Legal responsibility after sale of vehicle?

[Davi]

If you are selling a car, does your legal responsibility effectively end the moment the car is sold, or do you have any duties immediately afterwards?

I ask as I am currently selling a car with no MOT or Tax on it (The only reason it's not been MOT'd is a cracked windscreen and the ABS warning light being on, due I believe to a dodgy sensor lead) - I've had several people ask about the possibilities for collecting it, one of whom wanted to tow it away on a rigid A frame, the other drive it away on trade plates.

are both these OK, and do I have anything to be concerned about once I have the cash in my hand, a receipt issued and my back turned?

[JonRB]

This does not constitute legal advice, but as far as I am aware you have no other obligations or come-back after the sale other than to send off the V5 to the DVLA. That's about it - Caveat Emptor basically.

Edited by JonRB on Sunday 11th November 19:43

[wolf1]

The towing with an A frame is feasable but trade plate do not cover for lack of MOT as all they are for is road tax purposes.

[Bingo Brian]

It has to be SORN'd so you dont get grief on the Tax.

Sold my car to a guy from overseas - got an invoice for tax a few months later as the paperwork hadnt processed properly and I had to cough up a penalty. Show me the m o n e y!!!

[catso]

Last car I sold, I got a letter from DVLA informing me that I was no longer responsible for the vehicle and advising me to hold on to the letter. Not sure how it works if 'something' happens in between selling and the DVLA acknowleging the sale but presumably a receipt signed by both seller and buyer should be OK?

[Mg6b]

Make sure you inform your insurance company when and whom you sold it to. Keep a record yourself!

If you do not, and have not had an acknowledgement from your insurance company, when the new owner dents the car, it will be attributed to the cover on your insurance and is a nightmare to prove otherwise and have it dealt with expediently.

Edited by Mg6b on Monday 12th November 11:35

[John Laverick]

I once sold a car to two lads who I had a gut feeling were very dodgy. So once they had left I called the police and requested they recorded the fact I had just sold car XXXX at time XXX on date XXX.

Low and behold ... 3 days later I get a call from the local police asking about the car as it has been involved in a smash and grab!!

[Davi]

Cheers for all the ideas. The car has been SORN and the insurance cancelled for a few months now, and all the neighbours can attest to it's lack of use as it's hanging precariously over a soil bank so I can fit the other cars on the drive

I'll get a witness to it's departure and ensure I've done a proper receipt for time and date of sale.

[Davi]

Just spoken to the bloke who's buying it - he's not as daft, trade plates to cover the tax, he's booked it in for an MOT at the garage he works at for later the same day as pick up!

[Medic-one]

My 1 sold my car i just written a small note on the computer saying "i" sold to car to "person" on "date + time" for "amount" and printed it twice.

I signed both and he sign both so i had a document saying what time the vehicle swapped owners so if he would get a speeding ticket driving the car back home i wouldn't get into trouble.