query on V5 and car checks

[DBSV8]

Looking at a classic car on ebay , shows reg etc. car has FSH etc.

emailed the seller for more info , and to arrange a visit to check over the car ,

He immediately said the car was at his brothers ( gave address ) , he has all the documents service history , keys but hasn't registered the car in his name ( doesn't want to add more owners ) ?? car showing 4 ( 5 owners )

I thought this was illegal not to send off V5 ? He says hes not a trader , but collects cars , He has driven this car and its mot and taxed ??

Did a mycar check , Nothing coming up , no record of stolen / no finance , last change of keeper 11/04/2010

Is this a scam , and if so how does it work , value of car around 3,500

[dig123]

Had a similar situation with buying a car which was sold by the owners friend, paid a small deposit and then investigated the owner who happend to own a company so was easy to trace then had a chat with him and paid the final balance to him. I suppose it is comes down to how much you like the car and the risks re loosing the money. I went a head and got a nice car but others may not have taken the risk. Best of luck.

[V8forweekends]

DBSV8 said:

I thought this was illegal not to send off V5 ? He says hes not a trader , but collects cars , He has driven this car and its mot and taxed ??

You're right, it's illegal unless you are a trader.
The only way it can still be taxed is that the previous owner hasn't notified the change either, and hasn't therefore had a tax refund (I guess it could be free tax if a classic). ETA - if it last changed owner (as well as keeper) in 2010 it can't legally be taxed now.

If I was selling a car, I'd be sure to fill in the correct bit of the V5.

Nothing much in any of this suggests that it is or is not a scam - too little to go on, but not a good start.

[DBSV8]

V8forweekends said:

You're right, it's illegal unless you are a trader.
The only way it can still be taxed is that the previous owner hasn't notified the change either, and hasn't therefore had a tax refund (I guess it could be free tax if a classic). ETA - if it last changed owner (as well as keeper) in 2010 it can't legally be taxed now.

If I was selling a car, I'd be sure to fill in the correct bit of the V5.

Nothing much in any of this suggests that it is or is not a scam - too little to go on, but not a good start.

its very odd ,last change of keeper 4 years ago ? , he has all the service records ,, keys , complete V5 , has driven the car , I'm wondering if the chap he bought her off either emigrated or died as this chap let it slip , he didn't want to get any speeding tickets / parking fines in his name ?? so assume he's accrued a few in his 4 years of ownership , he also has another model for sale not advertised , I'm guessing he is a trader or is using this as an excuse why he hasnt changed the V5 ,
he still maintains he collects cars , but when i googled the address its only got a single garage and no sign of loads of cars around the address ??

bizarre

cars taxed til April and MOT till sept its a 1993

[DBSV8]

V8forweekends said:

DBSV8 said:

I thought this was illegal not to send off V5 ? He says hes not a trader , but collects cars , He has driven this car and its mot and taxed ??

You're right, it's illegal unless you are a trader.
The only way it can still be taxed is that the previous owner hasn't notified the change either, and hasn't therefore had a tax refund (I guess it could be free tax if a classic). ETA - if it last changed owner (as well as keeper) in 2010 it can't legally be taxed now.

If I was selling a car, I'd be sure to fill in the correct bit of the V5.

Nothing much in any of this suggests that it is or is not a scam - too little to go on, but not a good start.

that's a very good point i hadn't thought about the car tax , How is it currently taxed if hes not the registered keeper ?

[marshalla]

DBSV8 said:

that's a very good point i hadn't thought about the car tax , How is it currently taxed if hes not the registered keeper ?

Simpler now that there's no need to get a disc. https://www.gov.uk/car-tax-disc-without-v11-remind... but it could always be done at the Post Office anyway.

Edited by marshalla on Tuesday 3rd March 09:40

[droopsnoot]

DBSV8 said:

he still maintains he collects cars , but when i googled the address its only got a single garage and no sign of loads of cars around the address ??

In isolation that doesn't mean anything - none of my cars are kept anywhere near home.

[DBSV8]

Dvla confirmed the car was sold to trade , looks like our seller was telling porkies about being private seller?

[rallycross]

DBSV8 said:

Dvla confirmed the car was sold to trade , looks like our seller was telling porkies about being private seller?

you've missed the fact that what it says on the V5 is irrelevant in terms of who actually owns it, the V5 is only the registered keeper, makes no difference in terms of selling it, and the car can be taxed without filling it in, whilst its registered to the trade, so no reason not to buy it just due to this.....

[eccles]

DBSV8 said:

Dvla confirmed the car was sold to trade , looks like our seller was telling porkies about being private seller?

Perhaps he was trade when he bought it, and has now retired....?