I may go to jail :(

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Jail is for those who don’t pay for months—if at all.

You haven’t technically “done anything” yet.

See I don’t have and haven’t had an insurance company in 2 1/2 years. So I don’t even remember who it was with and surely by now they erased my file. And the car is now in his name. Pretty sure the dmv can just give out people’s car info to non owners.
But yes I’m just going habe to go down and say I sold it last week and didn’t know I had to report it and don’t have the plate number.

Dont they either say you pay the fine or jail at the court hearing?
Most fines say $___ or ____ years and jail.

If a person can’t pay/is found indigent, they put a “judgment” on the person which affects the credit report.

They would give you at least a couple of months to pay. Many times more than six months. I’ve seen it take years.

They might put you in jail should you fail to appear for a court date, and get a “bench warrant.” And then fail to appear for a long time. Jails are full these days.

Just go down to the DMV. See what they’ll say. It could very well be that they won’t charge you with anything.

I work in the NYC courts, and I’ve read about what takes place in other states.

This guy sounds like a bad sort. As I mentioned earlier, the reason why he tells you not to notify the DMV is because that makes YOU responsible for whatever HE happens to do with that car you sold him: like get in an accident, commit a crime, etc.
It is essential that you get to the DMV and tell them that you sold it, then realized you didn't record the license plate. Please tell them that you haven't driven the car in however many years it's been. I think with at least the VIN number you should be fine. No two vehicles have the same VIN. They will probably find the license plate info for you. Do not mention the missing bill of sale date but having that paper with you might prove helpful. Be as calm as you can muster and don't mention fines or jail or any such things. I really want to know how this turns out.
I know its frustrating but its important to get your name off the record as owning that vehicle or it could come back to haunt you.
Also, I would strongly advise against having any further association with the buyer until he sends you a pic of your license plate. But if he is as much of a creep as he seems, he may send you false info. He seems like he is just trying to take advantage of a good deal with your sister's car as well. Save the texts you sent requesting the plate info if you want to show them at the DMV.

Depression/anxiety.. making mountains out of molehills. Seeing not only the negative, but assuming the absolute worst by extremely exaggerating the reality of the situation. Whether it's more depression or anxiety I can't recall, but no matter which way you slice it it's a distorted mental perception of reality that's magnifying the problem in his own mind.

Sly, no one goes to jail for that. Worst case they make you pay a fine. Just go report the sale on Tuesday and relax.

In other words, Sly,

THERE'S NO CHANCE YOU WILL GO TO JAIL.

If you put this off, then the possibility increases (though it's still quite, quite minimal).

If you could, get somebody to go with you.

It could be the above, or it could be that Sly doesn’t know the legal system.

People tend to get anxious about what they don’t know.

I had to scrap my first car, and it was just after the law here changed on this so nobody told me I had to inform on a scrapped car. The letter said either I paid £150 or I risked going to court and a £1000 fine and my Dad told me not to pay because I would probably get away with it because the law was new. I paid it though because I didn't want to risk it. I knew I would be an anxious wreck otherwise .

That was smart, Fluffy.

Probably to limit scams and tax evasion. The seller is the recipient of the funds and require the selling to report quickly lessens the chance they will disappear with the money and their tax obligations and leave the buyer with a lemon. Also it can protect the seller if the buyer does something like use the car in a crime.



I don't do shady stuff and if someone is a "friend" who expects me to go along with their shady stuff, then they are not my friend and I am not theirs.

Fulfill your legal obligation to report and if you can't because he won't give you the information you need, let the DMV know and see what they advise to do.

I doubt the guy is planning on using it as a getaway car in sly's name. He probably just doesn't want to spend a penny registering it until he gets it in good running order. Either way, all sly has to do is go file the paperwork with as much information as he can provide and then his part is done and who cares what the buyer does or doesn't do. End of non-problem that never in a million years would have resulted in sly going to jail.

Hey Sly,

Did you go down to Motor Vehicles, and deal with this?

He's just kidding, Sly.

But you do have to get this done, my friend. You have to get down to Motor Vehicles---if you haven't already.

Like I said, I work in the courts. They won't put you in jail. You haven't even committed a violation yet.

No my family talked me out of saying likely nothing will happen but if I go tell them then it makes it more likely they fine or ticket me