Ohio Sues Six Used Car Dealerships After Customers Complain About Not Receiving Titles

The State of Ohio has filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against six used car dealerships who allegedly defrauded customers by failing to hand over the titles to automobiles they purchased. The Ohio Attorney General, Dave Yost, has accused the dealerships of failing to properly provide the titles of vehicles to purchasers.

Yost recommends that buyers research the dealerships that they are doing business with to ensure that they have a good reputation. He compared buying a used car from an un-researched dealership to a roll of the dice. Researching the matter beforehand could save the consumer considerable aggravation.

The dealerships were charged with acting in bad faith and violating Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act and the Certificate of Motor Vehicles Act. The owner of one of the dealerships is currently in an Ohio prison serving time on an unrelated charge of illegal possession of a weapon.

According to the Attorney General’s office, a total of $312,690 was issued from a title defect fund to consumers who did not receive titles within 40 days of purchase.

What happens when a dealership fails to issue a title? 

In Ohio, if a dealer refuses to issue a motor vehicle title, it can lead to various legal actions, including lawsuits. Ohio residents are protected from this type of malfeasance by a state law known as the Certificate of Motor Vehicle Title Act. This law protects residents from dealers who fail to provide a title within the allotted time. Dealerships have 40 days to produce the title in your name. If a used car dealer fails to provide a title in your name within 40 days, you have an unconditional right to request that the dealer cancel the transaction.

What can you do against a dealership that fails to provide the title? 

You can file a lawsuit. If the dealer fails to deliver the title within 40 days of the vehicle being paid off, or refuses to cancel the transaction when you have that right, you can file a lawsuit against the dealership to recover either the title or the money you paid for the vehicle.

In addition, the dealership, as evidenced above, can face consequences from the Attorney General’s office. The Attorney General actively pursues cases against dealerships that violate consumer protection laws, especially regarding the failure to turn over a title.

In addition, the Ohio Attorney General’s office presides over the Title Defect Rescission Fund (TDR). This can help reimburse consumers who suffer damages after a dealer fails to provide a valid title within 40 days of purchase.

Talk to a Columbus, OH, Consumer Fraud Attorney Today 

Kohl & Cook Law Firm, LLC represents the interests of consumers in consumer fraud lawsuits filed against bad actors and businesses that violate Ohio’s consumer protection laws. Call our Columbus consumer lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your next steps right away.

Source:

cantonrep.com/story/news/local/stark-county/2025/04/28/used-car-dealership-lawsuit-ohio-includes-stark-county-location-automax/83327126007/