Claiming a car that's been dumped (Not Dokic)
Discussion
Does anyone know the score regarding claiming a car that has been dumped?
The situation is that my O/Hs company has a compound with a car in that they want to clear (been there for years, nobody knows whose it is, they'll get the scrapman in to clear the yard at some point) and I've been told if I want to get the car beforehand then it's mine.
If I wanted to sell it or restore what would happen? Would I be the legal owner?
The situation is that my O/Hs company has a compound with a car in that they want to clear (been there for years, nobody knows whose it is, they'll get the scrapman in to clear the yard at some point) and I've been told if I want to get the car beforehand then it's mine.
If I wanted to sell it or restore what would happen? Would I be the legal owner?
when I went to register an old race bike (had originally been a Suzuki GSXR1100 converted for Le Mans for Super Bike magazine), wrote to DVLA with chassis number, they then tried to contact last registered owner, V5 turned up about 6 weeks later IIRC.
This was all over 18 years ago tho, so maybe changed entirely.
This was all over 18 years ago tho, so maybe changed entirely.
MarshPhantom said:
Does anyone know the score regarding claiming a car that has been dumped?
The situation is that my O/Hs company has a compound with a car in that they want to clear (been there for years, nobody knows whose it is, they'll get the scrapman in to clear the yard at some point) and I've been told if I want to get the car beforehand then it's mine.
If I wanted to sell it or restore what would happen? Would I be the legal owner?
I thought it was something along the lines of the V5 would be in your name, but you would never be the "legal" owner? If the original owner were to come forward I would imagine it would potentially become a civil matter for the courts to determine who the car now rightfully belonged to. Seems unlikely they are ever coming forward though...unless you do such a fantastic job of the resto that they realise what they have missed out on?! The situation is that my O/Hs company has a compound with a car in that they want to clear (been there for years, nobody knows whose it is, they'll get the scrapman in to clear the yard at some point) and I've been told if I want to get the car beforehand then it's mine.
If I wanted to sell it or restore what would happen? Would I be the legal owner?
Mk3Spitfire said:
MarshPhantom said:
Does anyone know the score regarding claiming a car that has been dumped?
The situation is that my O/Hs company has a compound with a car in that they want to clear (been there for years, nobody knows whose it is, they'll get the scrapman in to clear the yard at some point) and I've been told if I want to get the car beforehand then it's mine.
If I wanted to sell it or restore what would happen? Would I be the legal owner?
I thought it was something along the lines of the V5 would be in your name, but you would never be the "legal" owner? If the original owner were to come forward I would imagine it would potentially become a civil matter for the courts to determine who the car now rightfully belonged to. Seems unlikely they are ever coming forward though...unless you do such a fantastic job of the resto that they realise what they have missed out on?! The situation is that my O/Hs company has a compound with a car in that they want to clear (been there for years, nobody knows whose it is, they'll get the scrapman in to clear the yard at some point) and I've been told if I want to get the car beforehand then it's mine.
If I wanted to sell it or restore what would happen? Would I be the legal owner?
Mk3Spitfire said:
If you do end up getting it, you will have to post some pictures, sounds like a potentially very nice car!
Yes, I'm quite excited. The O/H came home from work yesterday and asked if I'd interested in a free car, then told me it was a convertible Scimitar. Was worried it might be one of these.
Showed the better half a picture of one of these, looked a lot like this.
1367603821&displayId=1002restoman said:
Get the owner's name from the DVLA - then get your O/Hs company to bill them a suitable amount for storage (lots 
) but offer them the chance to forfeit the car as an alternative to payment.
I don't think it's that simple!) but offer them the chance to forfeit the car as an alternative to payment.I suspect as there was never an agreement with the legal owner to store the car, and the "finder" of the car volunteered to store the car there, a court would decree that the legal owner is not legally responsible for any storage fees whatsoever.
It's the same as restoring a "found" car and then trying to charge the legal owner for the work done if they try to claim their car back. In the eyes of the Law, the legal owner doesn't have to pay anything as they had not authorised their property to be restored.
The "finder" of the car loses any money that they've spent on the car.
That's why you have to be very careful in these sort of situations.
The owner of the compound should be able to obtain the name and address of the current registered keeper from DVLA via a letter explaining the circumstances, in the same way that parking enforcement companies do. This may not help if they have moved, but should be worth a shot and assumes it is still on DVLA's books.
I suppose they could also ask the police to check that it is not on their books as a stolen car, or they could even HPI check it.
If the owner is untraceable, as has been said, they still own it so it's whether you want to take a chance.
I was offered a Bristol 410 years ago in similar circumstances, I couldn't trace the owner and in the end walked away (the car was scrapped) as far as I am aware the owner never did turn up.
As a side-note a few years ago a family member, who had more or less retired, was surprised one day to get a letter from DVLA advising him that someone had applied for a V5 for one of his cars. It had been parked up for several years behind his old workshop and was not visible from the road, it was lucky that he received the letter as he wasn't living at the registration address full time and had not redirected his post. He contacted the DVLA and confirmed it was still his car and no new V5 was issued; however I don't believe there was any follow up against the person who tried to claim it. (It wasn't a particularly valuable car but it did have a three letter two digit registration.)
I suppose they could also ask the police to check that it is not on their books as a stolen car, or they could even HPI check it.
If the owner is untraceable, as has been said, they still own it so it's whether you want to take a chance.
I was offered a Bristol 410 years ago in similar circumstances, I couldn't trace the owner and in the end walked away (the car was scrapped) as far as I am aware the owner never did turn up.
As a side-note a few years ago a family member, who had more or less retired, was surprised one day to get a letter from DVLA advising him that someone had applied for a V5 for one of his cars. It had been parked up for several years behind his old workshop and was not visible from the road, it was lucky that he received the letter as he wasn't living at the registration address full time and had not redirected his post. He contacted the DVLA and confirmed it was still his car and no new V5 was issued; however I don't believe there was any follow up against the person who tried to claim it. (It wasn't a particularly valuable car but it did have a three letter two digit registration.)
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