When does this car become mine?

[Matt99man]

We have some cars that have been stored with us for the last 15 years, the guy who owned them payed for years up front but we have not heard of him for some years now . These cars are stored on my land and have been for a while, we have not heard from the cars owner for must be 5 years, he could even be dead now, is there any way I can claim them as my own or sell them? There are no keys or logbooks obviously, but they need to be moved

[Westy Pre-Lit]

Maybe sir is away in India shooting tigers, have you checked under the bonnets for bundles of cash ?

[roboxm3]

For how many years did he pay up front?
If you accepted his payment and he's still 'in credit', what makes you think you've got the right to have / sell them?

[TheTurbonator]

I don't think they'll ever become yours. You can apply for the V5 (can't remember which form) and if the registered keeper doesn't reply or dispute then you can become the registered keeper. However you still don't legally own the car.

[Six Fiend]

Westy Pre-Lit said:

Maybe sir is away in India shooting tigers, have you checked under the bonnets for bundles of cash ?

Using a machine gun...

[davepoth]

Matt99man said:

We have some cars that have been stored with us for the last 15 years, the guy who owned them payed for years up front but we have not heard of him for some years now . These cars are stored on my land and have been for a while, we have not heard from the cars owner for must be 5 years, he could even be dead now, is there any way I can claim them as my own or sell them? There are no keys or logbooks obviously, but they need to be moved

Are you owed money for storage? If so you can possibly claim ownership of the cars to settle that debt. Someone more knowledgeable will be along to confirm or deny that.

[hondafanatic]

Westy Pre-Lit said:

Maybe sir is away in India shooting tigers, have you checked under the bonnets for bundles of cash ?

Maybe it needs a little more air through the second carburettor?

[marmite monster]

What are the cars ?

[samoht]

If you have been paid for x years then I'd imagine you're under contract to store them for x years, regardless. If you need to move them you would probably be obliged to make alternative arrangements to store them for him.

If the 'x' years have run out, then I would think you would be obliged to make every reasonable effort to locate the owner.

If you really couldn't find them I guess you could probably sell them, but you'd have to be prepared to return the money to the guy at any future date I would think.

I would hire an actual lawyer before doing anything irreversible, personally.

[Matt99man]

davepoth said:

Are you owed money for storage? If so you can possibly claim ownership of the cars to settle that debt. Someone more knowledgeable will be along to confirm or deny that.

I'm not sure exactly but it must be 5 years overdue. I do not deal with the financial side so am unsure how much is owed, whats the going rate for storage?

[Jem0911]

They can never become yours.
If you have a contract for storage and he is in breach then sue for the arrears.
If there is no contract then you're in schtook.
Nice collection is it?

[Matt99man]

There's a merc sl, looks like from the 70s the other looks like its being held together by its cover, not entirely sure what it is but it does have half a old black number plate! What happens if the owner is dead?

[Jem0911]

I think I remember a similar case on the news.
The land owner had to ask the authorities to remove the vehicles after such time as the arrears exceeded the value of the cars.
But in that case there were plus of fifty cars.
Surely you have contact details for the owner?

[AlexKing]

Matt99man said:

There's a merc sl, looks like from the 70s the other looks like its being held together by its cover, not entirely sure what it is but it does have half a old black number plate! What happens if the owner is dead?

The debt becomes his heir's. They may well choose to settle their debt to you by allowing you to keep the cars, if that is acceptable to you and they have no interest in old Mercs or piles of rust.

Property lawyer advice is always superior to Internet forum advice on this sort of thing though.

[Robin Hood]

I believe you can put a "Public Notice" in a local and a National newspaper stating the vehicle details and your own details saying that if no claim is made for the vehicles before 30 days from the date of the notice the vehicles will be disposed of to cover either outstanding or ongoing costs incurred as appropriate.

Might be best to seek legal advice on the correct wording applicable to avoid any backfires though.

[Matt99man]

In that case I could just tow them onto the main road a few miles away and let the local authority deal with them! Haha

[chrisw75]

Surely you have an address on file for him? Have you tried to contact the owner?

The rate depends on the type of storage. My cars are being stored for around £100/month in an under-cover, controlled and secure environment.