After selling your vehicle, who must you notify within 5 days?

Notifying the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) within 5 days after selling your vehicle is essential for several reasons. First, it allows the DMV to update their records, ensuring that the vehicle is no longer associated with you as the owner. This helps prevent any potential liability for actions related to the vehicle after it has been sold. Additionally, it facilitates the proper transfer of ownership to the new buyer, which is crucial for registration and future transactions.

Failing to notify the DMV could lead to issues like being held accountable for traffic violations or other legal troubles associated with the vehicle. This notification process enhances the consistency and accuracy of vehicle ownership records, which is essential for state regulation and enforcement.

While it is important to inform your insurance company about the sale to adjust your policy coverage accordingly and to potentially avoid penalties for a lapse in coverage, this action is not mandated within the same tight timeframe as notifying the DMV. Similarly, informing local law enforcement or an automobile club does not carry the same legal obligation following the sale of the vehicle.