Can an auto dealership hold money owed on a car they bought from you?

I sold my car 3.5 months ago to a Ford dealership in Washington. They told me they d have the check to me in three days. About three weeks later, I called after not getting anything. They said I had filled out a form wrong and the bank did not have the title. I filled out more paperwork, including the title documents and waited again.

A month later, they had me sign another form related to the title. I was confused and they say California wanted it. I researched the title process and sent them every required document. I finally got angry at sales rep and he gave me the finance manager, who likes to avoid my calls.

When I finally talked to the finance manager, he said that he'd sold my car and that he still didn't have the title. Apparently the bank that financed the sale of my car to the new owner was holding his money on my car and 10 other vehicles until they got my title.

I researched Washington law and it seems you can't even sell a car in this state without having a title. I've reached out to Ford and they have no regulatory departments on dealerships. What should I do. It's $1100. Not a large amount of money, but I'd like it back.

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