Proving you own a vehicle ?

[Smallfry]

Heres a random thing for you.......

Say, for example, I rock up to your house, and claim your car is actually mine. Never mind baseball bats and guns ........ how do you PROVE you own it ? Especially if bought privately.

I have a new V5 in my name, and a hand written receipt for cash.............

The registration document in your name does not prove ownership. Possession of the car itself and its keys do not prove ownership. A receipt scribbled on a piece of paper does not prove ownership. A loan agreement does not prove ownership.

What now ?

 

[8ob]

Possession is still nine tenths of the law, if someone else thinks they own it they have to prove it.

Bob

 

[addjunkie]

Heres a random thing for you.......

Say, for example, I rock up to your house, and claim your car is actually mine. Never mind baseball bats and guns ........ how do you PROVE you own it ? Especially if bought privately.

I have a new V5 in my name, and a hand written receipt for cash.............

The registration document in your name does not prove ownership. Possession of the car itself and its keys do not prove ownership. A receipt scribbled on a piece of paper does not prove ownership. A loan agreement does not prove ownership.

What now ?

Did the person you bought it from own it, or have credit on it….you could be receiving stolen goods.

"Possession is nine-tenths of the law"


I know of a storey similar.

Guy goes to the boat show, an agrees to buy a new boat, from the uk distributor of an Italian manufacturer. Boat paid for and delivered….roll on a few years. Police turn up, you Sir are in possession of a stolen boat. No it was bought from xyz uk agent, and heres bill of sale. Much too in and frowing, it transpired uk agent had boat on sale or return, but went bump after selling boat, but not paying builder. Buyer kept boat as it was bought in good faith under uk law. Dealer got done for the non payment of vat, builder in italy got nowt, but the right to try to claim money from his uk distributor.

 

[Smallfry]

Its purely a hypothetic situation really. I have not bought anything.

 

[Melvyn Best]

HPI check?

 

[Robotstar5]

I unknowingly bought a stolen Range Rover from a 4x4 specialist in Birmingham, first time I tried to tax it I had the police stolen vehicle unit round to check it over and interview me. Turned out it had been "ringed" but luckily for me the changes made the car worth a lot more than the original insurance company paid out so I was able to keep it. The insurance company did try to sell me the original registration number for a few hundred quid, but I declined and heard nothing more from them.

 

[droopsnoot]

Back when I used to watch the bailiff programmes on the TV, I used to wonder the same thing. I don't have any worthwhile receipts (i.e. anything I couldn't have written out myself) for anything other than the daily driver, so if I happened to stay with someone, or leave it parked on their driveway, on the day the bailiffs turned up to their house, how would I prevent them from taking my car? It's all very well saying "don't have friends that attract bailiffs", but there are plenty of people who are really close to that point where an outsider would never know.

 

[Robotstar5]

Back when I used to watch the bailiff programmes on the TV, I used to wonder the same thing. I don't have any worthwhile receipts (i.e. anything I couldn't have written out myself) for anything other than the daily driver, so if I happened to stay with someone, or leave it parked on their driveway, on the day the bailiffs turned up to their house, how would I prevent them from taking my car? It's all very well saying "don't have friends that attract bailiffs", but there are plenty of people who are really close to that point where an outsider would never know.

The bailiffs would check the VRM and find it was registered to a different name and address to the one they had on their paperwork.
We had bailiffs call here looking for my errant BIL, mine and mrs Robo's cars were parked on the drive, but they didn't try to take them.

 

[hotponyshoes]

I don't think a car is much different than anything else.

How do you prove you own that milling machine that you paid cash for and never got a receipt?

What about that expensive tv bolted on your wall? I know you have proof of the card transaction at dixions 3 months ago and registered for the extended warranty but I have a hand written receipt showing you sold it to ne last week for £100 cash..

At least with a car I could show it was mine 'on the balance of probabilities' as I have the seat adjusted exactly how I like it.

 

[Robotstar5]

Probably a harder one is what happened to a local chap, someone managed to get the V5C for his car changed into their name so they could sell the valuable private plate, legal stuff is still ongoing.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I unknowingly bought a stolen Range Rover from a 4x4 specialist in Birmingham, first time I tried to tax it I had the police stolen vehicle unit round to check it over and interview me. Turned out it had been "ringed" but luckily for me the changes made the car worth a lot more than the original insurance company paid out so I was able to keep it. The insurance company did try to sell me the original registration number for a few hundred quid, but I declined and heard nothing more from them.

a specialist that starts with N and has 4 letters by any chance?

 

[Robotstar5]

a specialist that starts with N and has 4 letters by any chance?

That doesn't sound familiar, it was in the mid 80's, I will have to look for the paperwork next time I'm in the loft.

 

[premmington]

This has happened with houses..

https://www.getagent.co.uk/blog/properties/house-sold-without-owner-knowing

 

[Robotstar5]

This has happened with houses..

https://www.getagent.co.uk/blog/properties/house-sold-without-owner-knowing

I remember that one made the news.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

That doesn't sound familiar, it was in the mid 80's, I will have to look for the paperwork next time I'm in the loft.

There was another well known company shafted for selling ringers about 15 years ago

 

[Smallfry]

When I last checked, in order to get a V5 issued, you had to give the reg number obviously, but needed the VIN number too. This was OK when it was not on display, but now it as appeared in the windscreen for some years now, anyone could walk past, take the details, and apply, just stating they are the new keeper, but the PO lost the V5

I would hope the DVLA do some checking, but do they ?

 

[Tinbasherdan]

When I last checked, in order to get a V5 issued, you had to give the reg number obviously, but needed the VIN number too. This was OK when it was not on display, but now it as appeared in the windscreen for some years now, anyone could walk past, take the details, and apply, just stating they are the new keeper, but the PO lost the V5

I would hope the DVLA do some checking, but do they ?

I’m just on with doing the same, obviously not for nefarious purposes tho! I believe dvla contact the old owner and give a set time to respond

 

[Smallfry]

I’m just on with doing the same, obviously not for nefarious purposes tho! I believe dvla contact the old owner and give a set time to respond

Of course not sir , we believe you.

Let us know what happens please ? Interested to know.

 

[fizzy]

Heres a random thing for you.......

Say, for example, I rock up to your house, and claim your car is actually mine. Never mind baseball bats and guns ........ how do you PROVE you own it ? Especially if bought privately.

I have a new V5 in my name, and a hand written receipt for cash.............

The registration document in your name does not prove ownership. Possession of the car itself and its keys do not prove ownership. A receipt scribbled on a piece of paper does not prove ownership. A loan agreement does not prove ownership.

What now ?

Don't pay cash so there is a trail.
Or take a witness.

 

[Robotstar5]

When I last checked, in order to get a V5 issued, you had to give the reg number obviously, but needed the VIN number too. This was OK when it was not on display, but now it as appeared in the windscreen for some years now, anyone could walk past, take the details, and apply, just stating they are the new keeper, but the PO lost the V5

I would hope the DVLA do some checking, but do they ?

Which is why the VIN No. visible through screen on mine has black tape over it