SOLD my 2005 .. -Seller's Be "Aware" - Here's what I learned!

Another important point: whenever you sell or give away a vehicle, whether to a private buyer or a dealer, be sure to notify your state’s vehicle registration agency at once, to protect yourself from liability for whatever the buyer might do with it.

In California, file a Notice of Transfer and Release of Liability form with the DMV within five days of the sale, either using the dmv.ca.gov website or by printing and mailing a REG 138 form (PDF). Other states have similar forms, such as Texas’s VTR-346 (PDF) and Florida’s HSMV 82050 (PDF).

 

There's also a big difference between a western/southern car and an Ohio/rustbelt car. My wife's side of the family lived in the outskirts of Cleveland. Every time they hit a bump in the road, a pound of rust falls off.

 

Too bad they don't want green!

 

I am sure those US nav maps help a lot in Cambodia. Plus lets think about the Japanese sellers who gut their cars at 50k to ship JDM engines here for $1000 at retail . With such a great market close to Japan why aren't they selling to Cambodia?

Maybe we are talking about California flippers who swap out the cats and sell the cars in other states or Mexico. I could believe that.

 

I'm sure they are selling to Cambodia and all the other countries nearby... Keep in mind that 2/3rds of all humans on the planet live in Asia & SE Asia...

As for what's happening in the US, best I can tell after processing this post is a bit less than a million out of every 40 million used cars a year in US are purchased for export. And it seems profitable for all parties involved, but just barely. As for swapping out cats... If you can make $100 to $1K in less than 60 seconds stealing one... Why buy the whole car?

However, if you have any links to "California Flippers" please share them as I've not heard of this term and I'd like to learn more?

 

Flippers is a generic term for people that buy cars to quickly sell them. California flippers could easily sell the cats for $1500 and then resell the cars out of state where no one cares about a $150 replacement or straight through delete. A flipper is happy with a $1000 profit on a $4400 car. Even here in Texas, there are big cat recyclers on feeder roads with billboards advertising their shady business. Of course in Texas anything goes. Many stolen cars and trucks, especially Toyotas, end up south of the border. There is a strong argument that border security makes it harder for American thiefs to smuggle goods into Mexico.

 

If you have any links to people who have sold their cats for $1500 please let us know? Currently the highest price someone mentioned on here was a sale on ebay for $1360... I just created a new thread to document all this here: Prius Cat Theft Tracking | PriusChat Many of us are eager to sell our OEM cats for the highest price so hopefully you can help us with that?

 

I would rather not populate an online database for thieves. My suggestion was a scenario where legal car flippers make money and stay within the law.

 

So assisting victims of a felony theft is now somehow benefitting thieves? I'd ask you to elaborate but I know you won't, so never mind. You make no sense to begin with.

 

I guess pointing out how to make money fast and where to fence the goods for the highest price is your goal?

 

So whenever there's crime in your neighborhood you don't try to better inform your neighbors so they can better protect themselves because you fear you might be better informing/encouraging the thieves? Seriously?

Don't you see the articles of all the theft? Just one county alone in California has hundreds of cats stolen from Prius and two high speed chases by cops to catch some of the thieves in just one week. People who own 15 years old Prius aren't rich and many of the vicitims of this felony crime can't afford a $2500 repair bill and that means a huge number of fuel efficient vehicles are coming of the road which is increasing not decreasing air pollution on a global scale. And you want us to just stay silent and not try to help them?

Looks like it's time to click the "ignore" button on you so I never read your comments anymore...

 

I have reported fraudulent activity to the authorities but don't abide with how to instructions online such as you propose. Why don't you point out the security devices that can be added instead of trying to document where the best prices can be had?

 

No I can't.

 

This will be my last interaction with you... I have still have my OEM cat on my car... I'm trying to present all the options, not just what I've decided on thus far.

However many senior members on here have posted they'd rather pre-emptively remove their OEM cat and sell it to someone online who can't afford the cost of a brand new one. So these senior members have not only helped someone in need, but they've reduced the risk of the O2 sensor wires getting shorted out by a theft, which can destroy your ECU...

So now that I won't see your comments on here anymore, I suggest you go troll them instead for what they've done and see how that goes for you. I suspect they'll have a hard time understanding your point as well because it's not logical or rationale.

 

Wrong side drive? More speakers of English than Japanese in Cambodia? Other nearby countries able to pay higher prices of Japanese exports than Cambodians can afford?

Cars in the rustbelt zone also present far more shipping costs to reach the container ships, compared to coastal cars.

 

When they actually get to Mongolia that would be "by the trainload". The closest ocean is 435 miles away. Unless they get a spectacular discount on the shipping rates this story does not make much sense:

Shipping Vehicles to & from Mongolia | Import & Export Cost

 

Check out this story about why the Prius is so popular in Mongolia. : Why the Toyota Prius is conquering the land of Genghis Khan - The Globe and Mail

 

I have exactly that kind of pruis, can you dm that lady's contact info? lol

 

If you sold your car for $4400 - $150, you did really well for a 2005. Although others are exporting them to Cambodia, that's a business they've created. The regular US market for these cars probably well under $4000 for a 2005 with nearly 200k miles.

I've been selling off my older 2005/06 cars for around $3000. If someone can make money in another market place, more power to them. It does not mean you left money on the table. Hell I have another 2005 for $3000 if anybody wants it

 

Mongolian pollution tax. Wow thats crazy. Is that tax extremely high there?