Car seller keeping his personalised reg plate on retention
Car seller keeping his personalised reg plate on retention
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Discussion

GenuineEntropy

Original Poster:

15 posts

159 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Hi all

I've agreed private purchase from the guy (not a trader) and left a deposit with him on Monday, by Friday he had got his tax disk, MOT cert, old plates and his certificate of plate retention from the DVLA -- but not his VC5/logbook.

He's said I could could come and get it any day I like now it has its old plates back on.
I'm nervous about completing the transaction until he has the VC5/Log book back though - it's several thousand pounds so I would prefer everything to be 100% legit.

Have any of you been through something similar and if so how long did it take for the VC5/logbook to show up after the DVLA had returned the Tax & MOT?

Thanks for any help!

Lumpyuk

126 posts

175 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
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Retention docs come first, V5 can take upto 5 weeks after this but usually comes within a week.

Jimmy No Hands

5,102 posts

187 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
I sold a car this year that had my plate on, think I had the V5 back in less than 2 weeks.

GenuineEntropy

Original Poster:

15 posts

159 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Thanks Lumpy. 1 week is manageable but 5 weeks is pretty bleak!
Don't know if the knackered old run-about I'm using to get to work will even last that long.

Anyone else have experience of this and was it closer to 1 week or 5 weeks? - He handed the paperwork in in person at Borehamwood DVLA if that makes any difference.


-EDIT-

Thanks Jimmy, was that 2 weeks after the Tax, Mot and retention cert were sent back to you or 2 weeks after you put in the original retention request with the DVLA and handed it all over?

Edited by GenuineEntropy on Saturday 7th September 10:26

Sump

5,512 posts

198 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Got mine in under 2 weeks.

GenuineEntropy

Original Poster:

15 posts

159 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Thanks Sump - 2 Weeks after the giving it all to the DVLA?
Brilliant, I might be able to get it next weekend.

Anyone else?

northwest monkey

6,370 posts

220 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
The registration document only shows the keeper of the car - not the owner.

Are you waiting to pick the car up until the reg documents turn up? They may take slightly longer at the moment because of the new (63) plate.

Magic919

14,581 posts

232 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
DVLA seem quite slow lately, since they closed some of the local offices. Means the tax disc and MoT bit is quick and the V5 can be quite a wait in some cases.

Personally, I wouldn't fret. Get the car (plus receipt) and start driving. V5 is nothing in the scheme of things. I'm sure the guy will pass it on once it appears.

Searider

1,005 posts

286 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
As long as everything else adds up I wouldn't be too worried.
Did you meet at his home address?
Does he seem genuine?

I took a car as a part ex against my RS4 a couple of months ago.
Seller had lost his V5 - but had the tax reminder. I just asked him to bring his passport and two proofs of his address.
Was a nice enough bloke and had a trustworthy face. V5 arrived in the post to me, via him about 10 days later.

I guided the question is "can you trust him?"

GenuineEntropy

Original Poster:

15 posts

159 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Thanks northwest monkey:
I am waiting for the V5 to come back so I can fill out the green slip with him, yes.
It's going to cost me pretty much all my money, so I'm nervous to not do it all 100% legit! - I do need it for getting to work because my old car is knackered, so the idea of DVLA delays is somewhat worrying.


Thanks Magic919:
He seems a nice enough bloke, private sale so I met him at his massive house (he has a few quid).

Things I'm worried about with doing it right-away are:

1. The legals; if I get snapped on a speed cam (he'll end up getting the ticket?) getting pulled over (they might think the vehicle is stolen as I'll not be the registered keeper) and insurance (again, not the registered keeper so could complicate insurance quotes and make them more expensive?)

2. The MOT is due in about a month or so, if I go the V62 route and request a new V5/logbook rather than wait that can take 4-6 weeks to show up so I might have trouble getting it MOT'd? Also,. he'll have to sign off on the V62 and reply to the DVLA (not that I have any reason to think he'll rip me off, he seems pretty well off - but for all I know he made all his money or car scams, ha!). Finally if the car had outstanding finance (not that I have any reason to think that's the case, but who knows?) from what I've read I could lose the vehicle and even be arrested if the previous-owner/financiers report it (as it would technically be stolen)?


Thanks for all your help and advice so far guys!

JagXJR

1,261 posts

160 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Mine was 2 weeks, suppose they have to say 5 weeks to cover postal delays, bank holidays ect


"1. The legals; if I get snapped on a speed cam (he'll end up getting the ticket?) getting pulled over (they might think the vehicle is stolen as I'll not be the registered keeper) and insurance (again, not the registered keeper so could complicate insurance quotes and make them more expensive?)"

Don't exceed the limit? Always a good idea to take it easy with a car you are not familiar with at first IMHO
As long as you have valid insurance and MOT the police would have no reason to pull you, and if they do and you have the bill of sale it will not be a problem (from my experience anyway). Not a problem getting insurance, otherwise how would anyone be able to buy a car as it is always in someone else's name when you buy it.

"2. The MOT is due in about a month or so, if I go the V62 route and request a new V5/logbook rather than wait that can take 4-6 weeks to show up so I might have trouble getting it MOT'd? Also,. he'll have to sign off on the V62 and reply to the DVLA (not that I have any reason to think he'll rip me off, he seems pretty well off - but for all I know he made all his money or car scams, ha!). Finally if the car had outstanding finance (not that I have any reason to think that's the case, but who knows?) from what I've read I could lose the vehicle and even be arrested if the previous-owner/financiers report it (as it would technically be stolen)?"

Never been asked for any documents when getting a car MOTed.
If you have a bill of sale you should be reasonably ok legally, would make sure you get a witness if you are unsure.
http://www.google.co.uk/#q=text+check+stolen+car there are plenty of companies that will check the car for a small fee for being written off, on finance or stolen, see link For the sake of £3 well worth it and comes off your phone bill (if on contract)



Edited by JagXJR on Saturday 7th September 11:39

GenuineEntropy

Original Poster:

15 posts

159 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Thanks Searider
- Did you meet at his home address?
I did, a massive house in a nice area outside of London with a 3 year old Merc parked next to the car I want to but off him.

- Does he seem genuine?
He seems a decent retired gent, mentioned he had been talking to Audi about getting a new Audi A5 to replace the one I'm trying to buy.

- I guided the question is "can you trust him?"
Well, when you're spending pretty much every penny you have and it's several grand, can you really trust anyone you've just met? Haha!


GenuineEntropy

Original Poster:

15 posts

159 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Thanks JagXJR - 2 weeks from sending it all to the DVLA gives me hope!
Anyone else?

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

277 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
GenuineEntropy said:
Anyone else?
Definitely can be slow, especially when they're busy with new vehicle registrations. Like September....

JagXJR

1,261 posts

160 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
GenuineEntropy said:
Thanks JagXJR - 2 weeks from sending it all to the DVLA gives me hope!
Anyone else?
You're welcome. smile

Please note my edited response to your other questions, hope it helps

GenuineEntropy

Original Poster:

15 posts

159 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Very kind of you to take the time to write such a thorough response JagXJR, really appreciate it - You've given me some real food for thought!

JagXJR

1,261 posts

160 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
No problem, happy to help if I can.

while I think about it, it may or may not be relevant but if you change the plate on a SORNed car it takes the SORN off. Then DVLA will try to charge you back tax. Don't want anyone to be caught out by this frown

steve singh

3,995 posts

204 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Strange - normally you send of the MOT AND V5 for a plate change.

Mine have always come back together in the same post.

If he has the MOT and not V5 that's very strange...

sue20

1,092 posts

178 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
Sold a plate recently. Took 2 weeks to get the new V5C back and the MOT and tax disc came back 2 weeks after that. Recently moved house and posted 2 retention certs on the same day to have the address amended. One came back after 2 weeks, the second took 4 weeks.
Doesn't seem to follow any pattern.

northandy

3,540 posts

252 months

Saturday 7th September 2013
quotequote all
As others have said the v5 doesnt mean you own the car, the receipt does.

Have you done a hpi? I mean a proper one not one of those text my car check thingys