Buying an ex (Kent) Police vehicle. Tax and service history?
Discussion
I'm looking at an ex Police vehicle tomorrow but was wondering if anyone could offer any advice on the following?
The trader (who bought from auction) has a printout of the service record (from Kent Police), is this normal, I assumed these cars would be sold with no history whatsoever?
I'm assuming the car would have been serviced and repaired by 'in house' mechanics and I'm not expecting an asthetic minter, but can I assume that the mechanical side of things would have been well looked after in terms of servicing to schedule / replacing parts?
It's taxed (according to the DVLA) but has no tax disk, can I just apply for a 'replacement' once I have the Log book/ new keepers supplement?
TIA.
The trader (who bought from auction) has a printout of the service record (from Kent Police), is this normal, I assumed these cars would be sold with no history whatsoever?
I'm assuming the car would have been serviced and repaired by 'in house' mechanics and I'm not expecting an asthetic minter, but can I assume that the mechanical side of things would have been well looked after in terms of servicing to schedule / replacing parts?
It's taxed (according to the DVLA) but has no tax disk, can I just apply for a 'replacement' once I have the Log book/ new keepers supplement?
TIA.
UncleRic said:
I'm looking at an ex Police vehicle tomorrow but was wondering if anyone could offer any advice on the following?
The trader (who bought from auction) has a printout of the service record (from Kent Police), is this normal, I assumed these cars would be sold with no history whatsoever?
I'm assuming the car would have been serviced and repaired by 'in house' mechanics and I'm not expecting an asthetic minter, but can I assume that the mechanical side of things would have been well looked after in terms of servicing to schedule / replacing parts?
It's taxed (according to the DVLA) but has no tax disk, can I just apply for a 'replacement' once I have the Log book/ new keepers supplement?
IIRC you will have to pay for the replacement tax disc. If it's still registered/tax by the police it will be tax exempt.The trader (who bought from auction) has a printout of the service record (from Kent Police), is this normal, I assumed these cars would be sold with no history whatsoever?
I'm assuming the car would have been serviced and repaired by 'in house' mechanics and I'm not expecting an asthetic minter, but can I assume that the mechanical side of things would have been well looked after in terms of servicing to schedule / replacing parts?
It's taxed (according to the DVLA) but has no tax disk, can I just apply for a 'replacement' once I have the Log book/ new keepers supplement?
AS for the service record, this is normal. The record you'll get will likely be a print out or copy of the record from the force's workshops.
As for mechanical condition, it depends what type of vehicle it is. If it seems a likely panda car, it will have been abused, have had smelly, unhygienic prisoners in the back, it'll have been bumped and horsed about. If it's a traffic car, it will have been driven very, very hard indeed but overall afforded more respect and love than the panda.
Both will have been meticulously serviced and kept in tip top condition mechanically, as getting them fixed is as easy as filling in defect sheet and hanging to keys up. So every minor fault is tended to, because the vehicles have to be in proper working order for use on the roads. A friend of mine who is a copper reckons his station's fleet of diesel Astras are never away from the workshops for minor faults!
What type of car is it, out of interest?
I'd have no problem buying one of my local force's ex S60 or V70 T5's. I'd be less enthusiastic about their 530d's (which are apparently starting to suffer from engine failures as they can't take full-bore use on a daily basis), and even less enthusiastic about one of their Astras. Mind you, their vans always seem to sell and do well.
I'd have no problem buying one of my local force's ex S60 or V70 T5's. I'd be less enthusiastic about their 530d's (which are apparently starting to suffer from engine failures as they can't take full-bore use on a daily basis), and even less enthusiastic about one of their Astras. Mind you, their vans always seem to sell and do well.
UncleRic said:
It's definitely not a pursuit / motorway car.. or a 'Panda' car.. or a dog carrier..
..it's a diesel Fabia Estate so probably some sort of runababout (although on average it's covered 50 mile a day since new).. like the one referred to in the first reply!
The only times I see the Fabia estates round here, they are being driven leisurely by PCSOs or neighbourhood-type patrols. Never seen one on blue lights. Is it a 1.4 or 1.9 TDi? ..it's a diesel Fabia Estate so probably some sort of runababout (although on average it's covered 50 mile a day since new).. like the one referred to in the first reply!
I wouldn't be certain thats its been meticulously maintained all its life. A mate used to be in the force and they used to rag their 'Panda' cars from cold with no mechanical sympathy. Service intervals were never adhered to, it was just done when convenient to its users.
Still worth a gamble if its cheap enough.
Still worth a gamble if its cheap enough.
UncleRic said:
I'm looking at an ex Police vehicle tomorrow but was wondering if anyone could offer any advice on the following?
The trader (who bought from auction) has a printout of the service record (from Kent Police), is this normal, I assumed these cars would be sold with no history whatsoever?
I'm assuming the car would have been serviced and repaired by 'in house' mechanics and I'm not expecting an asthetic minter, but can I assume that the mechanical side of things would have been well looked after in terms of servicing to schedule / replacing parts?
It's taxed (according to the DVLA) but has no tax disk, can I just apply for a 'replacement' once I have the Log book/ new keepers supplement?
TIA.
Missus was an ex-copper/CID Detective...The trader (who bought from auction) has a printout of the service record (from Kent Police), is this normal, I assumed these cars would be sold with no history whatsoever?
I'm assuming the car would have been serviced and repaired by 'in house' mechanics and I'm not expecting an asthetic minter, but can I assume that the mechanical side of things would have been well looked after in terms of servicing to schedule / replacing parts?
It's taxed (according to the DVLA) but has no tax disk, can I just apply for a 'replacement' once I have the Log book/ new keepers supplement?
TIA.
I would steer clear. No time for warm up and too many stories of putting the car in a hedge or f
king the suspension due to goign airborne over a speedhump....Sadly, the days of in house mechanics are loong gone....
Cars are now leased like any other, and serviced according to manufacturers serive interval and no more. As for 'every little fault being ironed ou' sadly ,no .It's not a case of 'hanging the keys up', if you put a car in for repairs you lose it to a contractor for a week or more - which means spomebody is walking for a week or more. Cars are often driven will all manner of minor niggles or faults, often until they become major faults.
OP: If you're happy with the condition, milage, price and first and foremost the way it drives then by all means go ahead, but I know of no serving officer who would buy an ex police car ,no matter what its former role or use ,and regardless of service history.
They are sold at a premium on the basis of a reputation that has long since gone by the wayside.
Cars are now leased like any other, and serviced according to manufacturers serive interval and no more. As for 'every little fault being ironed ou' sadly ,no .It's not a case of 'hanging the keys up', if you put a car in for repairs you lose it to a contractor for a week or more - which means spomebody is walking for a week or more. Cars are often driven will all manner of minor niggles or faults, often until they become major faults.
OP: If you're happy with the condition, milage, price and first and foremost the way it drives then by all means go ahead, but I know of no serving officer who would buy an ex police car ,no matter what its former role or use ,and regardless of service history.
They are sold at a premium on the basis of a reputation that has long since gone by the wayside.
A friend of mine works at the local Volvo dealer as a mechanic and has done for the last 15 years, he would repair and service the Police Volvos, and told me he would never buy one. As they have been ragged to death, plus he said the wiring and dash on ex police cars was always a mess.
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