Change of ownership advice

[Sniper]

A friend of mine sold his car the other month. Was a good little runner and the guy he sold it to seemed like the genuine type. Very friendly, quick to answer txts and phone calls and seemed trustworthy.

I went with him to deliver the car because it was something to do at the time and he struck me as a rather responsible fellow. At the time we couldnt get anywhere to do change of ownership but the guy promised to do it first thing the next morning and phone my mate and let him know. Silly thing to let him do but it wasnt my car so I didnt say too much. Suffice to say my friend never got the phone call and after trying for a month to get hold of him we went round to ask and lo and behold, he doesnt live there anymore. Not looking too good at this stage

On saturday my friend got a letter from the LTSA saying his rego is due next month so by simple use of common sense he figures out that the "responsible" guy hasnt upheld his end of the bargin so he tried phoning the cellphone again, looking in the white pages ect and it doesnt look like we are going to find him soon.

I thought that we could report the car stolen and have some fun but apparently my idea isnt a good one. So I want to know, obviously my friend is responsible for any outstanding monies owed on the car (fines, outstanding regos ect) as well as its in his name if it ever gets snapped driving away from a petrol station ect. But what can he do to show that he doesnt own the car anymore, it belongs to this guy so that he isnt charged for outstanding rego ect.

[imdying]

Just go to the post office and fill in 'your half' of the form. ASAP.

[Smokin]

A couple of years ago I bought a car from the local Toyota agent, After 3 months and 4 visits he finally changed the papers, For the wrong car.
He wrote the Rego down wrong on the change of ownership and I recieved the papers for a 1986 Nissan Laurel owned by a lady in Christchurch instead of my 1996 Maxima.

I finally got fed up with the clown and rang the LTSA to have a bitch about him and they told me it wasn't a problem, Put the Maxima into my name and returned the Laurel to the rightfull owner over the phone.

I would sort out the forms myself using his last known address and get a random person to sign his name, Could be a very wisely spent $8.

[kiwifruit]

yep, or do it online

[merv]

yep, or do it online

Here http://transact.landtransport.govt.nz/

[Motu]

I have the opposite problem - I own a car in another persons name and can't change it into my name because there is a debt on the vehicle.That's cool - he gettings all the speeding tickets and parking fines....I can't insure it,but that's ok,I can just walk away.

[Sniper]

Thanks guys.

He did send that sells notification letter doodad away, does that mean he isnt liable anymore and should he get a letter stating that or is it just a waiting game?

[imdying]

Thanks guys.

He did send that sells notification letter doodad away, does that mean he isnt liable anymore and should he get a letter stating that or is it just a waiting game?

In theory, not only is he sweet, but the other guy will get a nice big fine for not completing the change over as he is supposed to.

Double check that his part has indeed been done though, as he shouldn't be recieving correspondence from the LTSA about the vehicle is he has.

[Sniper]

Awesome, cheers

[Finn]

I have the opposite problem - I own a car in another persons name and can't change it into my name because there is a debt on the vehicle.That's cool - he gettings all the speeding tickets and parking fines....I can't insure it,but that's ok,I can just walk away.

Not the mighty Pajero?

[pervert]

Thanks guys.

He did send that sells notification letter doodad away, does that mean he isnt liable anymore and should he get a letter stating that or is it just a waiting game?

Has he got a signed and dated bit of paper that he and the buyer completed? Like a written receipt or anything?

If not then there could be a problem. The seller is fully liable until BOTH parties have completed the right documents. Not just the seller sending the notice of change of ownership away.

I never bother getting the buyer to change the ownership before taking vehicles away, but I always get them to sign a bit of paper stating the date and time they gained possession of the vehicle. This came in very handy once when the Police came to visit regarding an offence committed in that car...I showed them the receipt I made and all was well. If I didn't have that receipt they said it could have been a different story.

He could always de-register the car if it really concerns him and the guy has done a runner?

[pervert]

Double check that his part has indeed been done though, as he shouldn't be recieving correspondence from the LTSA about the vehicle is he has.

The seller will continue to receive correspondence until the buyer has completed the forms, and paid the $9.

The LTSA will also probably send your mate a letter very soon stating they have receieved the sellers form, and not the buyers, therefore the change of ownership is not complete.

[Eurodave]

If I buy a bike 'as is' that has a lapsed rego,no WOF ie dead do I still need to do a change of ownership form?

[pervert]

If I buy a bike 'as is' that has a lapsed rego,no WOF ie dead do I still need to do a change of ownership form?

If the rego's been expired for more than 2 years, then no, you don't. The bike doesn't really exist as far as the LTSA is concerned.

[Motu]

No,my NX Coupe - just gets treated as a hack as it's life is limited.I keep nothing in it,and yesterday was driving around in it with the targa roof out....just park it and walk away.I'd be such a worry owning a flash car.

Actualy I had 2 Pajero's,one I used as a donor and stripped it of parts.One day someone wandered in and asked about the Pajero out the back,it had a debt on it.I told him I had bought it in good faith and it was going to be disposed of.No problem he said,we'll get our money.Both Pajero's I got off the same Coconut family.Those dickheads talking about soccer Mums in the SUV thread have been sucked in by Yank hype - who drives around blocking roads in 4x4's and people mover vans? Coconuts,full of bloated bodies and the windows smeared in KFC grease.

[imdying]

If not then there could be a problem. The seller is fully liable until BOTH parties have completed the right documents. Not just the seller sending the notice of change of ownership away.This doesn't surprise me... the law has moved the onus back and forwards from the seller to the buyer and back again a few times over the years.

Check the LTSA website for the current state of play Sniper.

[pervert]

It's been that way for a few years at least.

The sellers change of ownership form (the three peice fold-up bit of cardboard you mail back) outlines the situation as such.

[Sniper]

Has he got a signed and dated bit of paper that he and the buyer completed? Like a written receipt or anything?



Yep we do have a reciept that he signed with him saying he payed X amount for this car on X date

[pervert]

Yep we do have a reciept that he signed with him saying he payed X amount for this car on X date

He should be sweet to get off any parking fines or other tickets then, but the registration fees will continue to be charged to him until the change is completed.

[Sniper]

He should be sweet to get off any parking fines or other tickets then, but the registration fees will continue to be charged to him until the change is completed.

Ok, I might get him to phone the LTSA and ask what to do

[Sniper]

He rang the LTSA last night and chatted to them about it. Might be a bit of info for the anyone who runs into this problem.

When you send away the seller notifying of disposing a motorvehicle letter thing, the LTSA register that and send the current owner a letter stating they they should change the ownership within the next 14 days or there will be a $1000 to $1500 fine issued to them, she also mentioned she thought the car also gets removed from the LTSA database in 3 months rather than the 12months as per usual. The seller is sent a "sellers notification letter" which states the car was sold and such and such a date and that you are no longer liable for fines or outstanding rego fees. But you must present this letter whenever contesting fines with the issuer.

The main thing to remember is that you must phone the LTSA to action this letter and have it sent to you if you havent seen a change of ownership in a month, otherwise they just leave it and you continue getting notices and fines.