V5 but no receipt... can the seller come and take my car?
Discussion
Hi,
Have a question that has been bothering me for a while. Back in March I bought a car privately, got the V5 in my name & address, both keys, alarm fobs, paperwork including all history of the car, because of the circumstances (late in the evening, far away etc) we never got around to writing up a receipt. As far as I understand the V5 does not mean I own the car, just keeping it - can the seller come back to me and say "it's my car and I want it back" ? or "i lent him the car in March i want it back now "? He's not responding to my emails & calls so I'm getting a bit suspicious here. How should I proceed ?
Have a question that has been bothering me for a while. Back in March I bought a car privately, got the V5 in my name & address, both keys, alarm fobs, paperwork including all history of the car, because of the circumstances (late in the evening, far away etc) we never got around to writing up a receipt. As far as I understand the V5 does not mean I own the car, just keeping it - can the seller come back to me and say "it's my car and I want it back" ? or "i lent him the car in March i want it back now "? He's not responding to my emails & calls so I'm getting a bit suspicious here. How should I proceed ?
ks, so don't then act like a total cretin.
Piepiepie said:
Awesome, the last two cars i sold, i didnt give a receipt for.
Im gonna go claim them back.
Just because there is no receipt does not make you the owner - the new owner could point to a sale advert, financial transactions, the fact you were strangers (why would you let a stranger keep a car you own) etc etc - would be fairly simple to persuade any reasonable person there was a transaction. A receipt is a good idea, but not essential.Im gonna go claim them back.
Thanks for the replies, and take it easy gentlemen! 
There is financial evidence - i did withdraw money on the day of purchase, there is the backed up forum advert with my nickname listed as the seller (not sure how much evidence is that) plus a large amount of receipts from the duration of me making repairs and upgrades to the car. He's not threatning to do so, but my requests for a receipt have gone unanswered, but he recently enquired "how are you getting on with the car, what power did it make on the rollers", etc, so got me a bit worried, felt like he was interested if i fixed all the faults already.
I'm going to enquire for receipts more and we'll see what happens later.
There is financial evidence - i did withdraw money on the day of purchase, there is the backed up forum advert with my nickname listed as the seller (not sure how much evidence is that) plus a large amount of receipts from the duration of me making repairs and upgrades to the car. He's not threatning to do so, but my requests for a receipt have gone unanswered, but he recently enquired "how are you getting on with the car, what power did it make on the rollers", etc, so got me a bit worried, felt like he was interested if i fixed all the faults already.
I'm going to enquire for receipts more and we'll see what happens later.
GreigM said:
Just because there is no receipt does not make you the owner - the new owner could point to a sale advert, financial transactions, the fact you were strangers (why would you let a stranger keep a car you own) etc etc - would be fairly simple to persuade any reasonable person there was a transaction. A receipt is a good idea, but not essential.
this. If the owner decides 6 months down the line that they want to try and get the car back based on 'v5 is not proof of ownership' there will be many things in favour to the person who bought the car.namely..
- the fact taht the seller signed and sent off the v5
- the fact that they never reported it lost/stolen
- the fact that all of it was done with a stranger
- any sort of financial transaction that could be recorded (cheque, bank transfer etc.)
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