I purchased a car last year about this time from a private seller who told me the only thing wrong with the car was that it needed a new back tire. When we got the car home the tire was fine but it broke down the next day two hundred miles from home and had to be towed into a shop out of town. I went in to register it and when they asked me for the smog I did not have one. I paid the fees and found that the car needed several hundred dollars in repairs as it had been modified with no promise it would ever pass smog. The previous owner did not have the funds to pay for the repairs and the car was eventually towed off by the city for being left on the street over 72hrs. I was never notified it was towed and when I found out the bill was 700.00 which I did not have. It is my understanding that I have valid small claims suit against both the previous owner for not smoging the car before selling it to me and the shop for leaving on the street to be towed and not advising me once it had been. What is the statute of limitations for filing such suits?

Why didn't you go after the repair shop who left your car parked on the street for this? They were at fault - not the former owner as used cars are sold "as is" and if you are driving the car say 30 minutes after you bought it and the engine falls out it's not the seller's fault as the car was sold as is.

You have one year in most states.

Are you in California, that is the only state I know that requires a seller to provide a smog notice