When you go to a dealership and pay for the new car you just bought, you expect to drive it. However, when you don’t have its title in your name, that car might be sitting in your driveway collecting dust since your temporary registration expires after 45 days in South Carolina. Even worse, racking up violations while you wait for paperwork that never comes. Unfortunately, this could be a sign of something more serious happening with the dealership itself.
When Paperwork Turns Into a Problem
In South Carolina, licensed dealers are required to properly title and register a vehicle within 45 days of the sale. This isn’t a courtesy that they provide to you as a customer. It is the law. If they fail to meet this deadline, especially if they knowingly don’t file the necessary documents, they may face criminal penalties or dealer license points.
This can play out with a small dealership taking your money and stalling on the title. You call. They say they’re working on it, but weeks pass, and your temporary tag expires. At that point, you’re stuck since you can’t legally drive the car you purchased. Maybe they blame the DMV or maybe they stop answering altogether. In the worst cases, they close their doors without ever transferring ownership, as we recently saw with a dealership in Georgia.
That’s not a paperwork error. That’s consumer fraud.
This can play out with a small dealership taking your money and stalling on the title. You call. They say they’re working on it, but weeks pass, and your temporary tag expires. At that point, you’re stuck since you can’t legally drive the car you purchased. Maybe they blame the DMV or maybe they stop answering altogether. In the worst cases, they close their doors without ever transferring ownership, as we recently saw with a dealership in Georgia.
That’s not a paperwork error. That’s consumer fraud.
How Title Delays Hurt You
If your title isn’t transferred, you don’t legally own the vehicle, even if you paid cash in full at the time of the purchase. Since you do not have legal ownership, a ripple effect happens. You can’t register it. You can’t sell it. You can’t renew a tag when it expires. Law enforcement won’t care why the tag is expired when they issue a ticket . Whether it’s due to neglect or dishonesty, you deserve answers, and you may be entitled to take legal action.
your options as a south carolina buyer
If you’ve purchased a vehicle and haven’t received the title within 45 days from the date of purchase, here are some things to do:
- Contact the dealership immediately and request proof that the title has been sent to the SCDMV.
- Report the dealer to the South Carolina DMV if you don’t receive a timely response. At that point, they have 45 days to clear the complaint filed against them.
- Reach out to our office if you suspect the dealer is ignoring the law or withholding information. We handle cases like this under South Carolina’s consumer protection laws.
we can help you take action
You don’t have to wait for the dealership to do the right thing. If they’ve failed to transfer your title within 45 days, it may be time to pursue legal action. Contact Steve Moskos so we can explain your rights and walk you through what to do next.
RSS Feed