Buying a used car however just been told it has no V5c.

Buying a used car however just been told it has no V5c.

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AngryChimp241

Original Poster:

54 posts

85 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
I’ve been looking at buying a used car which is cat s held by a dealership. (It’s not a mainstream brand dealership, just one of those you see at the side of the road). It’s a top spec car and this is the only way I could afford one of this type. I’ve been to check the car out, the state of repair etc and overall it’s in excellent condition. I’ve used a popular car check website and paid to check it’s status in regarding to things like mileage, HPI, stolen etc (im not sure if I’m permitted to say the actual name of them in here) Anyway I checked it all over and it looks good. The dealer told me he didn’t have the logbook with him however he had a picture on his phone and said it was all present and accounted for.

I agreed to pay my deposit and collect the car the following week. However I have now been told they have “lost” the log book and that we would need to complete a v62 when I come to collect it to tax the vehicle. I’ve also been told it only comes with 1 key (though I never asked about that which I should have) I know the general consensus is “no log book then no sale” and I agree with that however I paid my deposit whilst been under the impression that the paperwork was in order.

My question is, does this sound dodgy? I’ve done a check and it’s not reported stolen or anything, I’ve heard of log book loans, is there any way I could check this? IF I am uncomfortable with this deal and decide to walk away, will I lose my deposit? Whilst I’m not too uncomfortable losing my deposit it is almost £500 so id like to get that back.

Nickp82

3,544 posts

106 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
It is pretty usual for previously written-off cars to have no V5, the document is withheld/destroyed by the insurance company so when the vehicles are sold on they are supplied with no V5 and more often than not, one key.

I personally wouldn't worry too much about it normally, the dealer showing a photo of the V5 and then 'losing' it seems a little odd to me though, do you still have the photo and if so, to whom is the car registered?

AngryChimp241

Original Poster:

54 posts

85 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
He just showed me at the dealership, should I ask them to send it to me?

AngryChimp241

Original Poster:

54 posts

85 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
Also I thought the reason the logbook were held back were in the event of VIC checks? they no longer do those do they?

Richard-390a0

2,831 posts

104 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
VIC checks haven't been carried out for a few years now.

Nickp82

3,544 posts

106 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
Written off cars are marked as such by DVLA on page 1 of the V5 so I imagine the reason the original is withheld before resale is to ensure a new V5 displaying this information is applied for.

Nickp82

3,544 posts

106 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
AngryChimp241 said:
He just showed me at the dealership, should I ask them to send it to me?
I would ask for it, to me it seems the dealer is saying he has a V5 for the car at point of purchase so as not to put the potential customer off and then 'losing' the V5 prior to handover (once deposit is paid) at which point most people will be OK with just applying for a new one. Perhaps I am being cynical though.

AngryChimp241

Original Poster:

54 posts

85 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
Nickp82 said:
I would ask for it, to me it seems the dealer is saying he has a V5 for the car at point of purchase so as not to put the potential customer off and then 'losing' the V5 prior to handover (once deposit is paid) at which point most people will be OK with just applying for a new one. Perhaps I am being cynical though.
Thanks, I've sent that through we will wait and see what he says. What exactly am I checking for on this V5c? Just that the vehicle is what it is?

Nickp82

3,544 posts

106 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
AngryChimp241 said:
Thanks, I've sent that through we will wait and see what he says. What exactly am I checking for on this V5c? Just that the vehicle is what it is?
Yes, do normal checks on numbers etc. I would also be looking to check whom the car is registered to as if it is the dealer selling the vehicle then you will at least know the lost V5 story is true.

It is not so much the lack of V5 that would be putting me off, more the possibility that the dealer is spinning you a yarn as if they are prepared to do that with the matter of the V5 etc etc.....

AngryChimp241

Original Poster:

54 posts

85 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
Nickp82 said:
Yes, do normal checks on numbers etc. I would also be looking to check whom the car is registered to as if it is the dealer selling the vehicle then you will at least know the lost V5 story is true.

It is not so much the lack of V5 that would be putting me off, more the possibility that the dealer is spinning you a yarn as if they are prepared to do that with the matter of the V5 etc etc.....
Ok I got a reply and they sent the picture, followed by a reply saying they just realised its the wrong log book... although I cant really make any of the details out anyway. When I did my car check it had the VIN for me to check which looked fine. I don't really know what to do as every web page I visit is telling me not to buy a car without a logbook, however I am also aware the Insurance companies destroy V5c in case of write offs. However the Car check also specifies the date on the log book should be 17/08/2017 but the cat C was recorded on 26/09/2017. the car was registered in 2015. I thought the log book date would be after the write off, highlighting a re-issue

Nickp82

3,544 posts

106 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
AngryChimp241 said:
Ok I got a reply and they sent the picture, followed by a reply saying they just realised its the wrong log book... although I cant really make any of the details out anyway. When I did my car check it had the VIN for me to check which looked fine. I don't really know what to do as every web page I visit is telling me not to buy a car without a logbook, however I am also aware the Insurance companies destroy V5c in case of write offs. However the Car check also specifies the date on the log book should be 17/08/2017 but the cat C was recorded on 26/09/2017. the car was registered in 2015. I thought the log book date would be after the write off, highlighting a re-issue
Yeah, so I was right to be cynical. They have tried to pull the wool in regards to the logbook, the logbook date is August 2017 because a new one has never been applied for since the insurance claim.

As before, if they are quite happy to lie to you about a £25 paper document, what else will they be prepared to lie about?

AngryChimp241

Original Poster:

54 posts

85 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
Nickp82 said:
Yeah, so I was right to be cynical. They have tried to pull the wool in regards to the logbook, the logbook date is August 2017 because a new one has never been applied for since the insurance claim.

As before, if they are quite happy to lie to you about a £25 paper document, what else will they be prepared to lie about?
That's true. Actually another thing that I was uneasy about is the fact it's passed an MOT less than a week ago, yet one of the tyres was completely bald almost. even if it is road legal, it's very VERY close to the legal limit and should have been flagged as an advisory note. The MOT is the online version, not a paper copy that can be forged. So do you think I have any legal right in getting a refund?

AngryChimp241

Original Poster:

54 posts

85 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
It's worth noting that I get a warranty for the vehicle. Though warranty is never usually a solid thing. It's just a dealer promise to look at the car if there's any issues

tickedon

121 posts

90 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
Run a mile. You are discovering issue after issue and you don’t even own the car yet!

I hope you paid the deposit by credit card...

South tdf

1,595 posts

208 months

Tuesday 17th April 2018
quotequote all
By not having a log book you could be waiting for up to a month to get RFL as I believe you need to become the registered keeper before applying for RFL.

As you say, if they are trying it on with things like the V5 how well has the car been repaired.

AngryChimp241

Original Poster:

54 posts

85 months

Wednesday 18th April 2018
quotequote all
tickedon said:
Run a mile. You are discovering issue after issue and you don’t even own the car yet!

I hope you paid the deposit by credit card...
No, debit card frown

AngryChimp241

Original Poster:

54 posts

85 months

Wednesday 18th April 2018
quotequote all
South tdf said:
By not having a log book you could be waiting for up to a month to get RFL as I believe you need to become the registered keeper before applying for RFL.

As you say, if they are trying it on with things like the V5 how well has the car been repaired.
but by completing a V62 and assuming the card is in "Trade" status I can still drive the car on the day I tax it cant I? I mean, I wouldn't have to wait until the Logbook was in my name?

cat with a hat

1,486 posts

131 months

Wednesday 18th April 2018
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Run away, but get that deposit back.

FWIW

3,383 posts

110 months

Wednesday 18th April 2018
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cat with a hat said:
Run away, but get that deposit back.
Agreed. You can still do charge back on a debit card transaction iirc

AngryChimp241

Original Poster:

54 posts

85 months

Wednesday 18th April 2018
quotequote all
FWIW said:
Agreed. You can still do charge back on a debit card transaction iirc
How would I go about that?

Never mind I looked it up thanks for the information

Edited by AngryChimp241 on Wednesday 18th April 09:15