Vehicle Tax/Fraud?

[mrhaskellok]

To make a long story short, I was transferring my title to someone else(a friend) at the dealership and was asked by the salesman if I was related...I said no.  He replied with, "No, you don't understand, if you are related you don't have to pay the transfer fee...so let me ask you again, are you related?"  Of course I got mad and told him that my biology hadn't changed in 10 seconds and that I wasn't signing his affidavit saying I was.

Now knowing anything about where that (almost $400) goes and to what purpose, should I report this?  I have no problem reporting it at all, I really would first like to be educated as to where the money goes.  

I am also curious now as to how many times that happens.  Is the state out a ton of money because crooked salesman want to charge 18% commission, but in order to do that they have to get the buyer to believe that he is taking care of them or saving them some money?  

What to do...is all I ask of you.

[buzz words]

Sounds like a great news story

[Townsend]

You can gift a vehicle to an immediate family member and pay no transfer fee.  

Sounds like this guy was trying to give you what he thought was a favor.  I'm sure it happens in many dealerships and yes, it screws the honest people who pay the fee.  It has nothing to do with his commission percentage.

The fee goes to the state.  To find out more, call your friendly neighborhood tag office.  I was unable to get an answer from the DMV website.

[mrhaskellok]

quote:Originally posted by Townsend

You can gift a vehicle to an immediate family member and pay no transfer fee.  

Sounds like this guy was trying to give you what he thought was a favor.  I'm sure it happens in many dealerships and yes, it screws the honest people who pay the fee.  It has nothing to do with his commission percentage.

The fee goes to the state.  To find out more, call your friendly neighborhood tag office.  I was unable to get an answer from the DMV website.

I know the fee goes to the state, but if he could "save" my friend the 400 bucks, it makes it easier to get the most out of the buyer...a fact my friend found out at the finance desk.

[Townsend]

quote:Originally posted by mrhaskellok

quote:Originally posted by Townsend

You can gift a vehicle to an immediate family member and pay no transfer fee.  

Sounds like this guy was trying to give you what he thought was a favor.  I'm sure it happens in many dealerships and yes, it screws the honest people who pay the fee.  It has nothing to do with his commission percentage.

The fee goes to the state.  To find out more, call your friendly neighborhood tag office.  I was unable to get an answer from the DMV website.

I know the fee goes to the state, but if he could "save" my friend the 400 bucks, it makes it easier to get the most out of the buyer...a fact my friend found out at the finance desk.

How so?  Did he try to move the $400 to another section of the contract?

[cks511]

Dad wouldn't do it.............okay whatever.

[Townsend]

quote:Originally posted by cks511

Dad wouldn't do it.............okay whatever.

Ugh, that tagline still sounds incestuous to me.

[mrhaskellok]

Lol...don't know where you are getting "dad" from.  I am actually older than him.  

Townsend...perhaps I am being unfair.  He is not trying to move the money anywhere...he simply said, I would like to "save" you that money if I can.  
After I saw the interest rate he was giving David (my friend and also a police officer). I was disappointed.  I assumed, and probably incorrectly, that these salesmen try to get whatever they can out of you that hits the pockets of the dealership/bank but like to try to "save" the buyer money by trying to cheat the state out of revenues.[]

My main question or curiosity is,
1. Is this happening all over
2. How much is it costing the state (i.e. taxpayers)
3. How would you catch/stop it?
4. Who is actually committing the crime?  Which parties?
5. Who would want to know about all this or does anyone actually care?

[mrhaskellok]

quote:Originally posted by Townsend

quote:Originally posted by cks511

Dad wouldn't do it.............okay whatever.

Ugh, that tagline still sounds incestuous to me.

Lol

[Townsend]

quote:Originally posted by mrhaskellok

Lol...don't know where you are getting "dad" from.  I am actually older than him.  

Townsend...perhaps I am being unfair.  He is not trying to move the money anywhere...he simply said, I would like to "save" you that money if I can.  
After I saw the interest rate he was giving David (my friend and also a police officer). I was disappointed.  I assumed, and probably incorrectly, that these salesmen try to get whatever they can out of you that hits the pockets of the dealership/bank but like to try to "save" the buyer money by trying to cheat the state out of revenues.[]

My main question or curiosity is,
1. Is this happening all over
2. How much is it costing the state (i.e. taxpayers)
3. How would you catch/stop it?
4. Who is actually committing the crime?  Which parties?
5. Who would want to know about all this or does anyone actually care?

cks511 was paraphrasing a very tired ad campaign.  That's where "dad" came from.


1.  I can't tell you if it's happening all over but I just got a deal on a gym membership for my girlfriend because they wrote down that we were getting married so she got my insurance deduction...she has no ring yet.  I guess lots of people think it's ok to work the system...I'm guilty sometimes.

2.  That would take some serious digging and audits statewide to even come close to answering that.  I don't think the answer could ever be accurate.

3.  You won't.  It's going to be done as long as the dealerships can control the titling process.  Even if it was all done at the tag agency it will still happen...if the person behind the counter sees a friend...wink wink.

4.  In your case it sounds like the front house dealership personnel do it when the transfer is done from friend to customer.  That is a rare occurrence.  Generally the title is signed over to the dealership as a trade.

5.  The DMV might like a "heads up" on this one.  I'm not sure what they will do with the knowledge.

Sorry I am unable to provide better information.