Did You Buy a Car From Bernardo Motors?

Bernardo Motors has been closed down by the state Department of Motor Vehicles and , but it still may mean trouble for unsuspecting customers who purchased cars there this year.

DMV spokesman Bill Seymour says that his department wants to hear from anyone who bought a car from the dealershop at 2775 State St. in the last six months.

"Department investigators have determined vehicles were sold without valid titles and registrations," he said in a release Friday afternoon.

"This means that owners may be driving unregistered vehicles in violation of state law," he said. "This also can affect some insurance policies' coverage for crashes, property damages and injuries.

"In addition, customers were sold vehicles without titles, which establish ownership and are needed to sell the vehicle."

DMV does not have an estimate on how many vehicles are affected, he said.

In May  after it found that the company owes more than $200,000 in state sales tax. Customers have filed complaints with DMV showing more than $7,000 in claims against the company, Seymour said. 

Bernardo Motors owner David Taylor of Branford has been arrested several times this year on charges relating to fraudulent car sales, including one where he allegedly but never paid the loan off on the car.

Customers who have vehicles purchased from the former dealership should call the DMV's Consumer Complaint Center at 860-263-5405 to discuss the validity of both their registrations and titles, Seymour said.