Claiming an abandoned car?
Discussion
Jagmanuk said:
Ok so I have read all the comments in the posts, both here and elsewhere.
I know where there is a vehicle (Audi TT Quattro 2003) it is in a basement car park on flat tyres and covered in dust. It has been in this position for 3 years, the owner must have been a tenant in the apartments at one time but has long since gone as the space it is in has had various tenants who complain about the car in their parking space.
Request for owner information from the police reveal only an unpronounceable name and the address is only the name of the town we live in. The car is not stolen and is SORN
The car looks to be in very good condition
My question is if I follow up and become registered keeper can/how do I sell it in the future?
Thanks for responses in advance
With your fingers crossed behind your back I know where there is a vehicle (Audi TT Quattro 2003) it is in a basement car park on flat tyres and covered in dust. It has been in this position for 3 years, the owner must have been a tenant in the apartments at one time but has long since gone as the space it is in has had various tenants who complain about the car in their parking space.
Request for owner information from the police reveal only an unpronounceable name and the address is only the name of the town we live in. The car is not stolen and is SORN
The car looks to be in very good condition
My question is if I follow up and become registered keeper can/how do I sell it in the future?
Thanks for responses in advance
As the V5 says, it is not evidence of ownership. You will never have legal title to the vehicle, so would be on slightly dubious ground. It might be clear enough to satisfy a scrapyard, but not someone paying for a working car.
Jagmanuk said:
Is there anyone who has the right to take ownership of an abandoned vehicle where the owner cannot be identified or traced? I am thinking maybe DVLA, Local Authority or what?
Yes, the police or local authority will have legal powers. They might even then sell something valuable on.But a few hundred quid's worth of (probably broken) 13yo TT that's on private land and has been untouched for years? Straight to the scrappy.
randlemarcus said:
Jagmanuk said:
Ok so I have read all the comments in the posts, both here and elsewhere.
I know where there is a vehicle (Audi TT Quattro 2003) it is in a basement car park on flat tyres and covered in dust. It has been in this position for 3 years, the owner must have been a tenant in the apartments at one time but has long since gone as the space it is in has had various tenants who complain about the car in their parking space.
Request for owner information from the police reveal only an unpronounceable name and the address is only the name of the town we live in. The car is not stolen and is SORN
The car looks to be in very good condition
My question is if I follow up and become registered keeper can/how do I sell it in the future?
Thanks for responses in advance
As the V5 says, it is not evidence of ownership. You will never have legal title to the vehicle, so would be on slightly dubious ground. It might be clear enough to satisfy a scrapyard, but not someone paying for a working car.I know where there is a vehicle (Audi TT Quattro 2003) it is in a basement car park on flat tyres and covered in dust. It has been in this position for 3 years, the owner must have been a tenant in the apartments at one time but has long since gone as the space it is in has had various tenants who complain about the car in their parking space.
Request for owner information from the police reveal only an unpronounceable name and the address is only the name of the town we live in. The car is not stolen and is SORN
The car looks to be in very good condition
My question is if I follow up and become registered keeper can/how do I sell it in the future?
Thanks for responses in advance
With regard to this particular car though, the fact that it is SORN'd suggests someone updated DVLA at some point. I know it's no longer necessary to renew SORN every year but even so, whoever it belongs to clearly took it off the road intentionally, which doesn't sound like the action of a fly-by-night tenant. Who's to say it doesn't belong to the landlord? If they haven't had the wherewithal to get it moved in 3 years, despite complaints from tenants, I'd say there's a fair chance it's theirs or an associate of theirs and they don't want to advertise the fact or go to the hassle of recommissioning it, finding somewhere else to keep it and moving it.
Edited by Risotto on Tuesday 4th October 13:43
Good points, I will make initial enquiries to officially find the owners name and address but as I think I said previously the other caretaker enquired with the police to attemp to find the owner with a view to getting it moved and they could only come up with a name and the only address given, they said, was the town we live in. The apartment block where the vehicle is located is commonly used by foreign students studying at the local universtity or hospital and frequently all sorts of equipment/furniture etc is left in the underground car park for disposal by the caretaker. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that the registered owner of the Audi was one of these students who at the end of his placement/course simply returned abroad abandoning the car (the apartment rental is not cheap and there are still a lot of wealthy families abroad) as he could not take it back with him (or her). Of course there may be finance owing which would be revealed by an HPI check, if I discover it it possible to obtain title this would be my next move.
If it's a "left behind by someone who lived there" situation, as opposed to "dumped one day by random person", would this not be addressed in the same way you would a tenant leaving behind any other property? Does the building management (or what have you) have a record of that car having a parking permit for that space or something like that?
Does it have an old parking permit in the window perhaps?
Does it have an old parking permit in the window perhaps?
I acquired my Alfa GT (3.2) in similar circumstances.
It was abandoned by the owner at a garage when its cambelt let go. He brought it in for repair, but couldn't stomach the £4K to rebuild it. 18 months later I saw it in the forecourt and enquired about getting it. This prompted the garage owner to try and get in touch with the owner one final time, no joy. 24 months after it was abandoned, we applied for a V5 in my name and I got it.
It turned out it was owned by the finance company when we applied for the V5 - they were looking for the owner as well. When presented with the storage bill, they said "er, get rid", so I got the V5.
So a <30K mile 3.2 GT for £900, and about £1500 in parts.
It was abandoned by the owner at a garage when its cambelt let go. He brought it in for repair, but couldn't stomach the £4K to rebuild it. 18 months later I saw it in the forecourt and enquired about getting it. This prompted the garage owner to try and get in touch with the owner one final time, no joy. 24 months after it was abandoned, we applied for a V5 in my name and I got it.
It turned out it was owned by the finance company when we applied for the V5 - they were looking for the owner as well. When presented with the storage bill, they said "er, get rid", so I got the V5.
So a <30K mile 3.2 GT for £900, and about £1500 in parts.
No permits are allocated in the apartments, the parking bay matches the apartment number eg 24 space equals apartment 24. Once I find the name of the registered owner I will try tracing him through the apartment landlord.
I suppose if I did become the registered keeper (but not the registered owner) at the end of its life it could be sold as parts (body, doors interior look great, ally wheels, screen etc just don't know if it will be a runner)
Plan therefore is :-
A. Get owners name and address from DVLA (form 888)
B. HPI check
C. Try tracing owner via landlord
D. If no luck and I am happy the owner really has abandoned it claim as keeper
E. Get auto locksmith to gain access and provide keys
F. Get immobiliser code from Audi
G. Attempt starting the car
I suppose if I did become the registered keeper (but not the registered owner) at the end of its life it could be sold as parts (body, doors interior look great, ally wheels, screen etc just don't know if it will be a runner)
Plan therefore is :-
A. Get owners name and address from DVLA (form 888)
B. HPI check
C. Try tracing owner via landlord
D. If no luck and I am happy the owner really has abandoned it claim as keeper
E. Get auto locksmith to gain access and provide keys
F. Get immobiliser code from Audi
G. Attempt starting the car
I was wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation to this and found this topic
I have been watching a car for nearly a year now that's been parked up under a tree abandoned in a car parking space that belongs to 1 of 3 houses. It is currently taxed but mot ran out in January 17. The car tyres are flat and of no use. Rather than being a bronze colour the cars green with mold and the roof (being a convertible) is green to.
The owner has to be in one of the 3 houses next to it and I have put a letter through each letter box asking to buy it with my contact details but I've had no response just seems a waste it sitting rotting away.
I believe I can apply for the log book some how and once I send the details to the dvla they write to the current person on file for the car and if they dont respond in 2 weeks then I can claim the car. This then opens up a complete can of worms of how to get in the car and get it home lol (wouldn't it be awkward if the owner came out as I was towing it away)
Anyone done this before or have any advise please?
I have been watching a car for nearly a year now that's been parked up under a tree abandoned in a car parking space that belongs to 1 of 3 houses. It is currently taxed but mot ran out in January 17. The car tyres are flat and of no use. Rather than being a bronze colour the cars green with mold and the roof (being a convertible) is green to.
The owner has to be in one of the 3 houses next to it and I have put a letter through each letter box asking to buy it with my contact details but I've had no response just seems a waste it sitting rotting away.
I believe I can apply for the log book some how and once I send the details to the dvla they write to the current person on file for the car and if they dont respond in 2 weeks then I can claim the car. This then opens up a complete can of worms of how to get in the car and get it home lol (wouldn't it be awkward if the owner came out as I was towing it away)
Anyone done this before or have any advise please?
- since reading the thread I have started the V888 process to see if that can help. I'd gladly pay for the car and want to do the right thing hence trying to find the owner. **
Kev_Mk3 said:
I believe I can apply for the log book some how and once I send the details to the dvla they write to the current person on file for the car and if they dont respond in 2 weeks then I can claim the car.
Not quite - you can get a V5C in your name...That doesn't mean you're the owner.
Kev_Mk3 said:
I was wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation to this and found this topic
I have been watching a car for nearly a year now that's been parked up under a tree abandoned in a car parking space that belongs to 1 of 3 houses. It is currently taxed but mot ran out in January 17. The car tyres are flat and of no use. Rather than being a bronze colour the cars green with mold and the roof (being a convertible) is green to.
The owner has to be in one of the 3 houses next to it and I have put a letter through each letter box asking to buy it with my contact details but I've had no response just seems a waste it sitting rotting away.
I believe I can apply for the log book some how and once I send the details to the dvla they write to the current person on file for the car and if they dont respond in 2 weeks then I can claim the car. This then opens up a complete can of worms of how to get in the car and get it home lol (wouldn't it be awkward if the owner came out as I was towing it away)
Anyone done this before or have any advise please?
Just because the owner doesn't want to sell it to you or even make contact doesn't give you carte blanche to claim it. It's not yours and never will be yours so leave it be.I have been watching a car for nearly a year now that's been parked up under a tree abandoned in a car parking space that belongs to 1 of 3 houses. It is currently taxed but mot ran out in January 17. The car tyres are flat and of no use. Rather than being a bronze colour the cars green with mold and the roof (being a convertible) is green to.
The owner has to be in one of the 3 houses next to it and I have put a letter through each letter box asking to buy it with my contact details but I've had no response just seems a waste it sitting rotting away.
I believe I can apply for the log book some how and once I send the details to the dvla they write to the current person on file for the car and if they dont respond in 2 weeks then I can claim the car. This then opens up a complete can of worms of how to get in the car and get it home lol (wouldn't it be awkward if the owner came out as I was towing it away)
Anyone done this before or have any advise please?
- since reading the thread I have started the V888 process to see if that can help. I'd gladly pay for the car and want to do the right thing hence trying to find the owner. **
Saw a Jaguar X-Type which looked abandoned and noticed it only had 30k miles on it from new in 2004, no tax and MOT on it so I thought it could be turned around and made into a decent daily as bodywork and wheels looked mint apart from a flat tyre. Leather interior looked unmarked etc
It took several months to find out who owned it because it was just sitting in a yard for about a year. Then I found out it was a family member who had died ormoved abroad and the family wanted rid. Ask them to come up with a price for the car to take as it was.
Then one of the relatives started to get a bit annoyed and ratty about the idea of me taking the car with no MOT and in it's current condition just in case I was getting a bargain so they decided they would get it back to mint condition and then get more money for it themselves.
That was 6 months ago and the car is still sitting in the same spot. So I have decided they can keep it.
It took several months to find out who owned it because it was just sitting in a yard for about a year. Then I found out it was a family member who had died ormoved abroad and the family wanted rid. Ask them to come up with a price for the car to take as it was.
Then one of the relatives started to get a bit annoyed and ratty about the idea of me taking the car with no MOT and in it's current condition just in case I was getting a bargain so they decided they would get it back to mint condition and then get more money for it themselves.
That was 6 months ago and the car is still sitting in the same spot. So I have decided they can keep it.
TooMany2cvs said:
Kev_Mk3 said:
I believe I can apply for the log book some how and once I send the details to the dvla they write to the current person on file for the car and if they dont respond in 2 weeks then I can claim the car.
Right, I'm waiting for my neighbours to start their 4 week holiday cruise and I'll be right in there, claiming all their vehicles!What!
That's how you think it works? uhh.
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