Tracking a car down?
Discussion
vanquish spirit said:
OK, so I have a registration of a motor car which I know still exists. How do I find it? Its not taxed at present and does not appear on the DVLA website because its not been on road for a long time. With the power of the internet it must be possible to find it? Any ideas?
Relevant owners club or club register?Hire a PI?
vanquish spirit said:
thanks for the response. Not registered with any car clubs. Been in store for 30 years. Need someone with old car ownership records I think?
if you know the reg, with a bit of googling you can find out where it was registered, from there, google for county vehicle records, you might find out a bit more, I got a copy of the register for my e type, showing all details as registered on day one.I have a book in front of me called "How to trace the history of your car" by Philip Riden. If you want to let me know the reg letters I can tell you where it was first registered.
My father and I have just traced and identified a car via various records and we started with only chassis and engine numbers!)
My father and I have just traced and identified a car via various records and we started with only chassis and engine numbers!)
Hi There. Now there is some really useful advice here, thanks guys. The car was never owned by me, it has been in store for many years I have a photo of the car with the original registration number still on the car, so do not think it has been re registered. DVLA have already told me that they do not have computer records of the car as it has in all likelihood not been registered since the computer records were made. I know for instance a few cars my father owns are not on the records at DVLA. I cannot believe that the DVLA does not have ownership records, even if they are on old file cards in store somewhere. I would be interested in the local council records. The car was registered originally in 1963 in Surrey which I think was probably the Wimbledon office of DVLA. Does anyone now if those records are available. I have the address of the first owner who no longer lives there and may not be still alive anyway. Anyway,, any more ideas please let me know. I
know the car is out there somewhere, i have the photos!!
thx
know the car is out there somewhere, i have the photos!!
thx
vanquish spirit said:
Clever. It is a PE number. Which book says they are destroyed please? I know DVLA must have this information. If the car had been used in an armed robbery they would find it! Please keep the advice coming, thx
It's the book I mentioned above, PE is Surrey and the original records are presumed to be destroyed, DVLA however should have records of it.vanquish spirit said:
I know DVLA must have this information.
Why? The records were computerized in (roughly) 1984 in order that they DIDN'T have to keep all the old records, so I would not be at all surprised if they chucked out the old records. In fast I would be very surprised if they DID keep them.I think that if it was used in a robbery but did not have a V5 therefore was not on the computer, they wouldn't find it because the only way they have to look it up is by checking the computer.
Finally, even if it was on the comnputer, they would not tell you the address of the owner, as that is confidential, the only way as far as I know to get an address would be by getting a DVLA person or a policeman to illegally get the info for you.
The only way I can think of that you might be able to contact the owner is if the car is registered with the owners club they might ask the owner to contact you ro forward a letter - I am a club webmaster, and that's what I do when asked this sort of question as I am not allowed to give out members details.
Hi John, everything you say is correct, but of course rather frustrating if one has a genuine and proper interest in contacting the owner. I have to say that I personally would not mind a genuine person contacting me about an old car I owned. Anyway, the car was not taxed after about 1979 so apparently there are no computer records. The car is not registered with an owners club and is quietly rotting aaway in a damp shed. Shame a genuine restorer cannot try to save the car as I dont know where it is. Ah well, its destiny I suppose
john2443 said:
vanquish spirit said:
I know DVLA must have this information.
Why? The records were computerized in (roughly) 1984 in order that they DIDN'T have to keep all the old records, so I would not be at all surprised if they chucked out the old records. In fast I would be very surprised if they DID keep them.I think that if it was used in a robbery but did not have a V5 therefore was not on the computer, they wouldn't find it because the only way they have to look it up is by checking the computer.
Finally, even if it was on the comnputer, they would not tell you the address of the owner, as that is confidential, the only way as far as I know to get an address would be by getting a DVLA person or a policeman to illegally get the info for you.
The only way I can think of that you might be able to contact the owner is if the car is registered with the owners club they might ask the owner to contact you ro forward a letter - I am a club webmaster, and that's what I do when asked this sort of question as I am not allowed to give out members details.
keep your hair on guys. I am a private collector. I own several different motor cars and NEVER sell any( any more that is). The earlier posts relate to a previously owned etype registered PEY which I have lost all trace of and the other car is one I am trying to track down. Dont help if you dont wish to. I am not in the trade.
Edited by vanquish spirit on Sunday 6th January 16:19
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