Anyone ever bought an ex-police car?
Discussion
Hi guys,
Still looking for a 2k car with four doors and have come across a dealer selling ex police cars. I like the idea as they are cheap, i know they have high mileage but they will be serviced correctly and there is some interesting cars around like the t5 estate.
Im still waiting for my current st to sell before i can buy, but i do love the 5 cylinder warbble and for the price sounds a good prospect.
So has anyone ever bought one?
Cheers
Ant
Still looking for a 2k car with four doors and have come across a dealer selling ex police cars. I like the idea as they are cheap, i know they have high mileage but they will be serviced correctly and there is some interesting cars around like the t5 estate.
Im still waiting for my current st to sell before i can buy, but i do love the 5 cylinder warbble and for the price sounds a good prospect.
So has anyone ever bought one?
Cheers
Ant
VR46 said:
Go for it, they often have upgraded brakes, suspension and a remap.
I think you've been watching The Blues Brothers"It's got a cop motor, cop tyres and cop shocks"
British police vehicles don't have any upgrades in the main and are usually of a lesser spec than the equivalent model released for the general public
Edit; OP, take a look at the car and decide yourself
Most police vehicles have a hard life. It is highly likely it will have been ragged from cold, will have had some sort of accident damage in the past and will still be showing some battle scars.
The cars get serviced and repaired when things break. That's about it.
There is, however, always the very rare exception to the rule. It depends what the cars role has been.
Go and view. Take it from there.
Edited by Red 4 on Wednesday 30th May 22:25
This has been asked several times before
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The general gist of answers is that although they have been serviced regularly the chances are they will have been driven hard all their lives. Unless you can find one that has been used on the motorway and the majority of the mileage has been racked up dawdling up and down the M6 with the occasional blast to a RTC or to assist a pursuit.
It's a bit of a personal decision really as some wouldn't touch one with a barge pole and others consider and indeed buy one with no problems whatsoever. Personally I think I would consider it, if the price was low enough.
I'd avoid buying from a dealer though as you'd probably find one cheaper buying directly from a auction yourself. However with that, there's no comeback and there may be some guarantee when buying from a dealer with the SOGA (Sales of Goods Act), however I have no idea how or if the SOGA would protect you when knowingly buying a ex-police car.
One point I will say though, that has been mentioned before, is that apparently you never see an ex-police car in a police stations car park.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The general gist of answers is that although they have been serviced regularly the chances are they will have been driven hard all their lives. Unless you can find one that has been used on the motorway and the majority of the mileage has been racked up dawdling up and down the M6 with the occasional blast to a RTC or to assist a pursuit.
It's a bit of a personal decision really as some wouldn't touch one with a barge pole and others consider and indeed buy one with no problems whatsoever. Personally I think I would consider it, if the price was low enough.
I'd avoid buying from a dealer though as you'd probably find one cheaper buying directly from a auction yourself. However with that, there's no comeback and there may be some guarantee when buying from a dealer with the SOGA (Sales of Goods Act), however I have no idea how or if the SOGA would protect you when knowingly buying a ex-police car.
One point I will say though, that has been mentioned before, is that apparently you never see an ex-police car in a police stations car park.
Red 4 said:
British police vehicles don't have any upgrades in the main and are usually of a lesser spec than the equivalent model released for the general public
Yes I was surprised by this, but I was told there was an Lexus IS300 ex police going through one of the auctions the other week. It turned out to have a cloth interior where as normally would have had leather as standard.Edited by Red 4 on Wednesday 30th May 22:25
Maestro Turbo said:
It's an interesting idea, but how would it affect insurance? Do you even have to declare it as ex-police, or would you just treat it like any other second hand car?
Yep, you need to get a release letter from the Home office, and send that to your insurance company.They'll then contact the station the car came from, and you might need to bring in your docs to your local station just to confirm it.
If all goes well, it'll be formally released to you in about 6 months, but the Police still have a right to commandeer it if needed (a bit like the TA being called up)
They've never done that as far as I know, so it's likely it'll all go through smoothly.
TheEnd said:
Yep, you need to get a release letter from the Home office, and send that to your insurance company.
They'll then contact the station the car came from, and you might need to bring in your docs to your local station just to confirm it.
If all goes well, it'll be formally released to you in about 6 months, but the Police still have a right to commandeer it if needed (a bit like the TA being called up)
They've never done that as far as I know, so it's likely it'll all go through smoothly.
Eh?They'll then contact the station the car came from, and you might need to bring in your docs to your local station just to confirm it.
If all goes well, it'll be formally released to you in about 6 months, but the Police still have a right to commandeer it if needed (a bit like the TA being called up)
They've never done that as far as I know, so it's likely it'll all go through smoothly.
When vehicles are disposed of, that's it. The battenburg, lights and electrical kit come off and the vehicle is sold. It's just like any other corporate fleet - you're not buying a Harrier or Lynx!
A few years back when all our mk1 Focus GPs got retired, my force offered them to staff in the state described. Presumably it may have been more cost effective/profitable. I don't know if anyone bought them or not.
TheEnd said:
Yep, you need to get a release letter from the Home office, and send that to your insurance company.
They'll then contact the station the car came from, and you might need to bring in your docs to your local station just to confirm it.
If all goes well, it'll be formally released to you in about 6 months, but the Police still have a right to commandeer it if needed (a bit like the TA being called up)
They've never done that as far as I know, so it's likely it'll all go through smoothly.
Are you getting confused with horses? They'll then contact the station the car came from, and you might need to bring in your docs to your local station just to confirm it.
If all goes well, it'll be formally released to you in about 6 months, but the Police still have a right to commandeer it if needed (a bit like the TA being called up)
They've never done that as far as I know, so it's likely it'll all go through smoothly.
Never heard that one either. Ours all went off to auction after stripes etc were removed & that was the end of it.
I bought an ex-traffic car (previous owner Lincolnshire Police) from Richard Dewis in Northampton & that wasn't subject to anything. Just came with its normal registration document like any other used car.
I bought an ex-traffic car (previous owner Lincolnshire Police) from Richard Dewis in Northampton & that wasn't subject to anything. Just came with its normal registration document like any other used car.
TheEnd said:
Yep, you need to get a release letter from the Home office, and send that to your insurance company.
They'll then contact the station the car came from, and you might need to bring in your docs to your local station just to confirm it.
If all goes well, it'll be formally released to you in about 6 months, but the Police still have a right to commandeer it if needed (a bit like the TA being called up)
They've never done that as far as I know, so it's likely it'll all go through smoothly.
They'll then contact the station the car came from, and you might need to bring in your docs to your local station just to confirm it.
If all goes well, it'll be formally released to you in about 6 months, but the Police still have a right to commandeer it if needed (a bit like the TA being called up)
They've never done that as far as I know, so it's likely it'll all go through smoothly.
a few parrots required in this thread methinks. TheEnd said:
Yep, you need to get a release letter from the Home office, and send that to your insurance company.
They'll then contact the station the car came from, and you might need to bring in your docs to your local station just to confirm it.
If all goes well, it'll be formally released to you in about 6 months, but the Police still have a right to commandeer it if needed (a bit like the TA being called up)
They've never done that as far as I know, so it's likely it'll all go through smoothly.
Try not posting when you've just come in from the pub.They'll then contact the station the car came from, and you might need to bring in your docs to your local station just to confirm it.
If all goes well, it'll be formally released to you in about 6 months, but the Police still have a right to commandeer it if needed (a bit like the TA being called up)
They've never done that as far as I know, so it's likely it'll all go through smoothly.
Ex-Police cars aren't the bargain they used to be. They used to change their cars every 3 or 4 years, my grandfather used to buy ex-RUC Fords, run them a few years and pass them on to my Dad. Now the PSNI run their cars until they are totally and utterly broken. They're still using Vauxhall Omegas and Vectra Bs, and have a LOT of Mk3 Mondeos still on the fleet. The Vectras and Omegas are over 12 years old, and still on 'active duty' as it were.
TheEnd said:
Yep, you need to get a release letter from the Home office, and send that to your insurance company.
They'll then contact the station the car came from, and you might need to bring in your docs to your local station just to confirm it.
If all goes well, it'll be formally released to you in about 6 months, but the Police still have a right to commandeer it if needed (a bit like the TA being called up)
They've never done that as far as I know, so it's likely it'll all go through smoothly.
Brilliant, sometimes it just too easy, there for the taking!They'll then contact the station the car came from, and you might need to bring in your docs to your local station just to confirm it.
If all goes well, it'll be formally released to you in about 6 months, but the Police still have a right to commandeer it if needed (a bit like the TA being called up)
They've never done that as far as I know, so it's likely it'll all go through smoothly.
BOT, years ago bought an ex USAF Ford Fairmont which had a hi-po 302 V8 in place of the standard 3 litre 6 pot, upgraded brakes and suspension. Brilliant old nail that went like stink.
t they carry in the back (equipment, not convicts Maestro Turbo said:
SSBB said:
a few parrots required in this thread methinks. 
Urban Dictionary said:
Derived from the 'Whoosh' reply to a joke which goes over non-intellectual heads. Originally signified by waving the flat hand just above the head.
The 'Woosh Parrot' was developed as a medium to convey the same message in a visual form for internet fora such as 'Pistonheads'
I've just seen an Ambulance with the word spelt 'Ambiwlans',,, Has dumbing down gone too far?
Whoosh! (With the picture of Whoosh Parrot following)
It's Welsh, you 'tard!
The 'Woosh Parrot' was developed as a medium to convey the same message in a visual form for internet fora such as 'Pistonheads'
I've just seen an Ambulance with the word spelt 'Ambiwlans',,, Has dumbing down gone too far?
Whoosh! (With the picture of Whoosh Parrot following)
It's Welsh, you 'tard!
Edited by TheTurbonator on Thursday 31st May 09:23
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