Not taxed not sorn. Red flag

[Wizard1992]

Hi all

I am (was) due to look at a car this weekend, struggling to find the car with the spec and engine size I wanted within budget.

Found the car being sold via a private seller, the car has no road tax and it hasn't been sorn, aswell as this the last v5 was issued 5 months ago and now the owner is selling it ? The car is a good few hours away and when I questioned the seller he mumbled something about family (in fairness not sure English was his first language)

I've already told myself that there's red flags but before I pull out completely is there a reasonable explanation for this? Im struggling to think of one.

Thanks

[Pica-Pica]

If it’s neither taxed nor SORN’D, it may be you who will end up with the hassle of re-taxing it, rather the current owner/registered keeper.

[Davie]

If English isn't their first language, possibly a simple misunderstanding of the process? Though there will be plenty who have English as their first language who also don't understand the process.

I'd be more concerned about who is the owner / keeper and if the V5C matches etc..

[sandman77]

Pica-Pica said:

If it’s neither taxed nor SORN’D, it may be you who will end up with the hassle of re-taxing it, rather the current owner/registered keeper.

It would be the buyer who is responsible for re-taxing a car regardless of its current tax status. Any tax on a vehicle when a car is sold is cancelled and any full months remaining are refunded to the seller.

[sixor8]

If a check shows a car untaxed on a date other than the last day of the month, it has been taken into 'trade.'

No new owner would be responsible for any 'back tax' which happens in other countries, but you'd have to tax it from the day you become the keeper. Do they have the full V5c?

[Wizard1992]

Thanks for the advice, I've checked and the tax was ended roughly on the 13th of the month so I suspect as the previous poster has said the car is in trade.

I'll ring him later and ask for a explanation.
Still on the fence as I can't find any other cars and I could probably take a loss if I had to get rid but wouldn't be ideal !

[Super Sonic]

sixor8 said:

If a check shows a car untaxed on a date other than the last day of the month, it has been taken into 'trade.'

No new owner would be responsible for any 'back tax' which happens in other countries, but you'd have to tax it from the day you become the keeper. Do they have the full V5c?

You have to pay tax for the whole of the month in which you buy the car unless you sort it. If the op buys the car today he will have to pay to tax it for the whole month, ie from Nov1

[sixor8]

I'm well aware of that. I juggle VED with 2 / 3 vehicles regularly but the OP seemed to suggest he thought he'd be liable for a car being untaxed if he bought it.

He's only liable from the day of becoming the keeper (yes, only for whole months) and then only if DVL A have been informed. I've had a change of keeper delayed a day or two if it's at the end of the month.

[ABMA]

Regarding the V5 was only issued 5 months ago, could be the car was on a private plate number which was removed/ retained therefore a new V5 was issued.

[Kevin-2g5x2]

If it's not been put in trade then just one of many who don't bother taxing the car and run the risk of not getting caught especially if its not registered to them.

[sixor8]

It would have the untaxed date at the last day of a month (or the first, I forget) if it had just run out and not been renewed.

The fact the OP said that it is untaxed since 13th of the month this is only possible if the car has gone into the trade.

[66HFM]

ABMA said:

Regarding the V5 was only issued 5 months ago, could be the car was on a private plate number which was removed/ retained therefore a new V5 was issued.

Either this or as per us, we recently moved house and I sold my car over the weekend, I explained to the buyer why a new V5 had been issued and was able to show him the previous one from our old address.