Buying a car without the V5 present?
Discussion
Firstly, apologies if this topic has been covered, I did search and I couldn't find anything useful.
I'm after some help here...
my wife is after a new car, a mini clubman cooper s, and is fairly particular about the spec. She has however found one she likes quite nearby.
Problem is, the owner has recently moved (locally) and sent of the vehicles V5 for a change of address last Friday, expecting a turn around in a few days! According to the DVLA however this can take upto 6 weeks (they aim to do it in 4), which is a huge amount of time to sit and wait.
Now I know many would say forget it and buy another, but it's not that simple, we can't find another of the spec within budget anywhere! There was one on the mini cherished website but it sold while I was on the phone to them!
So, question is, does anyone know a way around this? Provided they have receipts and a HPI check is carried out, could I simply intercept the form at the DVLA for example?
All help appreciated, thanks.
I'm after some help here...
my wife is after a new car, a mini clubman cooper s, and is fairly particular about the spec. She has however found one she likes quite nearby.
Problem is, the owner has recently moved (locally) and sent of the vehicles V5 for a change of address last Friday, expecting a turn around in a few days! According to the DVLA however this can take upto 6 weeks (they aim to do it in 4), which is a huge amount of time to sit and wait.
Now I know many would say forget it and buy another, but it's not that simple, we can't find another of the spec within budget anywhere! There was one on the mini cherished website but it sold while I was on the phone to them!
So, question is, does anyone know a way around this? Provided they have receipts and a HPI check is carried out, could I simply intercept the form at the DVLA for example?
All help appreciated, thanks.
He is being fair and proper about it tbh, (a bit too proper, I'd have hung onto the v5 as it was personally 
), so I can't see him selling it if I said I'd have it. It's more a case of whether it's waiting 4 weeks on our side.
I was just hoping against hope there was a way around it really.
Ah well, there's always more coming up for sale I suppose.
It's tempting to just keep nudging the budget up, but you need to stop somewhere!
), so I can't see him selling it if I said I'd have it. It's more a case of whether it's waiting 4 weeks on our side.I was just hoping against hope there was a way around it really.
Ah well, there's always more coming up for sale I suppose.
It's tempting to just keep nudging the budget up, but you need to stop somewhere!
You're all being far too paranoid. V5 isn't proof of ownership anyway.
Check the car in the usual ways, HPI etc, check on the dvla website that he is the registered keeper, make sure you get a comprehensive receipt, job done.
Anybody selling you a car can fail to send off the V5, and/ or get a new one issued in their name anyway.
I would trust your instincts, if the guy is a straight guy, and if you've carried out all the sensible checks, then it doesn't really make much difference.
You don't need to intercept the form, clearly you need to establish that he is registered with the DVLA that he is the registered keeper, then you just get a letter from him stating that you are the new keeper. If he doesn't sent you the V5, you apply for one directly
He's done things the right way, you would equally have issues if he had the V5, but it was registered at another address.
Does he not even have the half of the V5 which you don't need to send off for change of details? Does he have any proof that he's just moved?
Check the car in the usual ways, HPI etc, check on the dvla website that he is the registered keeper, make sure you get a comprehensive receipt, job done.
Anybody selling you a car can fail to send off the V5, and/ or get a new one issued in their name anyway.
I would trust your instincts, if the guy is a straight guy, and if you've carried out all the sensible checks, then it doesn't really make much difference.
You don't need to intercept the form, clearly you need to establish that he is registered with the DVLA that he is the registered keeper, then you just get a letter from him stating that you are the new keeper. If he doesn't sent you the V5, you apply for one directly
He's done things the right way, you would equally have issues if he had the V5, but it was registered at another address.
Does he not even have the half of the V5 which you don't need to send off for change of details? Does he have any proof that he's just moved?
Edited by bozmandb9 on Wednesday 20th April 20:00
hora said:
My Aunt is a self-made business woman. She recently bought a cloned car. Did all the checks/hpi but no v5 present. Bought at the sellers house. He still lives there but the local idiot Police (Rochdale) won't comment as enquires are apperently ongoing (closed then reopened after pressure)
Plenty of clones sold with V5s!hora said:
The new v5 arrives at his house in his name. What's his motivation to give it to you? What if he asked for a 'admin' fee as he sold the car too cheap. Totally out of order but when I buy a car privately or dealer I have to see EVERYTHING before money is handed over..
How do you know its his car and not a lease car etc?
If he doesn't send it off he will be liable for all fines including parking fines and speeding tickets,not to mention tax fines and up to £1000 for not telling Dvla he sold it on.How do you know its his car and not a lease car etc?
I bought my 306 without the V5 present. The chap had only owned the car for a couple of weeks and hadn't had it back from the DVLA himself.
He posted it to me once he had it (the next day!) and I sent it to the DVLA.
They (or the Royal Mail) then lost it, so I had to apply for a new V5 but it cost nothing and arrived within a week or so.
I was happy as it was a cheap snotter and the guy seemed a genuine sort. I'd be a bit more wary with a more expensive car.
Edit: He did pass me "his" new keeper slip so I had something at least.
He posted it to me once he had it (the next day!) and I sent it to the DVLA.
They (or the Royal Mail) then lost it, so I had to apply for a new V5 but it cost nothing and arrived within a week or so.
I was happy as it was a cheap snotter and the guy seemed a genuine sort. I'd be a bit more wary with a more expensive car.
Edit: He did pass me "his" new keeper slip so I had something at least.
Edited by 10AE on Wednesday 20th April 20:41
hora said:
The new v5 arrives at his house in his name. What's his motivation to give it to you? What if he asked for a 'admin' fee as he sold the car too cheap. Totally out of order but when I buy a car privately or dealer I have to see EVERYTHING before money is handed over..
How do you know its his car and not a lease car etc?
Some people in this world are actually honest and stick to their promise.How do you know its his car and not a lease car etc?
Shouldn't take that long. Just stick a deposit on, with appropriate clauses, and wait a couple of weeks. Far better than risking whatever it is you might be risking by not having a V5. When I went to pick up my current car I found a single-letter discrepancy between the V5 and the VIN. I was 99.9% sure it was a simple misprint but since I wasn't desperate for the car immediately I put £100 deposit down and the guy sent the V5 away. Just over a week later he got it back, corrected, and I went down and picked up the car.
Thanks for all the replies.
I've also phoned the DVLA and whilst they advise against buying without the V5 they can (with the current owners permission) disclose details of current registration over the phone.
Combined with a HPI check, and the fact I have internet stalked the guy and found he holds a high level position in a respectable company. I think I may well take the risk depending on how it pans out this evening.
Basically if all other paperwork is in position, how likely is a family man, who is selling the car from his own home and holds a good job (complete with public internet profile) to rip me off?
I've also phoned the DVLA and whilst they advise against buying without the V5 they can (with the current owners permission) disclose details of current registration over the phone.
Combined with a HPI check, and the fact I have internet stalked the guy and found he holds a high level position in a respectable company. I think I may well take the risk depending on how it pans out this evening.
Basically if all other paperwork is in position, how likely is a family man, who is selling the car from his own home and holds a good job (complete with public internet profile) to rip me off?
D1bram said:
Thanks for all the replies.
I've also phoned the DVLA and whilst they advise against buying without the V5 they can (with the current owners permission) disclose details of current registration over the phone.
Combined with a HPI check, and the fact I have internet stalked the guy and found he holds a high level position in a respectable company. I think I may well take the risk depending on how it pans out this evening.
Basically if all other paperwork is in position, how likely is a family man, who is selling the car from his own home and holds a good job (complete with public internet profile) to rip me off?
Exactly, don't let a piece of paper assume undue performance, remember it's not even proof of ownership! I've also phoned the DVLA and whilst they advise against buying without the V5 they can (with the current owners permission) disclose details of current registration over the phone.
Combined with a HPI check, and the fact I have internet stalked the guy and found he holds a high level position in a respectable company. I think I may well take the risk depending on how it pans out this evening.
Basically if all other paperwork is in position, how likely is a family man, who is selling the car from his own home and holds a good job (complete with public internet profile) to rip me off?
So have you acertained with DVLA that this guy is the owner? If so, discussion owner, you get a receipt from him, job done.
The DVLA have had to change the V5 design and colour because so many of the old ones got stolen from Swansea. They're really not much use for proving ownership. The OP is better off with a freshly printed new style one direct from Swansea anyway as proof of the car being legit.
It is actually very easy to get a V5 in your name. Just apply using a V62 for any old car you fancy and 50% of the time it would be issued. They are meant to send a letter to the current owner which needs to be replied to quickly or they just issue a new V5 in the applicants name - most of the time they get ignored or not sent.
Similarly, anyone can get any car they fancy flagged as being clocked on the NMR of they want to...
It is actually very easy to get a V5 in your name. Just apply using a V62 for any old car you fancy and 50% of the time it would be issued. They are meant to send a letter to the current owner which needs to be replied to quickly or they just issue a new V5 in the applicants name - most of the time they get ignored or not sent.
Similarly, anyone can get any car they fancy flagged as being clocked on the NMR of they want to...
I don't think they're useless, just not an absolute failsafe.
With this car I did a HPI check, obviously checked the V5 over and saw the previous owners receipt from when they bought it.
I suppose there always remains some risk though, but at least with using HPI I now have a guarantee against that.
With this car I did a HPI check, obviously checked the V5 over and saw the previous owners receipt from when they bought it.
I suppose there always remains some risk though, but at least with using HPI I now have a guarantee against that.
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