DMV recovered $3.6 million for taxpayers in 2022

During National Consumer Protection Week, NYS DMV announced it has recovered more than $3.6 million in titles, auto repairs, and refunds for New Yorkers in 2022.

As part of its ongoing consumer protection and anti-fraud efforts, the DMV helps customers recover titles, get reimbursement for faulty repairs, and guards against phishing scams and catalytic converter thefts.

“Consumer protection is an essential component of the services DMV provides,” DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder said in a press release. “We are so much more than a place to register a car or get your driver license. I am proud of the work that our staff do to help New Yorkers get the assistance they need and justice they deserve.”

In 2022, DMV helped 79 customers gain titles to cars they had purchased, with the total vehicle value exceeding $1.5 million. Eight of those cars, with a total value of $275,000, were from new car dealers. The other 71 cases, with a total value of more than $1.2 million, were from other dealer sales.

In addition, DMV assisted 576 customers who had issues with faulty or incomplete auto repairs, lemon cars they were sold, and general refunds. The total amount recovered for customers was more than $2.1 million.

While most businesses are professionally and responsibly run, the DMV assists customers who have faced unfair charges or shoddy work. The DMV offers guidance to help customers file a complaint about a DMVregulated business so our investigators can seek to recover their title, money or to have repairs properly made.

For those buying a vehicle, the DMV helps them understand their rights whether they are buying from a dealer or a private sale. Consumers should review the DMV’s Let the Buyer Be Aware page prior to a vehicle purchase.

DMV also provides guidance when bringing a vehicle in for repairs including:

• If you request it, the repair shop must give you a written estimate of the parts and labor necessary for each specific repair.

• The estimate must list each part and its cost, and show what parts, if any, are either used or not of original quality. It must show the labor charges for each repair and by what method they are calculated. The shop may not charge more than the estimated price without your permission.

• A shop may not perform any services unless you give your permission.

• You are entitled to the return of all replaced parts, except warranty and exchange parts, but you must ask for them in writing before any work is done. If you authorize work by phone, the shop must keep any replaced parts, and make them available when you pick up the vehicle.

• When repairs are completed, the shop must give you a detailed invoice listing each repair done, each part replaced, the cost for each, and the cost of labor.

• You have the right to inspect your vehicle at the shop before paying for re

pairs.

DMV urges customers to deal only with a registered repair shop. You can make sure there’s a green and white “Registered State of New York Motor Vehicle Repair Shop” sign outside the shop and a valid New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) registration certificate inside.

An online guide to finding a DMV-regulated business is available on the agency’s website.

In response to a significant spike in catalytic converter thefts, the DMV initiated a pilot program to provide etching kits to auto dealers that allows them to burn a traceable serial number onto the catalytic converter that can be clearly seen and linked back to the vehicle from which it was stolen. Following this initial effort, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed new legislation and announced a series of measures to crack down on these thefts.

As part of that effort, the DMV is working collaboratively with law enforcement throughout the state to prevent catalytic converter thefts.

Hochul recently announced that DMV helped New Yorkers recover 231 stolen vehicles valued at more than $7.3 million in 2022. In addition, DMV recovered 81 stolen vehicle parts, worth $67,223.

DMV cautions customers to be aware that new, keyless vehicle technology can provide convenience but also can increase risk. Customers are reminded not to leave their key fobs in the vehicle, as doing so can give thieves easy access to steal the car.

Customers should also be wary of phishing schemes, where fraudsters send text messages or emails pretending to represent the DMV to obtain personal information from the recipient. Scammers use this information to steal someone’s identity or trick them into installing malicious software onto their computers or phones.

To raise awareness and help unsuspecting consumers from becoming victims, the DMV has created a webpage offering simple tips to protect against phishing attacks. A separate webpage shows examples of some of the phishing text messages and emails that have been sent.

If someone believes they have received a suspicious text message or email posing as the DMV, they can report it to dmv. sm.phishingattacks@dmv. ny.gov.