SORN V5 question

[12TS]

I've agreed to buy a second hand car privately. The person I'm buying it from has had it a month and hasn't completed the V5 after he bought it, the previous seller did though.

I understand why the car is being sold quickly, so there's no issue there.

My concern is that when I take over the V5 I could get a bill for not taxing the vehicle promptly. There's also a risk that there'd be parking / speeding tickets outstanding.

My question is how long post sale does the buyer have to notify the DVLA before getting nobbled. Any other advice you'd give in this situation? I can still get out of the deal.

Thinking about it I guess I should ask him to complete the existing V5 and then once he gets the new V5 I sign the new one.

Edited by 12TS on Friday 14th April 14:05

[akirk]

get a dated receipt for purchase
get it sorned / taxed the same day

if the DVLA chase you - send them copies of both...

surely if they are chasing anyone it would be the owner before the one you are buying from who presumably is still the name registered with the DVLA

[SS2.]

12TS said:

I've agreed to buy a second hand car privately. The person I'm buying it from has had it a month and hasn't completed the V5 after he bought it, the previous seller did though.

As the new keeper, he didn't have to complete anything on the V5C.

The previous seller should have filled in the new keeper's details on his V5C, torn off the New Keeper Supplement (V5C/2) and handed it to the buyer before sending the rest of the document to DVLA to declare the change of keeper.

What document does the current keeper have - a V5C in his name, a V5C in the name of the previous keeper, or the V5C/2 supplement ?

[12TS]

He has the V5C in the name of the previous keeper, but without section 9. So it looks like when it was sold it was declared as sold to a dealer. This does add up.

[Red Devil]

12TS said:

He has the V5C in the name of the previous keeper, but without section 9. So it looks like when it was sold it was declared as sold to a dealer. This does add up.

That can only mean that the person you are buying it from is the said dealer (possibly of the kerbside variety). So not really a private sale after all, unless he has suggested to you that it is his own personal transport and not 'in trade'. In which case he should have registered it in his own name. It has a bit of a whiff about it to me and I would walk. YMMV.

[12TS]

I don't think he is, but I'm not prepared to put myself in any position where I can take any liability.

If he was to register it and tax it then it would all be clean, but I guess he's a problem as he's not SORNd it. If I buy it then some of this problem could transfer to me.

I'm thinking I may just be better to walk.

[ging84]

As long as you get a receipt with the date on it and get it taxed or sorned straight away there should be no issues.

[12TS]

ging84 said:

As long as you get a receipt with the date on it and get it taxed or sorned straight away there should be no issues.

But there's outstanding tax on it at the moment and it's not SORNd. I'm worried I'll end up with some liability, even worse a NIP.

[SS2.]

12TS said:

ging84 said:

As long as you get a receipt with the date on it and get it taxed or sorned straight away there should be no issues.

But there's outstanding tax on it at the moment and it's not SORNd. I'm worried I'll end up with some liability, even worse a NIP.

As above, just get a date and time-stamped receipt and tax / SORN as soon as practicably possible.

You'll be fine.

[akirk]

12TS said:

ging84 said:

As long as you get a receipt with the date on it and get it taxed or sorned straight away there should be no issues.

But there's outstanding tax on it at the moment and it's not SORNd. I'm worried I'll end up with some liability, even worse a NIP.

How can you end up with liability for tax at a point when you don't own a car...
If I buy a car today, I have no liability for speeding / parking / tax / insurance / MOT before the date on which I buy it...
If someone argues that you have liability - show them your receipt of purchase and tell them to take a running jump
It really isn't complicated!

[12TS]

akirk said:

How can you end up with liability for tax at a point when you don't own a car...
If I buy a car today, I have no liability for speeding / parking / tax / insurance / MOT before the date on which I buy it...
If someone argues that you have liability - show them your receipt of purchase and tell them to take a running jump
It really isn't complicated!

I agree with your logic, however I don't know if the DVLA see it that way.

I've had a look at taxing it on line and I could tax it before I buy it, I wonder if I'd end up having to pay back tax and the fine at that point? Otherwise who will they charge for the back tax?

[12TS]

Thanks for the advice. I decided not to buy it in the end, someone else can sort out missing paperwork, I don't need the stress.

[Red Devil]

12TS said:

akirk said:

How can you end up with liability for tax at a point when you don't own a car...
If I buy a car today, I have no liability for speeding / parking / tax / insurance / MOT before the date on which I buy it...
If someone argues that you have liability - show them your receipt of purchase and tell them to take a running jump
It really isn't complicated!

I agree with your logic, however I don't know if the DVLA see it that way.

Exactly. If the bureaucrats decide to hump you, logic tends to leave the building. Getting it resolved can be a right ballache.

12TS said:

Thanks for the advice. I decided not to buy it in the end, someone else can sort out missing paperwork, I don't need the stress.

Good call.