Abandoned car

[threespires]

I've just been contacted about a car we sold back in c1960.
The enquirer found a photo of the car on another forum I use.
It's a British GT that was our demo car for a while & then sold.
The car is now parked on a street under a cover.

The enquirer has spoken to the DVLA and this is what they told him.

" It's under a car cover and has been for some years. The DVLA said i can report it and they can remove it as it is parked on a public road without tax. It hasn't been driven since 2007. He advised if i wanted to see if it had an owner to apply for a log book for it and if no one responded they would grant me one."

This doesn't sound correct to me.
Wouldn't that be theft?

[tomsugden]

That would be theft in my book, and the V5 actually states on it that it is not proof of ownership.

[Martyn76]

I think it is an actual legal loophole, watched a video about a similar thing a while back

https://youtu.be/ULTHfZCgTb0

[threespires]

Martyn76 said:

I think it is an actual legal loophole, watched a video about a similar thing a while back

https://youtu.be/ULTHfZCgTb0

Interesting, thanks

[boombang]

A friend of mine 'owns' a nice little car which was found abandoned in a car park - they applied for a V5 and after the process was complete they were given a V5. AFAIK that makes them the keeper, legal ownership is a different matter.

[threespires]

boombang said:

A friend of mine 'owns' a nice little car which was found abandoned in a car park - they applied for a V5 and after the process was complete they were given a V5. AFAIK that makes them the keeper, legal ownership is a different matter.

Sounds good, I hope the enquirer is successful.
Thanks

[NMNeil]

So how do you show proof of ownership if the V5 only shows the registered keeper?

[threespires]

NMNeil said:

So how do you show proof of ownership if the V5 only shows the registered keeper?

Good question

[johnnyBv8]

You could get the vehicle registered in your name by that process, but you still wouldn’t own it - and you could be charged with theft if the owner reports it stolen.

[DaveCWK]

Yup, V5 + being registered keeper does not = owner. It's not legitimate to 'claim' cars in this way. You need to purchase it from the current owner to own it.

[Richard-390a0]

NMNeil said:

So how do you show proof of ownership if the V5 only shows the registered keeper?

In theory you would also have a purchase invoice from the seller...

[hairy v]

Martyn76 said:

I think it is an actual legal loophole, watched a video about a similar thing a while back

https://youtu.be/ULTHfZCgTb0

That;s a great story!

[dhutch]

NMNeil said:

So how do you show proof of ownership if the V5 only shows the registered keeper?

I guess you don't?

boombang said:

A friend of mine 'owns' a nice little car which was found abandoned in a car park - they applied for a V5 and after the process was complete they were given a V5. AFAIK that makes them the keeper, legal ownership is a different matter.

Believe someone did this at my university a while after I left, via people I know within the motor club.

International student left e45 m3 parked up, went home and for whatever reason never came back. Car is now registered to and driven by someone else.

[pits]

Was there not a chap on here who got a Diablo for "free" using this

[General Price]

Another one from quite recently.

Lambo in a shed for over 30yrs and they couldn't find the owner.

https://www.lambocars.com/lamborghini-espada-found...

[old'uns]

There once was a Citroën Acadiane left at mates garage, work as and when etc.
Garage owner dies, son winds up business, enquiries about the van from interested other party, half hearted search for owner.

V5 applied for and keeper gets letter saying application incoming. Reply says not sold...next letter asks for pics of van, VIN etc to confirm.
Van now taken somewhere that keeper doesn't know so unable to....

Some sort of contact was made, claims of 'storage' bill paid to garage, sell it on eBay, split profits etc, then nothing, numbers disconnected.

So original owner/keeper 'loses' vehicle, whatever happens do make sure you retain physical possession......

Ask me how I know

[Bungleaio]

Finders keepers surely. We all learned that at school.

[dhutch]

old'uns said:

Ask me how I know

Doh!

[MDL111]

would not be amused if that happened to my car. I left one of my cars recently without plates for 9-12 months as I could not be bothered to sort out transport for it to get it MOT'd. Would not have been amused if it was gone when I finally got round to it.

[Sheepshanks]

johnnyBv8 said:

You could get the vehicle registered in your name by that process, but you still wouldn’t own it - and you could be charged with theft if the owner reports it stolen.

You could just offer to give it back - they'd have to prove that you intended to permanently deprive the owner of it.

I suppose it gets very tricky if you sell the car and the original owner pops up afterwards.