Problem purchasing car when on registry.
Over the past six months we received reports from three unrelated members who have experienced problems when purchasing cars. We originally thought it was unrelated to the registry, but with it now being THREE concerns brought to our attention, we need to determine if there’s something more to it and whether something can be done. Please reply in the comments if anything similar has happened to you.
Complaint One:
I am a registered sex offender in the state of Florida. Over the weekend I want to purchase a car and signed all the paperwork. Payment was made and all that was left was to receive the tags for the vehicle. Then I was informed the DMV delayed issuance of my temporary tags due to my status. I’ve never heard of this, so today I called around and the three reps from the DMV and three attorneys I spoke to all mentioned never having heard of any such rule. What can I do in this situation? I’ve already made a deposit on the vehicle and the dealership is mentioning my status as the reason my tags are delayed.
Complaint Two:
Hello. I am not sure if this is something relevant to share, but I just purchased a new vehicle and while going through that process, their computer system was blocked and prevented the sales of the car. I am a registered sex offender but the program they use had me labeled as a Sexual Predator. This was so very humiliating to go through. But then the sales/financial guy asked me to call the relevant government agencies to figure out how to remove the block. The following day I spent a long time making calls trying to figure out how to remove that block from the Honda Dealership. No one knew what I was talking about since the block had been put in place by the dealership themselves in conjunction with the DMV. I am only sharing this in the hopes that if anyone has the opportunity to purchase a new car that they be made aware of this horrible thing.
Complaint Three:
Yesterday, Sunday March 22, 2021 I went to lease a vehicle from Delray Hyundai. I made a deal, qualified for the lease, and all seemed perfect. After waiting for ½ hr. the salesman asked me to come to the finance office. While there I was informed that they were not able to register the car in my name and transfer my tags to the new vehicle. I asked why and was told that the “system” denied me since I had a “sexual charge” on my record. They even told me at this point that they could not register the car in my wife’s name as she was on the original application. I checked with FDLE in Tallahassee and was told that there is no regulation or law preventing me from owning and registering a car in my name and my only obligation was to report the vehicle change. As of this morning, there is no solution yet to the issue.
Find out who denied it.
Get it in writing.
Get an attorney.
Welcome to the United States of China. I had heard that social credit scoring was coming to our shores. We are unworthy to be consumers now. They don’t want our “filthy” money. Where will it all end ??? Life sentence in a digital gulag ???
RESOLUTION:..SUE THEM!!!
I purchased a new car in North Carolina and registered it in Florida with no problems.
I purchased a car back in August of 2020 without any problems. I tranfred the tag from my old car to the new one (old tag from trade in was on the SO registry as tequired) As soon as I took possession of the new car, I went to my Sheriff’s Office to make the required changes…again without issues. So, maybe something has happened in the past 6 months or so. I do know that the Florida dealerships are connected directly with the DMV through a system called Tag Talk.
Here is a suggestion for anyone affected…file written complaints against the car dealerships through the process outlined by the DMV below. Doing so will help answer a lot of questions when the results of the complaint are returned.
https://www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/consumer-education/consumer-complaints/#:~:text=The%20Consumer%20Services%20Division%20Hotline,office%20responsible%20for%20the%20dealership.
WOW! That’s crazy!!! But dare I say ‘good’? The more extreme government agencies get the easier it is to show punitive effects. Your family member can’t purchase a new car because you are on the registry!! NOT punitive??!??!
I am floored and so very sorry you all had to experience this outrageous behavior. Lets hope we can use it to show people how ridiculous this has all become.
I have bought and sold 3 different cars in 2 different county’s(broward and palm beach) and i have never had a problem with registering or unregistering any of them
i think in these situations there is something more to the story that maybe the dealerships do not want to tell the customers.
i know there are a lot of things they do to us but buying and selling a car is not something they are doing(for now)
I just leased a vehicle from Delray VW last week, and they transferred my plates from my old vehicle to my new one, Thankfully, I did not run into any issues. I did the whole deal online and via phone and had the car delivered to my home. Try another dealership, it is amazing how many people and businesses like to hurt us, I just don’t understand it and frankly, I am very fearful of going out anywhere
Put the ball in their court. They want to sell you the vehicle then tell them to fix it or return your money.
Sounds to me like it’s the dealer’s association that the state is hurting this time. They’re losing sales because of some one’s vendetta.
If I was a dealer I would be furious that the state is regulating who i can sell to.
I’ve never heard nor experienced such issues, and I would bet it is tied in with not only the dealership, but also the DMV. This sounds ripe for civil lawsuits, as to deny someone based solely on a sex offense a vehicle, is a form of discrimination.
Grateful also for the accounts here of SUCCESSFUL recent purchases. At least those help us gauge how widespread the problem is.
Unfortunately we are in no position to sue or even file a complaint yet. Sue whom for what? File a complaint against whom? We first need to unravel the mystery of what’s going on here and would encourage these three members to submit updates where relevant.
As far as I know, it’s not illegal to refuse to sell to a registrant. It’s just the first I’ve heard of a car dealer doing so.
this is nothing new, I emailed FAC in 2016 telling them the same experience that i had, bought 3 cars that year, and a couple since, all the same story, cant swap your tags or give you a temp, Florida DMV has you on ” a hold “
So what did you do about it to move the purchases forward.
Justice,
i had to wait till the next business day to get tags / take possession .
All my vehicles are listed with my wifes name first, state of Florida see the first name on title as the owner, my name is last, with an (or) in the middle, so if something happens to me, she can sell it, or vice versa….
If you put an (and) in the middle both people have to sign to sell, in case of death, you have to have a power of attorney to sign for the deceased owner..
On my white paper, im listed as a driver, but not the owner of the vehicles.
All tags and insurance notices come on my wife’s birth date…
If you buy a car or whatever, you could put your family or a trusted friend names first, just in case anything happens to you…
Im sure this is not the ideal thing for most people who are RSO’s, but it works for us…
I have bought multiple cars and houses and loans and have never once had to deal with this to this date. I am sorry for the ones that this has happened to but it honestly sounds like vindictive dealerships.
I think I know what is going on here.
Car dealers are using the same DMV website that citizens also use.
First, forget the new car deal. If you already own a car and it is registered in your name and you try renew the registration on DMV’s website, it rejects it and says you can’t do it. So you must either mail it or go physically to the DMV.
With a car in my wife’s name, no problem, she can renew her car online, car in my name or both our names, can’t renew on DMV’s website.
The same with a driver’s license. Non-RSO’s can renew their license online and get a sticker for it. If an RSO tries to do the renewal online they reject it, and the RSO must go in and get picture taken.
Remember, before the in person registration came to be in 2006, if there was a change in address you had to go to the DMV and change your license (and FDLE picked up a new photo). That was the only way the FDLE got the data. I am not sure exactly when vehicle information went online on the FDLE site, but what was on the website prior to in-person reporting was pulled data from the DMV. It was not until later that they made it part of in person reporting.
Having to report to the DMV for license renewal and address changes is a vestige of the original law. It should be removed as it is redundant with later implemented in person reporting. But I don’t think you will see any RSO law repealed for anything anytime soon (or ever).
So since the DMV has a lock on all RSO online car (and license) registrations then when the dealer tries to register the car in your name online, it is rejected. They will either have to go to the DMV in person, or mail it. The state is also working on getting away from paper car titles and are moving them to electronic titles. This is all something that can be set up for non-so’s online by the dealer.
So, to purchase a car you will have to identify yourself as a registrant and hope the dealer doesn’t sabotage your new vehicle.
The root cause is that the DMV is blocking all RSO’s online transactions.
“So since the DMV has a lock on all RSO online car (and license) registrations then when the dealer tries to register the car in your name online, it is rejected.”
I’m unsure how you obtained this information. I respectfully disagree. I have had zero issues with purchasing a car from a dealership and zero issues renewing my tags online.
“So, to purchase a car you will have to identify yourself as a registrant and hope the dealer doesn’t sabotage your new vehicle.”
Absolutely, not.
I have had no issues purchasing the last eight new cars I have got, I went to trade in my truck today and they gave me a the comment they can’t register my car because of my background, it makes no sense, 8 cars no issues this one issue makes not a lick of sense
I believe it is because you cannot register the car on line. It has to be done in person. DMV puts a block on the on-line registering of automobiles.
This is the second year I could not register my car or motorcycle online, I registered my wife’s under her name but I am listed on the tittle as well and as first person. We bought the car 3 years ago and my credit is the one the used and approved. I had no problems as we had a tag to transfer. I have to make an appointment again to go out of my way and take a day off from work, I will find out this week why.
I renewed tag online for my vehicle as well as my trailer, just recently.. and had no issues doing it online.
Barbara, now that makes more sense. I know on my drivers license I have to make sure the classification of my offense has to be listed on the very bottom. I believe it is to alert the police etc. So perhaps doing this in person may be required. But you would think that is only for drivers license renewal not registration for a vehicle.
Two years ago I had a car that broke down and I ended up getting rid of it and turning in the tag and the DMV gave me a credit for them for when I needed a new tag. Covid came along and I didn’t bother getting a new car because I was working from home. Last month I purchased a car from a dealer in Sumter County, I live in lake County. My new tag arrived 5 days later in the mail, no problems or anything.
I suspect many dealers by now have experienced the issue. Rather than confront you with it and possibly lose the sale, they use an alternate manual method. There has to be a manual with forms in case the systems are down; then they deliver those forms to the DMV in person (old school method before the DMV online systems existed)
One more thought about this.
My wife purchased a car without having a tag from a trade in. The dealer had permanent tags on hand and that was her new permanent tag. There was no temporary tag issued. The fact that they gave you a temporary tag and you got the tags later in the mail is a sign that they could not issue you the permanent tag themselves with the online system.
I have noticed that over at least the last 10 years I have not seen as many temporary tags on the road as I used to; I didn’t think about it until now. Dealers can and do register permanent tags at delivery (at least if nothing stands in their way).
There’s no connection between these dealerships and the FDHSMV. The registration system for vehicle purchases doesn’t go through a “screening”. Had a conversation about this with good friend that works for FDHSMV and has been there 25+ years. Her comment was that this is a scam of some type run specifically through those dealerships.
triggered a so-called “Angel Watch” alert, ,,,,,,,,
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/03/22/feds-charge-ca-sex-offender-with-child-porn-possession-allegedly-found-after-he-booked-flight-from-sf-to-cambodia/
International Megan’s Law for the first time caught a registered sex offender committing a sex crime, am I right?
If IML is ever challenged, its defenders will point to him.
I hope he is statistically insignificant compared to the total number of Angel Watch alerts generated under IML.
Who knows? But, you would hope that the criminal federal regime would actually be keeping track. Regardless, they will say IML is not “catching” people committing crimes but instead that it is preventing the crimes. Because, as all people with any brains know, the only reason that a PFR wants to travel is to molest children.
Regardless of all that, apparently this guy was/is 73 years old and has no idea how PFRs are being harassed. He thought he could just travel freely and not tell a criminal regime. Then he carries CP with him. So, he just had no clue what he was doing. A person who does could easily avoid all of that.
He might’ve been trying to travel to molest children. BFD. That has absolutely nothing to do with me or even one other PFR in the world. But of course the scumbags who support the Hit Lists do think that a single person committing a crime is an excuse to punish millions of unrelated people. Because Registry Supporters/Terrorists are stupid and immoral.
The ticket being purchased did this or did his advance notification (because he was not charged with no advance notification when trying to travel)? If the ticket purchase is key, then it would seem that advance notification is really only for accountability of the person to Fed SORNA regs and for local LE notification where the Feds already know from the ticket purchase.
An individual below referred to this as a “scam.”
But we know that this cannot be a scam. A scam to accomplish what? Certainly not to make any money. REDUCING sales is not what scams are for.
Agreed, this is no scam.
Scam is the wrong terminology. She was using the term generically. Seems to be more of a direct “assault” on SO’s by a person or persons with a personal hatred or attitude, especially since it seems to be hit & miss.
Proves nothing he was caught in the U.S. with cp on his devices not bringing cp back from a foreign country. What he was actually planning to do and who he was planning to do it with is a a matter of conjecture because he never got a chance to do anything. Unfortunately this will be used to show IML works even though his crimes were allegedly perpetrated on U.S. soil and he was arrested on U.S. soil
I would highlight the response from “j,” below, as we are already partway to a solution.
“Can’t swap your tags or give you a temp, Florida DMV has you on a ‘hold.’”
But this hasn’t prevented car buying, apparently. Why not? What is the best car buying process for a registrant to go through, and what should they avoid doing?
Could FAC’s attorneys draft a letter to be delivered to these dealers advising them that they are liable for legal action unless they correct this?
It would be great if these could be created as a PDF for printing in case any of the rest of us need them.
FAC does not have attorneys on staff. Why would they be liable for “legal action”?
In reference to FAC question “Why would they be liable to legal action?”
The DMV or anyone else for that matter cant just at a whim go “Oooh nooo he is a registered sex offender, so we cant possible register his vehicle. Who gives them that authority? it appears that the DMV has no valid reason for this. Cant just make up laws as we go. Once again our rights being violated. One day are we going to walk into a grocery store and be told “Sorry we can take your form of payment, you were denied because you are a registered offender. This is so disturbing.
They dont want us to be homeless and live on the streets. We have to have some form of transportation. “Legal Action” they have to be questioned as to where or whom they are getting this information from. DMW can respond when questioned “Why cant I do this” and they respond with “Because”. I guess you just can fix stupid and because of that each of us suffer every day and more and more.
FYI… My offense 1986 (Not a predator- No Minor involved Indecent exposure and before all this Megan law stuff came out. Never required to register until I move here to Florida in 2006.
30 some years later and it is still make our so called life a living hell. Now i cant even think about buying a car. When does “I have served my time and did everything I was suppose too finally make it just that. Bank Robbers with guns, etc they serve their time and its over.
Ron
Dealers WANT to sell you a car. The only people they turn away are those with crappy credit and even those they try and get them to get a friend or relative to co-sign.
Most all call salesmen/women are on commission. No sell, no paycheck. They are not out to get you(Other than trying to jack up the price to get a higher profit) and low balling you on your trade in.
I bought a brand new car in Oct 2020 in my and my wife’s name. We transferred the tags from my old car (which we traded in)to the new one. Then I went to Leon cty sheriffs office to report change. No issues. It’s seems very odd.
We cannot complete any online transactions due to our status. Ive had no problems at the dealers yet but the online stopped working dor me the moment i ended up in fl lost not knowing .
You can renew: cant do direct changes or address changes or plate ordering
Complaint #1, #2, and #3….
USE Ben’s advice……
“Find out who denied it.
Get it in Writing.
Get an attorney”
Only way to deal with these knuckleheads!
My husband and I bought a car this past June, it’s under my name, both the registration and loan. The tag (and title I might add) that we transferred were under his name only. In fact, he had to sign over everything to me, which involved his proof of identity to the dealership, before anything could be transferred in my name. We had no issues at dealership whatsoever or with the DMV after the fact. Sounds like whatever dealerships these guys used are ignorant, or petty.
‘Proof of identity’ meaning his driver’s license? Any other docs you had to bring with you? And was the process of signing over everything difficult or did you just “sign here” when prompted by the dealer?
From what I remember he only showed his ID to make sure the name matched the title of the car we traded in,but that was basically it. By the time we got to the finance guy, it was just me doing all the signing, except the title, which my husband had to sign over to the dealership. Registration was set in my name and the tag was transferred immediately to the new car and that was it.
Good process! With luck it will be like this for others.
I wish to disagree with your analogy that the dealership was ignorant or petty. I bought a car and yes I had issues getting my plates and was told to contact the DMV – this was in 2017. And, yes! The DMV stated there should be no issue. It took me 5 phone calls and 3 months of BS to get my plates. Another issue is I’m told I can renew my plates online – yet when I do – I receive a msg telling me I have to register for my plates IN-PERSON. So, I did this once and was told I could have renewed my plates on line. So the next year I tried and again denied access and received the same msg. so I called and was told I could do that right over the phone – There may not be a law that required in-person registering or renewal of plates or license – but the DMV does stop people on the registery from doing such as any other citizen does to renew or register their own vehicle(s)
Hi All,
So after reading this I decided to renew my tags online for Orange County. I have a boat, trailer, and SUV. So I needed to renew all 3. I had no issues renewing online. I am listed as a predator 🙁 and everything went through perfectly fine. I hope and pray that these are isolated incidences. Lord knows we have enough to deal with as it is.
In October of 1999 I ran into the same issue. When I purchased a new motorcycle in Gainsville at a Can-Am Dealership it took over two months to get my tag transferred from my old bike. The dealership told me that it was the tag office that was holding up my tag because of my “Status”. Thankfully, the finance officer at Ride Now Gainsville went to bat for me and pushed the issue and finally got my tag issued. Until then, I was riding illegally with the transfer paperwork from the dealer, but no official state registration documents.
I have never for years had a problem re-registering my cars, boats, trailers on line, and get the tag or sticker in the mail.
It’s trying to renew my drivers license that I am blocked and told that it can’t be done on line. So i make an appointment and go there.
Blessings
This is what happens when many of the authorities don’t have a clue.
I am a finance manager at an auto dealership and this problem came up recently at a sister store. The problem was that if the input of the address is not exactly letter for letter like your drivers license it sends up a red flag in the system. If this happens to anyone have the finance manager check the address and make sure it’s exactly like the drivers license. If need be they can just add you to the deal in the DMV system by putting in you DL and then deleting the one they put in. It’s not that hard to do. It just takes some time and brains.
So not being able to register with buying a car just hit me. Im going through an online buying process to buy a new car. State of Florida is not allowing the plate transfer to go through. The online dealership is located in Texas. The car has been delivered. So what do I do now? How has others been able to get thier tags? How long did it take? Thanks
Have the Car Delivered and deal with transfer once it is delivered
Get a Notorized Copy of Bill of Sale
Get Everything in Writing
Make sure the Vehicle is fully insured during transport!
Good Luck
I live in Florida. I bought my car in person in North Carolina and had it registered right from the dealership. Tags, title, and even on-Star were transferred right at the dealership. I had no problems at all. When I got back to Florida I was able to report my new car over the phone.
Anyone know if I had a temp tag from another state would this pose an issue with updating my vehicle info with registration