Teen Won't Pay Back For Car

DOUGT · #1 05-28-2008, 04:24 PM

My question involves juvenile law in the State of: New Mexico

I bought a used car for my 19 year old step-son to help him get a job. We told him he would have to pay us back. We registered it in his name so he could pay his own insurance. He has been breaking rules around the house and we told him we would take the car back if he couldn't follow the rules. He said if we take it he will call the cops on us for stealing his car. Can he do this? He only made one payment and hasn't paid any more for 4 months.

Happy Trails · #2 05-28-2008, 05:10 PM

Car is titled in his name, so it belongs to him.

Why don't you sue him in small claims court. Not that it will make him pay you, but at least you would have a judgment against him.

DOUGT · #3 05-28-2008, 07:54 PM

Don't you have to pay for something before it belongs to you? My house is in my name, but the bank owns it.

FlyinHawk® · #4 05-28-2008, 08:00 PM

Is the car paid off, meaning did you pay it off fully?

If it is then it could be taken like it was nothing more than a Gift. If the title and reg/tags are in his name then Small claims would be the way to go.

aaron · #5 05-28-2008, 08:02 PM

Quoting DOUGT

Don't you have to pay for something before it belongs to you? My house is in my name, but the bank owns it.

If your situation is typical, you own your house but the bank holds a mortgage that is registered as part of the chain of title. With motor vehicles, a secured lender will have a lien against the title.

DOUGT · #6 05-29-2008, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Is the car paid off, meaning did you pay it off fully?

Yes, I paid for the car in full, then allowed him to register it in his name with the agreement that he would pay me back when he could.

Quote:

With motor vehicles, a secured lender will have a lien against the title.

I understand now. I should have put myself as a lien holder on the title? Then I would be able to reposess the car? To top things off, he crashed it a few weeks ago and I sunk another $500.00 to fix it for him. Now he says he is not going to pay us for anything.

Mr. Knowitall · #7 05-29-2008, 07:14 AM

Does he still live with you? If so, consider helping him pack and... well, letting him live out of his car for a while?