Releasing Vehicle Seized By The Police
Discussion
Bit of a strange thread but bear with me folks.
Went to view a Lexus LS400 on Thursday that was for sale down the road from me. After having a look around the car I asked the seller (a young student) if we could take the car for a drive and showed him my insurance certificate with DOC cover.
He told me it wasn’t currently insured, which set my alarm bells ringing. He offered to take us out for a drive as a passenger instead, something which would later prove very foolish.
We went for a short drive round the block, as we were pulling back into his street the grey unmarked X5 put it’s lights on and we were pulled over. The seller was charged for driving without insurance and the car was seized.
This then leads me on to this thread. I’m still interested in buying the car. The seller is obviously up s
t creek without a paddle. He can’t afford to insure the car to have it released and the storage costs are building up. Would I be able to buy the car from him, take the freshly filled in V5 and proof of insurance and have the car released?
I asked WYP the same question via their online chat earlier today and they said it was fine. I rang them to double check and was given a completelt different answer. At this rate I’ll have to go down to the HQ and ask in person!
Went to view a Lexus LS400 on Thursday that was for sale down the road from me. After having a look around the car I asked the seller (a young student) if we could take the car for a drive and showed him my insurance certificate with DOC cover.
He told me it wasn’t currently insured, which set my alarm bells ringing. He offered to take us out for a drive as a passenger instead, something which would later prove very foolish.
We went for a short drive round the block, as we were pulling back into his street the grey unmarked X5 put it’s lights on and we were pulled over. The seller was charged for driving without insurance and the car was seized.
This then leads me on to this thread. I’m still interested in buying the car. The seller is obviously up s
t creek without a paddle. He can’t afford to insure the car to have it released and the storage costs are building up. Would I be able to buy the car from him, take the freshly filled in V5 and proof of insurance and have the car released?I asked WYP the same question via their online chat earlier today and they said it was fine. I rang them to double check and was given a completelt different answer. At this rate I’ll have to go down to the HQ and ask in person!
TooMany2cvs said:
Ask your preferred insurer - very often policies purchased post-seizure will specifically exclude release of the car. Ones which allow it are available, but pricy.
It's almost as if insurers take a dim view of driving without insurance.
The Driving Other Cars cover on my policy has a clause that specifically excludes the policy being used to secure the release of a car.It's almost as if insurers take a dim view of driving without insurance.
Presumably this is to prevent me offering to spring a friend's uninsured car before returning it to him.
If the OP buys the car and takes out a policy, then surely the police have no grounds not to release his newly acquired car to him, if he can demonstrate proof of ownership. ( Bill of sale / receipt from seller, v5 filled in and ready to be sent off, correct insurance etc ).
The lad selling the car appears to be in a bit of a hole with this, is he prepared to work with the OP, let him have the paperwork to see if he can get the car released and then trust him to pay once successful?
I think you will find that once the car is seized it becomes the property of the police until it is released. The 'owner' cannot sell it to you because he is not the 'owner' while it is siezed. However, there is nothing to stop you collecting it on his behalf. Just go with him to the Police station, produce the V5 (in his name), your driving license and your insurance (this might be tricky since you technically cannot insure a car you don't own, sometimes).. then collect the car from the pound, pay their charges and then immediately buy the car.
Or find another one that'll be far less hassle, depends how much you want it really!
Or find another one that'll be far less hassle, depends how much you want it really!
Chromegrill said:
Could a temporary policy (as in a day to a week long the sort of thing you take out for test driving a potential purchase and driving it home) get the car out of jail?
The temporary policies I have seen specifically exclude cover for the use of securing release of a seized vehicle. Just had to do this.
Be prepared to jump through whatever hoops the cops throw at you.
Tell your insewerance company that you are picking up an impounded car (not all companies insure them)
Take matey with a wad of cash, the V5 and proof of ID.
Make sure you have the cover note, and your companies phone number because they will call them to make sure they know it`s for an impounded car.
They try their very hardest to screw you from collecting. Dunno why, it`s not as if the cops get a backhander from the impound.
Be prepared to jump through whatever hoops the cops throw at you.
Tell your insewerance company that you are picking up an impounded car (not all companies insure them)
Take matey with a wad of cash, the V5 and proof of ID.
Make sure you have the cover note, and your companies phone number because they will call them to make sure they know it`s for an impounded car.
They try their very hardest to screw you from collecting. Dunno why, it`s not as if the cops get a backhander from the impound.
Brads67 said:
They try their very hardest to screw you from collecting. Dunno why, it`s not as if the cops get a backhander from the impound.
I've certainly seen stories of the staff at compounds making collection as awkward as possible by refusing to accept paperwork that the person collecting was assured was OK.I’ve bought another LS400. The reason why I was after this one was because of the price and service history. That and I needed one as soon as possible so I could start applying for a carnet de passage.
Car will be used on a rather silly roadtrip at the end of March. I’ll start a proper thread on it once everything is sorted.
Car will be used on a rather silly roadtrip at the end of March. I’ll start a proper thread on it once everything is sorted.
Kinda irrelevant now but why did you accept a passenger ride when you knew the car wasn't insured?
No real sympathy for the owner taking a chance, and I'd take a dim view of him offering a test drive, but at the same time I wouldn't willfully put him in a position where he risks losing his car.
No real sympathy for the owner taking a chance, and I'd take a dim view of him offering a test drive, but at the same time I wouldn't willfully put him in a position where he risks losing his car.
bob-lad said:
Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:
Were you driving on your own car policy, which allows you to drive other vehicles?
I may be wrong, but for the insurance to apply I thought the car you drive has to have existing cover? Or did I imagine that?
You didn't, but the OP wasn't driving.I may be wrong, but for the insurance to apply I thought the car you drive has to have existing cover? Or did I imagine that?
most DOC (3rd party) requires the other car to be insured...
some DOC (fully comp.) doesn't - so my insurance allows me to drive any vehicle with the owner's permission, and doesn't require that it should be otherwise insured...
akirk said:
most DOC (3rd party) requires the other car to be insured...
Most don't. But the point is moot now as the car itself has to be insured under CIE unless it's SORN'd. And if it's SORN'd it can't be on the road.
I think about the only time it would work is if you were driving it to an MOT.
Durzel said:
Kinda irrelevant now but why did you accept a passenger ride when you knew the car wasn't insured?
No real sympathy for the owner taking a chance, and I'd take a dim view of him offering a test drive, but at the same time I wouldn't willfully put him in a position where he risks losing his car.
The seller had been using the car every now and then despite it being uninsured and SORN’d. Whilst I feel bad for him, he offered and took the risk upon himself.No real sympathy for the owner taking a chance, and I'd take a dim view of him offering a test drive, but at the same time I wouldn't willfully put him in a position where he risks losing his car.
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