Comment

Comment by Thomas LaBate on January 21, 2010 at 10:08pm

Gerald, we do use a gps, and I like the idea of Email or text I am still going to look into the state notifying us. You are both right. Tina in Pa. we the dealer can also issue a tempoary tag. the customer owns the tag and it can be transfered to any other vehicle.I say this because I know that in some states the tag stays with the vehicle. Many dealers don't want to do this, you need to be an agent for the state. It really is not hard to get set up. As far as payment goes the customer can write a check to the state for the tax and tags, or if our down is big enough we collect it in cash and submit it to the state. As far as the city goes they live stop, and pick up the vehicle impound it and you get a letter sometimes 2-5 days before it goes for auction. If you dont get to the yard quickly it is transfered to another lot for sale. time is truely of essence.

Comment by Tina Faucette on January 21, 2010 at 11:40am

Gerald, that is very useful especially when impounds charge by the day and doesn't rush to get the notices out.

Comment by Gerald on January 21, 2010 at 11:36am

Many dealers find it helpful to be notified via Email and text whenever their customers vehicles are in an impound lot or are towed for any reason. Many dealers have those devices installed in their vehicles for about 145 dollars.

Comment by Tina Faucette on January 21, 2010 at 11:30am

Thomas I think your PIADA should work on some legistlation to notify dealers of those stops. It is scary that the state can do that and make the lienholders liable for the costs. In Florida Dealers pay the taxes. I finance mine into the deal, but I can't do really low down payments because so much goes to taxes up front. I also charge for the tags up front. I use a system called cvr. It actually makes me a branch of the tag office. I have the plates here and issue them. I then know how much to charge the customer to the penny. Its issued and I know there are no problems. I don't know if that is available in PA, but it may be worth looking into. Although I think those stops may be a good thing for skips. If someone bounces a check to the State there is likely a good probability you will be looking for them at some point. Probability of a skip. If you don't use trackers or anything, it sure would be nice to be notified to come pick up your car in impound.

Comment by Don Miller on January 20, 2010 at 11:42pm

Gene - Congratulations on 100 members!

Comment by Thomas LaBate on January 20, 2010 at 6:37pm

Tina, in Pa. it is almost the same way, lately the customers have the same $500 to $1000 but as you say they don't want a car for 8k or 10k they ask for 3 to 4k cars cash or finance. Around here income tax is normally very good, with strong downs. When I listen to the customer now they are waiting, just shopping and waiting for the tax money. Right now I have a lot of bad ups, very bad credit, low downs, no drivers license and on and on but it will change, it always does. Many other dealers in my area are slow.

Comment by Thomas LaBate on January 20, 2010 at 6:22pm

Tina, I don't know if we are protected from the state, that's a great question this customer told us that the check bounced to the state of Pa. for her tax and tags. It was then that I called the state to find out a stop was placed on the vehicle and tags. ( It's called and r stop ) I am in philadelphia and when the customer is stoped with the vehicle the city just takes the vehicle, you then have the option to recover it for the fee's that are due. and like you said, I would be stuck with the bill. I tried to call the state about this problem and they told me that they send a letter to the customer but not the leinholder, judging by this comment I assume they dont tell us. I am going to look into this further, again thank you.

Comment by Thomas LaBate on January 20, 2010 at 5:57pm

Alan, I do use a pennsylvania motor vehicle contract and both you Tina and Gene are correct the contract does have accelration clause. I was not aware of this,thank you everyone. These contracts come from PIADA our dealer association, Gene that's good advise, I sat her down but I didnot know about that clause thank you again.

Comment by Alan Mosher on January 20, 2010 at 10:17am

I read Gene's reply before I left the house this morning and was going to add a comment about your collateral being at risk when I got to work but I see Tina beat me to it. If you are using any of the standard contracts, they all have clauses that allow for acceleration of the debt in case of default and they all list collateral at risk as one of the ways a customer can default on the contract. If you are using your own contract, STOP, because you probably do not have these avenues to persue buy, if you are using Banker's System, R& R LAW or any of about a half dozen other contracts, I believe you have the right to demand the customer take care of the state fines issue prior to returning the car to the customer.

Comment by Tina Faucette on January 20, 2010 at 9:13am

I would like to know what some of the other dealers out there are experiencing right now as far as sales go. We are getting a lot of traffic and have been for a while, but no one seems to have more than about $500 down if they want to finance. Most people seem scared of financing and want to pay cash for a car but want one about $3000-$4000. Our cars are much higher than that. I am hoping that tax returns will change that. I also realize that Florida was particularly hard hit in the housing, construction industry so other stats from other states may not be relevant, but I am wondering what some other people are experiencing out there. I am starting to wonder if and when it will pick up.

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