V5 retention on new commercial vehicle purchase????

V5 retention on new commercial vehicle purchase????

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Discussion

Griff Boy

Original Poster:

1,563 posts

238 months

Thursday 30th August 2012
quotequote all
Hi,

I'm just in the process of buying a new Citroen relay for my business (vat registered LTD company) and I thought I had just finalised up a deal with a supplier for the vehicle. A brand new 62plate.

I was just about to pay the deposit yesterday (the VAT and road fund licence) when I was going through a few questions regarding the HP options and I was told that they would keep the V5 document for the first 11months of the deal. When I asked why, I was told that the manufacturer sell to them at a reduced rate as fleet sales, and that they (Citroen) insist that the V5 is held to stop me reselling the van on too quickly at to low a price so as not to devalue the product...... Now this sounds a bit dodgy to me (I held off paying the deposit, and said I would confirm it this morning instead), so I have done a bit of digging in the mean time, and it appears there is a 'dodge' in the industry where the vehicle is registered to a fleet / hire company to get the discount from the manufacturer, it appears to be registered to that company for the first 11months, then when I get the v5, just in time to re tax it, I am showing as the second owner? Also, surely this brings about insurance issues, as I would not be the registered keeper, nor able to provide the v5 to the police?

Has anyone else heard of this, or I am just being paranoid about it? I obviously want the best deal on the vehicle, but not if I end up in a dodgy situation.

Any help or advice would be appreciated!

Ps - also posted in speed, plod and law, as I wasn't sure which one was best!

Flyin Banana

2,178 posts

245 months

Thursday 13th September 2012
quotequote all
sounds a bit iffy, if its being pre registered and they cannot offically sell for x amount of months, but they couldnt finance it either, are you being added to the v5 so will be the owner?

Rob

Birdster

2,539 posts

150 months

Tuesday 25th September 2012
quotequote all
The V5 is the registered keeper. So you can still be the owner.

However insurance may be an issue, unless you notify them that someone else is the keeper etc.

However I wouldn't feel comfortable in this situation. No v5, no sale. Just going to worry you the whole time.