I Bought A Jeep Wrangler But I Can’t Drive It, the Dealer Won’t Give Me a Title Making It Impossible To Get License Plates, He Laughed In My Face

Ryan purchased a Jeep Wrangler, but he must leave it parked. Two other buyers who bought cars at the same dealer can't drive their new vehicles because they can't get titles and can't get plates. Here is Ryan, Jonathan, and Carl's unbelievable story.

You bought your new Jeep Wrangler to go off-road, but you must leave it parked. 

Imagine buying a new Jeep Wrangler, and you can't wait to take it out on the trail to go four-wheeling. However, you must leave it parked in your garage because the dealer where you purchased it won't provide a title, and you can't get license plates. 

You've had your vehicle parked for six months. 

That's what happened to Ryan when he purchased a Jeep Wrangler from Route 59 Motors in Nanuet, New York. A report from ABC's 7 On Your Side says the car dealer failed to provide vehicle titles to Ryan and two other buyers, making it impossible to register their new cars with the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV), and they cannot get license plates.

The report from ABC says, "Three customers of the Nanuet car dealership in New York were forced to park up their newly purchased vehicles as they were illegal to use on the road."

Here is Ryan, Jonathan, and Carl's unbelievable story.

Ryan described the NY car dealer as "insane and narcissistic" after buying a Jeep Wrangler from them last year. He added: "I wasn't given a reason as to why."

To make matters worse, when Carl asked the dealer to provide a title for his Jeep, he laughed in his face.

Carl says, "I said I'm going to call the cops on you. "He laughed in my face. He grinned. At that point, I felt violated and disrespected."

The dealer gives him Georgia license plates. 

Carl said, "Out of nowhere, they told me to come pick up the tags. I went there; they handed me Georgia tags."

Carl, who says he's never even been to Georgia, decided to take matters into his own hands and argued with Route 59's owner, Peter Samaan, and then went to the New York DMV to try to resolve the issue.

It takes six months to resolve the issue.

The report says that, finally, after six months, he could register his Jeep with a duplicate title.

Jonathan, who bought an Infinity at Route 59 Motors, had the same problem with the car dealer said, "The folks that work 59 Motors can continuously just delay the process, making you think that they're doing something for you or on your behalf and never follow through on it."

The ABC affiliate says they contacted the owner of Route 59 Motors to provide financial statements and get an explanation as to what went wrong. They also tried to get cashier's checks for the three customers, "which would essentially mean refunding the cars and buying them back," says 7 On Your Side.

However, the owner was then arrested for scheming to defraud.

The report says the New York DMV had received numerous complaints about the dealership, which included valid violations such as practicing dishonest or misleading advertising and failing to maintain proof of owning a sold vehicle.

The DMV claimed they were selling those same cars without applying for registration and title and then providing a certificate of sale for the cars that they didn't own in the first place.

Route 59 Motors has since had its license revoked, while Samaan, the owner of the NY car dealer, was in court for charges this week, the first week of December, the report says. 

I checked with the Better Business Bureau and Route 59 Motors LLC has a 1/5 rating and multiple customer complaints registered. 

Here is the most recent customer complaint: 

"I traded a car on a Jeep. I have not received a title or registration and the owner told me that he could not get a title. He offered to purchase/refund me the price of me vehicle/trade/fees. He has sent me 3 checks which have either bounced or he has put a stop payment on."

"He has also promised wires from his bank, and none have happened. He has 20+ complaints with the police about the same shady business as I am experiencing and has been arrested in May for the same scam."

"I was pulled over for driving a car that does not match my plates and was treated like I was in a stolen car. I want my money back. I have a vehicle that is not usable."

What should you do if a car dealer needs to provide a title and proper paperwork?

The first question is, is driving your new car without a title ok? 

Operating a vehicle without a proper title can lead to legal consequences, so quickly resolving the issue with the car dealer is crucial. 

I checked the Colorado DMV where I live, and you should do this if the car dealer needs to provide the car's title. 

"If a car dealer refuses to provide you with the title to a car you purchased, you should immediately contact the dealership and demand they provide the title, and if they refuse, consider reaching out to your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, and potentially consult with an attorney as this could be a serious legal issue involving potential fraud or breach of contract." 

Here are the key steps to take if you need help with the car dealer.

Contact the dealership:

Reach out to the sales manager or owner and clearly state that you are requesting the car title and need it delivered to you promptly. 

Document everything:

Keep a record of all communications with the dealership, including dates, times, and names of individuals you spoke with. 

Check state regulations:

Contact your state's DMV to understand the legal time frame for title delivery and any potential actions you can take if the dealer violates the law. 

File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau: 

Report the issue to the Better Business Bureau and check if there are any existing complaints against the dealership. 

State Attorney General: Contact your state's Attorney General's office, as they may be able to assist with consumer protection issues related to car dealerships. 

Have you purchased a new vehicle, and the car dealer still needs to give you a title? If so, click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Jeep