By Michael A. Klitzke, Auto Fraud & Lemon Law Attorney, Auto Law Firm, PC | Originally published Feb 15, 2024 | Last reviewed & updated June 2026
Imagine buying your dream car, cruising down a California highway, only to discover you don’t actually own it. At Auto Law Firm, attorney Michael Klitzke has represented hundreds of California consumers who never received DMV registration or title transfer after buying from a dealership. We know how these cases unfold and how to win them. Often the consumer does not discover the California dealership failed to register and transfer title until 3 or 4 months after the purchase. This scenario, unfortunately, is far from uncommon in California. Most dealerships in California sell vehicles when they don’t actually have the title. Sometimes the dealer never received the title from the previous owner; other times a third-party ‘flooring’ company (the lender that finances the dealer’s inventory) holds the title until the dealer pays off its line of credit. Either way, you’re left without legal ownership of a car you paid for.
California law requires dealerships to handle both DMV registration and title transfer, and sets two separate deadlines:
• Registration: Under California Vehicle Code § 4456, the dealer must submit the registration/transfer application and fees to the DMV within 30 days of the sale for a used vehicle (20 days for a new vehicle).
• Title: Under California Vehicle Code § 5753, the title must be delivered within 15 business days after the dealer receives full payment for the vehicle.
Your purchase contract includes a fee for this exact service, you already paid the dealer to do it.
The red flags start to appear: the temporary registration expires, the dealership gives you the runaround, or a police officer pulls you over for having no license plate or current tags.
In one case our firm handled, a client was pulled over at gunpoint because police believed the vehicle was stolen, he wasn’t the registered owner, after all. Fortunately, the three-year-old in the car seat convinced officers our client was no car thief, but a victim of dealer fraud. We secured a full refund, had his loan paid off, and the unregistered vehicle became the finance company’s problem, not his.
The Impact is Real
The consequences of a dealership’s failure to register and transfer title are severe. You can’t:
- Drive the car legally: Unregistered vehicles cannot be legally driven on public roads. Police can pull you over and ticket the driver for not having valid DMV registration. In rare cases, police can even treat the situation as grand theft auto (you aren’t the registered owner, after all).
- Sell the car: You don’t own it, so selling the vehicle is impossible, and you remain legally and financially responsible for a car you can’t use.
- Even park it on a public road: Unregistered vehicles face towing and parking violations if left on a public road.
From Frustration to Resolution: How Auto Law Empowers You
At Auto Law Firm, we hold California dealerships accountable, and, just as importantly, we hold the finance company and the dealer’s surety bond responsible. Pursuing the lender and bond company means you can still recover even if the dealership goes out of business. These cases fall under auto dealer fraud, where dealerships fail to meet their legal obligations during the sale.
This is an area where our firm has helped shape the law. Attorney Michael Klitzke was the primary litigation attorney in Pulliam v. HNL Automotive, Inc., 13 Cal.5th 127 (2022), in which the California Supreme Court confirmed that a finance company can be held responsible for a dealer’s misconduct, including paying the consumer’s attorney fees. That ruling is a major reason we can often take these cases with little or no money out of your pocket.
We’ve helped hundreds of Californians in title and registration cases. Depending on the facts, we’ve secured:
- Title transfers: Getting you the legal ownership you deserve.
- Buyback: Getting the vehicle repurchased (a refund of what you paid plus cancellation/payoff of the loan) by the dealer or finance company.
- Incidental damages: Other expenses you incurred because of the missing registration and title.
- Penalties: Under California Vehicle Code § 5753, a late title can entitle you to $25 per day, up to $2,500, and up to $7,500 if the dealer ignores a written demand for 60 days.
- Peace of mind: Knowing you have a dedicated attorney fighting for your rights.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
Q: How long does a California dealer have to transfer title and registration?
A: Two deadlines apply. The dealer must submit your registration paperwork and fees to the DMV within 30 days of the sale for a used vehicle (20 days for a new one) under Vehicle Code § 4456. Separately, the title itself must be delivered within 15 business days after the dealer receives full payment, under Vehicle Code § 5753.
Q: What can I do if my temporary registration expired and I still have no plates?
A: First, contact the DMV directly to check the status of your registration and title. If the dealer missed the legal deadline, you may have a claim against the dealership, the finance company, and the dealer’s surety bond. Don’t keep driving on expired tags — you risk tickets and having the car treated as unregistered. In some cases, the DMV will provide a temporary registration so that you can temporarily drive the vehicle during the lawsuit.
Q: Can I get my money back if the dealer never transferred the title?
A: Often, yes. Remedies can include a buyback (a refund of what you paid plus cancellation or payoff of your loan), statutory penalties for the late title, and other damages. The right outcome depends on your specific facts — a free consultation can tell you which apply.
Q: What happens if the dealership has gone out of business?
A: You may still recover. Because California lets you pursue the finance company and the dealer’s surety bond — not just the dealership — you can often be made whole even after a dealer closes. This is exactly why we name those parties in our cases.
Don’t Let This Happen to You
If you suspect your California dealership failed to transfer your title, don’t wait. You can contact the DMV directly to check the status of your registration and title, or you can have Auto Law Firm do it for you as part of a free consultation. We’ll assess your situation, explain your options, and guide you through reclaiming your rights.
If you think a California dealership failed to register and title a vehicle you purchased, Auto Law can help. Contact Auto Law today at 619-984-1239, [email protected]; or visit https://www.autolawfirm.com/auto-fraud-lawyer/no-title-registration-smog/. The sooner we start working on your case, the sooner the problem gets resolved.
You can also learn more about your rights by speaking with an auto fraud attorney or scheduling a free consultation.
About the Author — Michael A. Klitzke
Michael Klitzke is the founder of Auto Law Firm, PC, handling auto fraud, lemon law, and personal injury cases throughout California’s state and federal courts. He graduated summa cum laude (2 of 201) from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, where he served as a Law Review Editor and a national mock-trial competitor, and earned his B.A. in Political Science from San Diego State University. He was the primary litigation attorney in the landmark consumer case Pulliam v. HNL Automotive, Inc., 13 Cal.5th 127 (2022) before the California Supreme Court, and has been recognized by Super Lawyers (Rising Star), Best of the Bar for one of the top 100 California verdicts of 2022, and Marquis Who’s Who in North America (2025).