guy used some sort of Temporary Visa card instead of a driver's license. That means he is driving it with expired registration, no insurance, and no driver's license.

I'll be sure to submit that notice of sale form tomorrow!

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

you can do it on line, and it is instant!
So you do not get his ticket!!!

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83 300SD Dark Silver Dark brown inside

I just did it online. I am a bit disappointed, I was looking forward to seeing the old girl again...

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1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

This happened to a friend of mine. He sold the car, the new owner got a whole bunch of parking tickets, and then he found it for sale somewhere, and went got it back because the new owner had never changed the title over. So he sold it again, and made a bunch more money on the deal. It's another investment for you as long as you can sell it for more than the fees and stuff you'll have to pay to get it back and get keys for it.

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