Legal Files

Provenance As an Asset: A New Issue for the Taxman

We are addressing provenance created by the owner after a car’s acquisition, and whether the costs involved can be used to reduce the gain on the sale Many collectors are selling cars they have owned for several years, often for substantially more money than they paid for them. In many […]

Track Day Insurance

High Performance Driver Education coverage insures bad things don’t happen to good people (that’s you) during track days Here’s a man-bites-dog twist to track day crash liability concerns, resulting from a crash at a Dodge Viper Owners Invitational track event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Dodge sponsors such events periodically, […]

Nethercutt Slander Suit Fizzles

To rub salt in the wound, the appellate court rejected the Plaintiff’s arguments that he should get a new trial A few years ago, I was in Los Angeles for a professional conference and had a free day, so I visited the Nethercutt Museum in nearby Sylmar. The museum is […]

When Shipping Your Car Overseas Goes Bad

We were surprised to see that the Ferrari’s title had Rick’s signature forged on it, and the Italian shipping company was listed as the new owner. Dear “Legal Files”: My husband Rick and I, along with our friends, have encountered a bizarre set of circumstances with Shakespearean elements of trust […]

How to Avoid Sales Tax, Part II

A better alternative for Californians may be the use of a Montana business entity, because Montana would allow a legal, tax-free registration of the car The March 2009 “Legal Files” regarding sales tax triggered two helpful responses from attorneys, which suggested the need for a follow-up on this subject of […]

Pink Slips and Red Faces

Take due diligence steps to protect yourself, even though that interferes with the red mist that materializes when you find the collector car of your dreams Most states issue certificates of title for cars, often referred to as “pink slips” because of their color (in California, at least; other states […]

How to Avoid Sales Tax-Legally

Five states do not levy sales taxes-Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon. Oregon is the winner here Ever feel like you’re being taxed to death? Everyone feels that way on April 15, but another way to feel the pinch is to buy a collector car and stop by your […]

Many a Slip Between Dock and Ship

The transporter demanded payment, but when Ric produced his receipt from the broker marked “Paid in Full,” he drove off in a huff Sometimes it seems like our old cars spend more time being transported by others than transporting themselves. At first glance, it might seem that having your car […]

Leno and a Duesie of a Lawsuit

State laws commonly give powerful protection to mechanics who work on cars and garage keepers who store them, recognizing that they often need special powers to help them get paid. Typically, these laws entitle them to retain possession of the car until they have been paid in full. If not […]

Who Really Owns the “Stolen” Ferrari?

Various countries take different approaches. Some protect the innocent owner whose property was stolen. Others protect the innocent purchaser Acting on a tip from a confidential informant, the Connecticut State Police obtained a warrant to search the garage of a Sharon, Connecticut, collector. Inside, they found a 1958 Ferrari 250 […]