Bought car with no log book, seller has had it years
Discussion
I bought a Beamer last week without a log book and I'm just waiting for a cheque book to come through the post so I can send in the V62. The person I bought it off just parked it up and left it. He's had the car years but has never registered it in his name and has actually lost the log book.
I checked on Direct Gov and the car hasn't been taxed for 7 years and it claims the tax was due in June 2011. Obviously if I state I bought the car last week on the V62, the DVLA will write to the previous keeper who hasn't owned the car for 7 years. They might get in trouble for not declaring it SORN or even notifying DVLA about them selling it.
Then of course I'm worried they might try to get out of it by claiming the car has been stolen. I imagine in that scenario I'll have to give the car back despite having a receipt from the guy I bought it off. I imagine they're unlikely to do that as they will then have to pay 7 years worth of VED for a car they haven't owned
Do I try ringing the DVLA and explain the situation, send the V62 in and hope for the best or keep pressuring the guy I bought it off to look for the log book?
I checked on Direct Gov and the car hasn't been taxed for 7 years and it claims the tax was due in June 2011. Obviously if I state I bought the car last week on the V62, the DVLA will write to the previous keeper who hasn't owned the car for 7 years. They might get in trouble for not declaring it SORN or even notifying DVLA about them selling it.
Then of course I'm worried they might try to get out of it by claiming the car has been stolen. I imagine in that scenario I'll have to give the car back despite having a receipt from the guy I bought it off. I imagine they're unlikely to do that as they will then have to pay 7 years worth of VED for a car they haven't owned
Do I try ringing the DVLA and explain the situation, send the V62 in and hope for the best or keep pressuring the guy I bought it off to look for the log book?
Just apply for the V5 from the date you bought the car.
If DVLA want to chase the previous owner for anything it'd probably only be for a failure to sorn. Unless they can prove it's been on the road.
Regarding them reporting it stolen, presume you have a bill of sale? Traceable payment?
They'd get into trouble with the Police if they reported a car stolen that wasn't, just to get out of a fine.
Sounds to me you've bought it in good faith so I wouldn't worry too much.
I'd always advise traceable payments though, in case you paid cash.
Presume you did an Hpi check?
If DVLA want to chase the previous owner for anything it'd probably only be for a failure to sorn. Unless they can prove it's been on the road.
Regarding them reporting it stolen, presume you have a bill of sale? Traceable payment?
They'd get into trouble with the Police if they reported a car stolen that wasn't, just to get out of a fine.
Sounds to me you've bought it in good faith so I wouldn't worry too much.
I'd always advise traceable payments though, in case you paid cash.
Presume you did an Hpi check?
Edited by Trevor555 on Saturday 19th January 14:40
Oh trust me, no one is going to steal it, I could leave it outside with the engine running and a huge sign saying "STEAL ME" and it'd still be there! I bought it for a project and let's just say it needs LOTS of welding! I only paid £200 for it luckily
Didn't pay for a HPI check but I used a little trick in which you put the reg into Auto trader and if it finds the car and let's you continue then it's not stolen, scrapped or previously written off. If it asks you to call them then it means it's flagged something up!
The person I bought it off also planned to use it as a project car when he bought it 7 years ago but never got round to it. He even gave me a receipt with his company name on the top, I doubt he'd have done that if it was nicked.
I paid cash but took the cash out of an ATM on the day. I also have dash cam footage of me following the guy with the car on his low loader back to my house (to make sure bits didn't fall off and if they did, to hit my car and no one elses!)
Didn't pay for a HPI check but I used a little trick in which you put the reg into Auto trader and if it finds the car and let's you continue then it's not stolen, scrapped or previously written off. If it asks you to call them then it means it's flagged something up!
The person I bought it off also planned to use it as a project car when he bought it 7 years ago but never got round to it. He even gave me a receipt with his company name on the top, I doubt he'd have done that if it was nicked.
I paid cash but took the cash out of an ATM on the day. I also have dash cam footage of me following the guy with the car on his low loader back to my house (to make sure bits didn't fall off and if they did, to hit my car and no one elses!)
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