Buying a cloned car

[daytona365]

If one bought a classic car from an owner that had it in all good faith for 20 years, and subsequently found out it was a stolen car all those years back with a cloned identity that wouldn't show on a HPI check. What would the position then be to the current purchaser ?

[steve954]

daytona365 said:

If one bought a classic car from an owner that had it in all good faith for 20 years, and subsequently found out it was a stolen car all those years back with a cloned identity that wouldn't show on a HPI check. What would the position then be to the current purchaser ?

It would belong to the insurer that paid out on the original claim ( if there was one) or the owner who it was stolen from I would say.

[Transiter]

As said, either the insurer or the owner when stolen would be the legal owner. There was something on the Tv couple of years ago (might have been watchdog) that showed how police would confiscate the cars and the new owner would get nothing.

[daytona365]

Once the police got hold of it, it would probably lie in limbo, get bits taken off of it, and eventually scrapped I'd imagine.

[hotchy]

I remember a show that had a guy loose his new 30k jeep thing like that, he offered the insurance company who where the rightful owner £1k for it and they accepted. Must have felt sorry for him or knew they where on tv lol

[daytona365]

steve954 said:

It would belong to the insurer that paid out on the original claim ( if there was one) or the owner who it was stolen from I would say.

....Yes, but the car would have no relevant identifying marks to prove it belonged to anyone.

[buzzer]

Interested in this.... I know somone in exactly the same position....bought a classic off a guy who owned it a long time, turns out its a clone... Only found out himself after 5 years!

His decision is to stay quiet, and just enjoy the car. We are talking low value though...

[buzzer]

Interested in this.... I know somone in exactly the same position....bought a classic off a guy who owned it a long time, turns out its a clone... Only found out himself after 5 years!

His decision is to stay quiet, and just enjoy the car. We are talking low value though...

[Transiter]

daytona365 said:

...Yes, but the car would have no relevant identifying marks to prove it belonged to anyone.

This is a pure guess, but I would imagine the police would keep it and eventually have it crushed. Stolen is stolen. I highly doubt they'll let you keep it even if it's bought with the best intention. If as you say there is no possible way of knowing the genuine identity of the car surely that'll mean they won't be able to put back it's original plates or give it back to it's rightful owner and since they're not going to let you keep the cloned reg they'll take it.

buzzer said:

Interested in this.... I know somone in exactly the same position....bought a classic off a guy who owned it a long time, turns out its a clone... Only found out himself after 5 years!

His decision is to stay quiet, and just enjoy the car. We are talking low value though...

If it's a low value car and not used on public roads, more of a show piece, I think most would keep quiet. However if used on the road I wouldn't risk it. Surely if you get stopped by the police or have an accident the reg will be registered to someone else and probably invalidate your insurance, it's not a risk I would take.

Edited by Transiter on Thursday 4th December 00:19