TikTok can throw up some truly wild automotive stories, but one that recently emerged seems to have taken things to the next level. This particular user has suggested that he was driving a brand-new Volkswagen when he didn’t have the right to do so.
TikTok user Kobe (@product1k) had been in the market for a new car. So, as many of us do at that point, he went to a dealership and wanted to see what was on offer. It was as he went through the dealership that he saw a Volkswagen that fit the bill.
It was this car that he decided to get his hands on. The dealership at the time didn’t have all the paperwork ready for him at the time of sale; however, they issued him temporary tags and a registration so he could drive the car until the paperwork was completed.
It was at this point that things got a little bit weird with the car. Kobe said that there was a lien from the previous owner, which wouldn’t usually be a problem. But it came on when it was revealed that the dealership hadn’t actually disclosed this.
What Happened With the Volkswagen?
@product1k Story time on How I Test Drove a Car off the Lot for 50 days😂🚩 #ourismancars #fyp #storytime #carsales ♬ Dust Collector – ybg lucas
According to Kobe, the lien from the previous owner hadn’t been paid off by the dealership. They didn’t disclose it to him either when he went to buy the car. That meant there was a delay in the process to transfer the title of the car and the registration into his name. “I was driving a car that I didn’t own the rights to,” Kobe said.
The TikTok user did some research into the problem. It turned out that there was a limited window to submit a buyer’s paperwork to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) where Kobe was located. This will differ in other states; however, it was what Kobe and the dealership dealt with when he bought the car. They had 30 days after the sale to submit the paperwork.
Unfortunately, the dealership submitted the paperwork to the MVA at around the 60-day mark. At least one month after the deadline had passed. Annoyingly, Kobe revealed that he could have just returned the car within the two-month window and got his money back for the Volkswagen. But because the dealership had messed up, it had gotten very tricky for him.
What Happened After the Issue Was Found?
Kobe decided to file a complaint with the MVA over the matter. The TikTok user said that the general manager of the dealership could actually lose his job over the situation. Had it not been spotted and rectified, Kobe could have driven a car he didn’t actually own for thousands of miles, in a worst-case scenario. “When you buy a car from these sleazy salesmen, make sure you are getting a good deal. Make sure you are getting all of your paperwork,” Kobe said.
When a dealership in Maryland sells a car, typically they handle the title application on behalf of the buyer. That process requires proof of ownership from the dealer, as well as applicable lien information. If documents are missing or incomplete, that can delay the transfer of title. A lien that lingers, such as this one, can cause all sorts of other issues. Temporary registration usually expires after the permanent plates arrive. Yet as this can be extended, Kobe could have driven the car on temporary tags for a long time. Clearly, the whole situation was less than ideal.