Claiming an abandoned car

[SkidMark]

Does anyone have any experience of claiming an abandoned vehicle for their own use?

Ever since I moved to my flat 10 months ago a BMW has been parked in the flat's car park and has not moved. As the car is on private land the council does not have the power to move it without the property's management company giving authorisation. The management company is not doing anything about it because it either can't be bothered with the hassle, or is worried because it *may* belong to someone.

The car is not taxed and is starting to grow mould around the windows.

I have heard that it may be possible to claim ownership of this vehicle.
Has anyone done or heard of this?

The DVLA has said I can take possession of the vehicle as long as I take all reasonable steps to trace the owner and notify the police. Any idea what would constitute as 'take all reasonable steps'?

Cheers

[paolow]

i recently claimed a sierra that was lurking on the road - you just need a v62 form from the post office - fill it out and away you go.i made no attempt whatsoever to find the owner and never heard anything from either him, the rozzers or the DVLA. there are only 2 snags as far as i can tell, 1 being that when youve claimed it you have to insure, tax etc it if its on the road - doesnt sound like a problem for you. the other being that you wont have the keys if you do it this way so will have to break in + change the locks. if youre thinking of keeping it and not just stripping it you may be better off trying to find the owner and offer him £25 pointing out that itll cost him that to have it taken away. at least this way you get the keys and dont have to mess around with it and youll have a clear conscience
HTH paolo

[MikeyT]

Sometimes these cars are abandoned, not by the owners but by robbers who've just dumped it - mind you, if it's parked nice and square with all the doors locked then maybe not.

If that is the case (ie dumped), it probably *belongs* to some insurance co who've paid out on it.

Maybe you could inform the law and see if it was reported stolen. If you want to see the back of it - then as has been suggested on this forum before, find a way of manoeuvering it onto the road and then get the council to sort it.

If you want to claim it as your own, try putting a note on the window, box as in the local paper etc - all to *prove* you took 'reasonable steps' to locate the owner.

Is there any way DVLA will tell you who the registered keeper is?

Any legal types on here may be better informed than me though.

[chrisgr31]

If you check the DVLA website you will see that anyone with sufficent reason can pay a fee, and ask the DVLA who is the registered keeper of a car. The fee is remarkably reasonable. So I'd just write to them, saying its parked in your car par/space and you want to find out who is the keeper.

Armed with that information you may be able to find the keeper, or you may not. Be rather embarrassing if you claimed it, and a neighbour of yours came out saying they owned it, but were banned from driving at present or equivalent.

[SkidMark]

Thanks for the advice.
Forgot to say that the car is not reported as lost or stolen.

In reading through some of the documents the DVLA sent it appears that I can fill in a V888 form and for £2.50 they will tell me - if I can justify a good reason.
Will probably do this as it should satisfy the 'take all reasonable steps' part.
Preferably, I'd like to offer the actual owner a small amount of cash for it.

[dave_s13]

What model/age of BMW is it??

Does it look like its worth the hassle?

If not I'd do the shift it on to the street thing and get rid.

[ninja_eli]

You've got to write to DVLA requesting details of the registered keeper of the vehicle which you want removed but believe its abandoned. Then write to that person via recorded delivery and wait for a response. To be on the safe side, write to them twice, both times recorded delivery. You might also be able to claim removal charges (so even if they are forthcoming, you can may still be able to claim the car!)

IIRC, in law the V5 document only provides details of who the registered keeper is, if you gain access to the vehicle, and change locks, send for a V5 using the chassis no (heard there was a change of procedure for V5s recently, but not sure if it is relevant here), you will be the registered keeper, and can use the car. However, you will not necessarily be the owner, but I guess there are ways of proving a debt exists... It will not be a police matter, only civil, so the person may not even bother to go through the legal system.

[MikeyT]

dave_s13 said: What model/age of BMW is it??

Does it look like its worth the hassle?

Yeah, be careful. It would be a shame to go through all the hassle just to discover the engine was knacked and it failed the MOT on major chassis rot or summat!

[SkidMark]

It is a 318is, K reg. Appears to be in good condition apart from sitting in same spot for a year. Has electronic mileometer so can't tell mileage.

[williamp]

SkidMark said: It is a 318is, K reg. Appears to be in good condition apart from sitting in same spot for a year. Has electronic mileometer so can't tell mileage.

Ahhh. Weapon of choice for a sales rep. All you need is slick hair, large mobile (circa 1993), shirts with white collars and hey! you can live out your repmobile fantasy...


...err...

[incorrigible]

So worst case scenario is a couple of banger races

[Byff]

Claim it, clean it up and flog it on for £500+price paid for keys and paperwork etc.

[nightowl]

I think its alright to take the car but if the owner shows up after you've done all the work to get though the MOT then he can reclaim it and offer you the money it has cost you.

[funkyboogalooo]

yeh baby yeh. How about this little beauty then, TVR Tuscan in blue on an X plate hasnt turned a wheel in 18months and parked 200yds from my house!!! can I claim it?