At 18 my parents took me to get a car for myself, I paid aprox. $4500 dollars on the car that costed $10200, Dad paid the rest. I was the primary driver of the car for 2 years untill I decided that my parents were over controling and I moved out. I took the car with me and my dad called me as I was driving and said he'd call the police if I didn't bring the car back because it is his name and he will report it stolen. So I took the car back and left.
I asked for the money I paid on it if they (parents) aren't going to let me have the car and they refuse to let me have money for it.
Am I entitled to recieve the money I paid on it or not, I am now 20 years old.
2007-12-23 08:18:10 · 9 answers · asked by Spankey 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
At 18 my parents took me to get a car for myself, I paid aprox. $4500 dollars on the car that costed $10200, Dad paid the rest. I was the primary driver of the car for 2 years untill I decided that my parents were over controling and I moved out. I took the car with me and my dad called me as I was driving and said he'd call the police if I didn't bring the car back because it is his name and he will report it stolen. So I took the car back and left.
I asked for the money I paid on it if they (parents) aren't going to let me have the car and they refuse to let me have money for it.
Am I entitled to recieve the money I paid on it or not, I am now 20 years old.
:Edit:
It was a gift, my dad got his car at 18, so he got me one at 18. It was my birthday present.
The reason he wanted me to bring it back or else he'd call the police is beause he thought I'd give up moving out.
:Edit:
2007-12-23 08:34:05 · update #1
If the car was in your father's name, he was the legal owner of the vehicle! Unless you have a contract (or at least something in writing that says that the car was a gift to you, you have no case.
I do not know what the issues were between you and your parents, but you are not going to be able force them to give you the money you put out on the car! You drove the car for two years. You need to look at it as if you paid $2250 a year to drive the car!
Move on with your life, and hope that at some point, you and your parents can work things out! Many times parents do not know when to let go, and adult children have to make their own mistakes!
Good luck
2007-12-23 08:45:39 · answer #1 · answered by fire4511 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In any other situation (other than parent-child ownership), I'd say that you were owed some money back. The amount you are owed would be approximately 40% of the current value of the car. I say approx. 40% because it looks like you paid that percentage of the car in the first place.
Because this is a situation between parents and their child (I know you are 20, but you are still their "child"..I am 47 and still my father's child), my answer is different than what I described above. Parents don't often do what their children feel is fair, and children don't often treat their parents with the proper respect. I think both is true, here. Your parents really should pay you some of the money (if not all) you have invested in the car, BUT and this is a big "but"...there are extenuating circumstances present. What parent is going to let his/her child storm out of the home they've provided for 20 years with a car they paid for, or the money the child paid toward that car? Not many. If your father threatened to call the police, it tells me that tempers flared and emotions were high. No one can be expected to act fairly in a situation like that.
What you are entitled to may not be what you get where your family is concerned. Families don't act like business partners. Do you wish to have a positive relationship with your parents for the rest of their lives? If not, then pursue this matter with an attorney. If you do want them in your life, then let it (and the car and money) go. $4500 is a lot of money, but a small price to pay for repairing a broken family.
2007-12-23 16:40:13 · answer #2 · answered by artistagent116 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Because the vehicle is titled in your father's name you have no recourse. Though you paid for a portion of the vehicle you are not the titled owner and only the titled owner is entitled to the car and any monies tied into said car.
Maybe you can buy it from them for the current value less what you paid in already. If you can work that out make yourself a written sale agreement with your parents so if anything happens to the car you have the sale agreement as proof you are buying the car from your dad and are entitled to any monies due after he is paid off.
Good luck.
2007-12-23 19:40:28 · answer #3 · answered by robert g 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You did not mention if your parents demanded their portion of the money for the car which is why I am assuming they wanted the car back. It is up to you to convince the judge in a civil suit that your fathers portion was a gift. Or, that you are making payment arrangements.
The judge will try to get you the car back since you are on your own and you need a car. But, they will likely insist that you pay your father back by making arrangements.
Unfortunately, the judge will dismiss the case if you lie or try to say your father was just being a nice guy giving you over 5 thousand dollars. Additionally, Judges will not be perceptive to "my parents were just trying to control me" excuse. Take this advice: dont go there. Look for that middle ground that will prove your willingness to work for the car and the judges muscle in getting the car back to you.
Good luck.
EDIT:
BEFORE going to court. At least try to make payment arrangements with your family. That way, if your parents refuse, you have something on your side in terms of attempting to find the middle ground. Express the need for a car for the money you will make to pay it back.
2007-12-23 16:28:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
If you were to go to court - they would say that your father paid more for the car than you did - further you had two years use of it and when your father took it back it had depreciated for two years and since you had the use of it he would probably get the car. And if the car was titled in your father's name he would be the legal owner of the car anyway. cut you loses and move on. good luck
2007-12-23 16:25:30 · answer #5 · answered by jack w 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Your parents are being controlling because they care about what happens to you. They may be wrong to try to control you, but they're not trying to screw you.
Bringing them to court is a power play that will strain your relationship for years to come, and will probably not have good results for you, anyway.
Wait a week and then level with your parents. You'll probably get a lot more by bargaining directly with them, and you won't regret it in the long run.
2007-12-23 16:39:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Was or is your name on the Title of the vehicle?
Did you do Oil changes and regular maintance?
Seem unfortunantly but looks like you are going to need to go to small claims court and take all documents with you proving you took care of the car.
Car wash receipts,
Oil changes
anything at all that proves you are responsible for the car.
I agree that your parents are controlling you by possibly forcing you to move back home by taking away your car.
I would talk to them face to face and then if THEY won't let you have the car tell them YOU WILL take them to court and then DO IT.
$4,500 is alot of money. You can use it for another car.
2007-12-23 16:30:13 · answer #7 · answered by Southern Girl 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It wasn't a gift, it was a loan, because dad's name was on the title.
Ownership of a vehicle is SOLEY determined by the name on the title.
You're not entitled to any money back. Sorry.
2007-12-23 20:15:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
... because it is his name ...
That makes it his car. End of story. You can ask for anything you like. They have no obligation to give you anything.
You moved out and took HIS car with you, not yours.
2007-12-23 17:23:17 · answer #9 · answered by oklatom 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋