Boss gives New Jersey mobile mechanic a company vehicle, puts the title in his name to force him to pay running costs, then fires him and demands it back along with the employees personal tools: 'I pay the insurance. I pay the registration'

When does a company asset become the employee's property? Is it when the asset is legally in their name? How about when they are paying for all the expenses?

This mobile mechanic is trying to determine who owns the company vehicle that his boss paid for after the boss deliberately placed the vehicle in the mechanic's name and pushed the costs of insurance and registration onto him as well.

Jobs can come with many perks, like a company vehicle and a phone. But you usually wouldn't expect that you might get to keep those things after you leave the job.

I mean, if the title has your name on it, and you're paying for all of the expenses. Isn't that literally just your vehicle?