When your car gets totaled, it’s easy to assume the insurance payout is the end of the story. The vehicle is towed, you move on and then, months later, a surprise ticket shows up in your name. How can this happen if you no longer have the car?
It’s more common than you’d think. Even after a total loss payout, you may still be the legal owner of the vehicle until the title is officially transferred. In both Missouri and Kansas, the last registered owner is responsible for any violations, including parking, toll, or red light camera tickets until the DMV records show otherwise.
Here’s what you can do if you’re caught in this situation:
1. Confirm the Title Transfer
Contact your insurance company or the salvage yard that took the vehicle. Make sure they actually filed the title transfer or junk title, and ask for proof. If the title is still in your name, you’re still legally tied to that car.
2. Get a Vehicle History Report
A quick check on Carfax or AutoCheck can reveal if someone else has been driving or even reselling the car. It’s the fastest way to see if the vehicle is still active under your VIN.
3. Dispute the Ticket
If you can show you didn’t own or control the car when the violation occurred, you may be able to get the ticket dismissed. Gather any paperwork from your insurance company or the tow yard to support your claim.
4. Notify the DMV
If the title transfer was never completed, submit a Notice of Sale or Bill of Sale retroactively. This officially severs your liability for future violations tied to that car.
5. Get Legal Help if It Escalates
One ticket is bad enough, but multiple violations can lead to license suspension or other penalties. A lawyer can help you untangle the mess more efficiently.
The Bottom Line:
Your responsibility for a totaled car doesn’t end when you cash the insurance check — it ends when the paperwork is done. Always confirm that the title has been transferred out of your name. Otherwise, someone else’s bad driving could come back to haunt you.
