Dealer won't transfer vehicle ownership

slo007 · 02-07-2021 4:49pm #1

Hello,

I purchased a new pre-reg car on the 16th of June which I found online from a licensed dealership. I paid cash for it. The balance was submitted on the 21st. They recognised the payment and delivered the car by truck last Saturday 26th.

I inquired about taxing the vehicle and the sales man said he would send notes with the car. He didn't.

I figured out the pin and tried to pay for the tax disc... but the website says the dealership owns the car. How odd, I think, I didn't have this problem last time I bought a car in 2019. So I asked the dealership about it and they replied, "first thing Monday".

Comes Tuesday, "oh, don't you want to wait until the first of the month?" No, I want to drive my new car, I replied. "First thing tomorrow..."

Comes Thursday, nothing yet. I called again, "oh, right a way". Finally, about mid-day, I see a msg on the tax authority website that says "return in 24 hrs".

Comes Friday, same message, return in 24 hours.

Is the dealership playing games, or what?

slo007 · 02-07-2021 4:51pm

Also, can I drive an unlicensed car? I assume not.

whomitconcerns · 02-07-2021 5:07pm

you pay tax for the entire calendar month of ownership, regardless of when purchased so the dealer was doing you a favour by saving you a full month of tax by regging it 1 July. He may have explained it badly I guess

grogi · 02-07-2021 5:13pm

whomitconcerns wrote: »

you pay tax for the entire calendar month of ownership, regardless of when purchased so the dealer was doing you a favour by saving you a full month of tax by regging it 1 July. He may have explained it badly I guess

What a joke. If I ask to have the transfer done now, the dealer should do it now. It is not dealers business to decide for me.

dsmythy · 02-07-2021 5:18pm

Looks like they were slow. Presumably being processed now.

colm_mcm · 02-07-2021 5:47pm

If it’s pre reg it may already be taxed?

Larbre34 · 02-07-2021 5:51pm

I wouldn't have kittens about it. Keep your sales invoice on you in case you're stopped by the Guards until the tax is sorted, but fear not, you'll be charged every cent of tax from the day you bought it when the dealer submits the date of sale.

slo007 · 02-07-2021 6:55pm

colm_mcm wrote: »

If it’s pre reg it may already be taxed?

Afraid not

Tails142 · 02-07-2021 6:58pm

Most people would just drive untaxed for a few days, I know I did with the receipt in the car, most guards would understand if you were stopped and said book was in the post, or at worst it's a 40 quid fine. It's fairly common to wait till the 1st to register change of ownership especially if it's near the end of month.

slo007 · 02-07-2021 7:06pm

Tails142 wrote: »

Most people would just drive untaxed for a few days, I know I did with the receipt in the car, most guards would understand if you were stopped and said book was in the post, or at worst it's a 40 quid fine. It's fairly common to wait till the 1st to register change of ownership especially if it's near the end of month.

Any issues with insurance driving an untaxed car?

Larbre34 · 02-07-2021 7:46pm

slo007 wrote: »

Any issues with insurance driving an untaxed car?

Absolutely none.

Besides its not untaxed, it's tax pending post sale, of which you have proof. Not a problem.

athlone573 · 02-07-2021 8:04pm

You would need to have an extremely grumpy Garda to fine you for no tax on a newly bought car,for the first week or two anyhow.
Parking attendants now is another matter.

Larbre34 · 02-07-2021 8:20pm

Parking attendants can't hook you for tax, it's not an authorised function. Only AGS.

Atlantic Dawn · 02-07-2021 8:21pm

Parking wardens can issue fines for non display of tax in a public place.

mickdw · 02-07-2021 8:27pm

You bought a pre reg which may well have been registered by the dealer as a demo on which they get discount from the distributor.
Ive seen it before - dealer needs to keep the car 3 months to get the discount so if they then sell it early, they drag their heals obmn doing the transfer. This is not usually a major problem as car will generally be taxed.

Lightscribe · 02-07-2021 8:37pm

Larbre34 wrote: »

Parking attendants can't hook you for tax, it's not an authorised function. Only AGS.

That's not correct, they can and do issue fines for non-display of a motor tax disc.

grogi · 02-07-2021 8:51pm

Larbre34 wrote: »

Parking attendants can't hook you for tax, it's not an authorised function. Only AGS.

They absolutely can.

Larbre34 · 02-07-2021 9:24pm

Sorry I should clarify. Brown coat wardens (are there many left?) can, but the likes of the clamping contractors in Dublin City don't go near motor tax.

athlone573 · 02-07-2021 11:05pm

I probably should have said Traffic Wardens (when wearing their hat).

Buffman · 03-07-2021 5:19pm

slo007 wrote: »

Comes Thursday, nothing yet. I called again, "oh, right a way". Finally, about mid-day, I see a msg on the tax authority website that says "return in 24 hrs".

Comes Friday, same message, return in 24 hours.

Is the dealership playing games, or what?

The system is not instantaneous, there will always be a lag time around change of ownership. Yes, the dealer was a bit slow with the paperwork, which didn't help.

I'd say by Tuesday at the latest it should be in your name online to tax. You'll then be waiting a few more days for disc to issue and be posted.

Don't worry about it and enjoy your new car. In the extremely unlikely event something like this ever did make it to a District Court it would be thrown out.

slo007 · 03-07-2021 6:16pm

mickdw wrote: »

You bought a pre reg which may well have been registered by the dealer as a demo on which they get discount from the distributor.
Ive seen it before - dealer needs to keep the car 3 months to get the discount so if they then sell it early, they drag their heals obmn doing the transfer. This is not usually a major problem as car will generally be taxed.

It was pre-registered in March, so perhaps this might be it! I saved almost €5k on the car.

It finally cleared today, so I was able to pay the tax and go out for a drive without worry.

Dealer won't transfer vehicle ownership

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