Buying a car while private plate is in 'transfer'
Discussion
Hi. I'm buying a car that currently has a private plate on that the owner wants to retain. Trouble is we have a very limited window when I can pick up the car and the entire process for the plate transfer may not be complete. The owner has said that he'll put the paperwork in and have the modified MOT and tax disc in place, but the V5 may not be back from the DVLA.
Having never been in this situation before, is it okay to buy the car like this? Is it okay to just exchange with receipts as proof, and wait for the owner to get the V5 and transfer the car across to me after the deal is sone? What number plate is legally on the car till the V5 comes back from the DVLA? Etc.....
Many thanks.
Having never been in this situation before, is it okay to buy the car like this? Is it okay to just exchange with receipts as proof, and wait for the owner to get the V5 and transfer the car across to me after the deal is sone? What number plate is legally on the car till the V5 comes back from the DVLA? Etc.....
Many thanks.
mrmr96 said:
V5 records the registered keeper.
Your receipt will show the legal owner.
That may have the potential to be technically accurate but personally I would never buy a car without the V5.Your receipt will show the legal owner.
After all, a receipt from someone who never owned the car in the first place isn't worth the paper it's written on.
elementad said:
Find out where your nearest DVLA centre is (it's not just in Swansea) and they can change there and then
IIRC you can put a plate on a car from retention straight away at one of the offices. If you're wanting to take a place back off you have to wait even at their office.Ozzie Osmond said:
mrmr96 said:
V5 records the registered keeper.
Your receipt will show the legal owner.
That may have the potential to be technically accurate but personally I would never buy a car without the V5.Your receipt will show the legal owner.
After all, a receipt from someone who never owned the car in the first place isn't worth the paper it's written on.
DVLA normally issue the letter of authority and replacement tax disc very early on in the process (or over the counter if the retention/transfer is processed that way, rather than by post), so those are the plates and VED disc that should be on display. Until you have that authority, the vehicle remains on its private plate and associated VED disc.
It's in their interest to sort it correctly as once you own the car, technically you also own the current plate too. Plates and owners should not be changed concurrently, if only sellers would retain plates prior to marketing their vehicles.
mrmr96 said:
Technically is all that matters if the question of ownership ended up in court.
... but not ifa) you actually wanted to own a car, not end up in court, or
b) you can't find the scum-bag who ripped you off, or
c) you get a judgement against him but he can't or won't pay.
IMO it's one of those risks which is entirely avoidable and therefore not worth taking.
philmots said:
elementad said:
Find out where your nearest DVLA centre is (it's not just in Swansea) and they can change there and then
IIRC you can put a plate on a car from retention straight away at one of the offices. If you're wanting to take a place back off you have to wait even at their office.This.
So, the general consensus seems to be:
1. Go to the local DVLA office to get the process started.
2. At the same time pick up new tax disc and MOT at the DVLA.
3. The above will enable the private plates to be removed and the new plates to be put on.
4. Get receipt as proof of sale.
5. The new V5 will go to the original owner (as no way of notifying DVLA of sale), and he will fill in my details, send me the tear off strip and notify DVLA of sale.
Does that sound about right?
1. Go to the local DVLA office to get the process started.
2. At the same time pick up new tax disc and MOT at the DVLA.
3. The above will enable the private plates to be removed and the new plates to be put on.
4. Get receipt as proof of sale.
5. The new V5 will go to the original owner (as no way of notifying DVLA of sale), and he will fill in my details, send me the tear off strip and notify DVLA of sale.
Does that sound about right?
Ozzie Osmond said:
mrmr96 said:
Technically is all that matters if the question of ownership ended up in court.
... but not ifa) you actually wanted to own a car, not end up in court, or
b) you can't find the scum-bag who ripped you off, or
c) you get a judgement against him but he can't or won't pay.
IMO it's one of those risks which is entirely avoidable and therefore not worth taking.
Toaster Pilot said:
My name is on my V5 yet Santander Consumer Finance own my car.
Which demonstrates the point nicely - only an idiot would buy it from you without making absolutely certain that Santander are involved, confirm that it's your car and make sure any finance settled.Buyers who run the risk of buying without checking V5 are IMO bonkers.
Ozzie Osmond said:
Zwolf said:
The V5C doesn't prove that they owned it though...
Technically you are correct, but how many people have you ever met who have their name on the V5 but don't own the car?Ozzie Osmond said:
Toaster Pilot said:
My name is on my V5 yet Santander Consumer Finance own my car.
Which demonstrates the point nicely - only an idiot would buy it from you without making absolutely certain that Santander are involved, confirm that it's your car and make sure any finance settled.Buyers who run the risk of buying without checking V5 are IMO bonkers.
An HPI check is far more helpful in respect of the concerns you mention than any information contained on the registration document.
Toaster Pilot said:
Ozzie Osmond said:
Technically you are correct, but how many people have you ever met who have their name on the V5 but don't own the car?
My name is on my V5 yet Santander Consumer Finance own my car.
pretty safe to assume that the name on the v5 is the owner imho which is probably true in 99% of cases where there is no hp involved. If that's not a safe assumption though, what other checks do you carry out?TX.
Ozzie Osmond said:
How much more needs to be spelled out! Yes, get an HPI check as well! Check the service history! Look at the tyres and under the bonnet! Check the MOT database! Make sure everything works! Make sure you get all the keys and that they all work!
The last couple of car's I've bought have been 2nd hand from dealers. In each case the name on the V5 was that of the previous owner. However, the car (at the point I'm buying it) belongs to the DEALER and NOT to the REGISTERED KEEPER PER THE V5.So I still stand by the assertion that the V5 tells you nothing about the ownership. HTH.
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