Can you return a used car purchased from a dealer without the title?

Answer 1

First, remember all that paperwork you have, especially the one saying something like "Purchase Contract and Agreement", that has your signature (and probably initials also) in several places? Why not try looking at it to see what you agreed to about returns, condition, repairs?

Presuming no special dealer/seller return guarantee, lemon law claim, etc. You just don't want it, like it, think you can afford it, found a better deal, thought it was better than it is, found it was a used car with - believe it or not - troubles, neighbor got a better one, lost your job, kid threw up in it, whatever ---:

There is no time or limit for the return. There simply is no returning it or reneging on the sale. It's bought, it's yours. Done deal. You made a contract and deal, presumably because that's what you wanted to do then. Of course, the seller can't take it back because he wants to, or decide to charge you more, or now decide he really didn't want to give you those tires, and ask you to return them, for any other reason either. That's how contracts work. They are agreed to, the parties do what they say they will, they conclude. It's over.

Of course, you may now sell it back to the dealer or anyone else...(and you will likely get much less than you paid for it). That's the cost of having others act on your wishes and then changing your mind.

The car isn't returnable and if purchased "as is", there really isn't anyone else responsible to fix it. (Except under extreme "lemon law" situations, generally where opportunity to fix must have been given to the dealer several times). However, sometimes, even if purchased "as is" the problem may be resolvable with the dealer, as a good faith or customer accomadation easily. But it isn't going to be returnable.

And if like others asking this before you, your thinking you'll just outsmart the process and just drop it off at the dealer, perhaps you should think it through more: You will probably end up with towing and storage fees to pay when you have to come claim it. Which will probably be after the police contact you because they have towed it. (Imagine the same thing except you left it at an entirely different dealership, or a boat dealer or such). In many cases, even at the same dealer you bought it from, they handle so many cars, different sales people at different times, they won't recognize any particular one as one they may use to have on the lot, nor should that make any difference to them ....it is just one left on the street or interferring with their business - or think it's there for service or such. If it isn't interfering with the biz, say just parked legally on the street , they have no right to touch it. Because, it yours, not theirs!

It is the same as abandoning your vehicle on anyones property.