Towing Issues: Car towed and released to tow company., tow fee, tow company

Question
Aloha,

August 2007 my car was removed from a location I had stored it without my knowledge. I moved out of state. About a month later I received a delayed notice from a tow company that the car was abandoned in a nearby city. I paid an amnesty demand and sent the tilte to the tow company.

9 months later I received another storage and tow fee and parking registration fines from a different company. Some how the car was released to an unknown party that drove the car and abandoned it. Now the tow and storage fee is several thousand dollars. After the first tow and storage, where I sent the tow company the title as well as paid an amnest amount. I thought the original tow company would become the new owner and was responsible for the car?? Am I still liable?

Answer
Well from what I see here in the question, your car was towed, you surrendered the title and then the original tow company sold the vehicle to someone who did not transfer the title...
VERY COMMON PROBLEM


Now how to handle this, I hope you have copies of the paperwork from the first tow company, and a copy of the surrendered title... Since this sounds like you did it in the mail, I would hope that you sent it certified mail and have receipts... Plus have a release of liability from the tow company or the state DMV office.

Now if you did not, then you have a bigger battle to fight, as you have to prove that you did not own it when it was towed the second time...

Have you checked with the first tow company about this and got any paperwork back as to them receiving the title, and to whom they sold the vehicle... Its going to be a big battle, but it can be solved...

Have you talked to the second tow company and explained what happened?

A lot of time they will help you with where to go, what to do and who to contact to help resolve the issue...
But it sounds like the "buyer of the vehicle" failed to follow DMV and State laws and register the vehicle and as such you are suffering...
This is very common as it creates a "throw away car"


I hope this helps but it is hard for me to help on these kind of things as it is complicated and lots of paperwork.