Tips on Buying Cars: salvage title, salvage title, department of motor vehicles

Question
A friend of mine purchased a vehicle from a dealer and was not told about its salvage title.  He cannot register the car or get license plates from DMV.  The dealer just keeps issuing temporary tags.  Was it illegal for them to sell my friend the car in Virginia?  What would you advise him to do in this situation?

Answer
Hi April,

It sounds like your friend got screwed. I would recommend that your friend contact the DMV again and tell them about this situation and also tell the DMV that the "salvaged title" was never disclosed and that the dealer continues to write temporary tags.

Then, I would tell your friend to contact the dealer him or herself directly. Do not go through the sales person or the managers, go directly to the dealer. If the dealer has any integrity, he or she will buy back the vehicle.

Just to let you know, I am not an attorney or an expert in Department of Motor Vehicles. But I would suggest you move on this quickly.

Good luck!

Doug