Car was sold as 1 owner, but has two, with a twist

[anonymous-user]

Hi Everyone,

So I purchased a single owner low milage (But 10 years+) car. However I got the V5 today and it lists two previous owners. Looking through the paperwork it transpires that the car was a pre-reg so the dealer is the first owner. Therefore, although there has in reality been only one owner, it means when I come to sell it I have to sell it as two owners.

So my question, am I being a bit too nit-picky on this and secondly, what would you do about it ? The whole thing about these cars is that they are very niche in the first place and good low milage, low owner examples are worth good money.

I don't think I will be going back to this dealer, who specialises in the Marque again.

[paintman]

So what's actually wrong with the car itself?

If you feel that strongly then you'll have to look into rejecting the car as being not as described & either trying to find a used one that satisfies your requirements or buying a brand new unregistered one.

[Saleen836]

So no due diligence was carried out by yourself when you first went to look at the car before purchasing?

[krisdelta]

3rd owner in 10 years is low owner to year ratio.... Personal opinion is yes, you're being nit picky. Enjoy the car! (what is it?)

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Saleen836 said:

So no due diligence was carried out by yourself when you first went to look at the car before purchasing?

I think if you buy from a specialist dealer who says the car has had one owner from new, you shouldn't really need to do any more.

[macushla]

ChocyLint1 said:

Hi Everyone,

So I purchased a single owner low milage (But 10 years+) car. However I got the V5 today and it lists two previous owners. Looking through the paperwork it transpires that the car was a pre-reg so the dealer is the first owner. Therefore, although there has in reality been only one owner, it means when I come to sell it I have to sell it as two owners.

So my question, am I being a bit too nit-picky on this and secondly, what would you do about it ? The whole thing about these cars is that they are very niche in the first place and good low milage, low owner examples are worth good money.

I don't think I will be going back to this dealer, who specialises in the Marque again.

What car is it that makes it so important?

I’m guessing that you won’t tell us though, as it’ll make it too obvious who sold it, because there’s only ever been 3 sold in the entire world ever, or something similar.

[solo2]

Very much depends on the car, I would need to know what type of specialists car this was to give an opinion.

If say it was something that had a conversion of some sort done to it to take it away from the build spec of the car, like Merc's and Wranglers can have added 'bling' put on them to make them 'special', these cars need to be registered to the conversion specialist first before medication.

It's the same with cars for disabled people who have modifications to allow them to drive it by putting hand controls on the car, the car has to be registered by the dealer first before these can be done.

So as I said above it very much depends on the car OP...

[KungFuPanda]

Photocopy the V5 C showing the dealer as the first pre reg owner to satisfy anyone subsequent owner. On a 10 year old. car I doubt it would make a difference in value.

[Jimi.K.]

Was it sold as a "1 owner car" or as a "1 previous owner car"?

Either way, being registered to a dealer for a couple of months is isn't really a proper owner in most people's eyes. When you sell it on, advertise it as a 1 previous owner car and when going through the paperwork with the prospective buyer explain it was registered to a dealership first which is why the paperwork says 2 previous owners.

[S11Steve]

Was it sold as one owner, or one keeper?

They are not necessarily the same thing.

[williamp]

KungFuPanda said:

Photocopy the V5 C showing the dealer as the first pre reg owner to satisfy anyone subsequent owner. On a 10 year old. car I doubt it would make a difference in value.

Yes this. I doubt it will make any difference to the value when you need to sell...

[S11Steve]

williamp said:

Yes this. I doubt it will make any difference to the value when you need to sell...

Indeed - vehicle valuations are pretty much dictated by CAP/Glasses.

The only parameters that matter are mileage and condition - it doesn't matter if it was a rental, one lady owner. from the seaside, from Bradford, from London or from a sleepy thatched village in Hampshire - mileage and Clean, Average or Below is what will decide the value.

[jondude]

It is annoying to find out this but having the dealer as a pre-reg owner is more a token owner than a real, using the car owner.

So I'd just look at the whole deal and if happy with the car leave it at that. I think for the reason I say above that should you want to sell the car, it really won't bother the new buyer to know one name on the V5 was the dealer, not least as so many do this.

If you feel the price you paid was upped on the 'low owners' line then have a polite moan, decent chance you might get some freebies to keep peace (floormats....V5C leather wallet )

[anonymous-user]

Pre-reg or ex-demo? Wouldn't bother me either way to be honest, but some people hate the thought of an ex-demo.

[anonymous-user]

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for the feedback. I dont want to get too into specifics as the volume of these sold is low and the dealers few and far between so I will leave it at that.

On the positive side, there is a wallet full of receipts and the previous owner spent where he needed to. I love the car and have no plans to get rid for several years at least but its just a bit of sharp practice on their (The dealers) end.

It was the major selling point as these cars by this time (As someone rightly pointed out) have had a lot more owners. Oh well, off to go and play in it

[schmunk]

ChocyLint1 said:

"On the positive side, there is a wallet full of receipts and the previous owner spent where he needed to."

"The car is a moneypit."

[KungFuPanda]

schmunk said:

ChocyLint1 said:

"On the positive side, there is a wallet full of receipts and the previous owner spent where he needed to."

"The car is a moneypit."

Trigger’s broom

Ah well enjoy the car for what it is and don’t let this minor thing get you down.

[macushla]

ChocyLint1 said:

Hey Everyone,

Thanks for the feedback. I dont want to get too into specifics as the volume of these sold is low and the dealers few and far between so I will leave it at that.

On the positive side, there is a wallet full of receipts and the previous owner spent where he needed to. I love the car and have no plans to get rid for several years at least but its just a bit of sharp practice on their (The dealers) end.

It was the major selling point as these cars by this time (As someone rightly pointed out) have had a lot more owners. Oh well, off to go and play in it

And there we go to prove my point. I can’t see how telling us what car it is makes any difference at all.

[Turfy]

OP, I can't really see the issue.

However, the dealer you bought the car from, was the owner of the dealership owner the same guy who originally registered the company with Companies House or is it a different owner?

[Swampy1982]

ChocyLint1 said:

there is a wallet full of receipts and the previous owner spent where he needed to

which one?