Buying car with V5 not in sellers name
Discussion
Hi all I've found car I'd like to buy, (advertised privately on ebay) the v5 is not in the sellers name.
He said it's his gf brothers name. He called him twice during my viewing of the car to talk through some of the service history and sent across photos / purchase receipts etc.
The seller said he can transfer ownership to me using the online dvla website.
His reason for not putting the car in his name is to not add another registered keeper, as he took the car in part-exchange and only planned to keep the car for a short while.
Whilst I've seen this before, with traders, is there anything I should be doing?
I asked for a letter/ note with the names and address of the person on the v5 and the seller to state receipt for the transfer. He is happy to oblige.
I also checked the seller showed his insurance policy on the car reg.
Car is taxed and full 12 months mot.
He said it's his gf brothers name. He called him twice during my viewing of the car to talk through some of the service history and sent across photos / purchase receipts etc.
The seller said he can transfer ownership to me using the online dvla website.
His reason for not putting the car in his name is to not add another registered keeper, as he took the car in part-exchange and only planned to keep the car for a short while.
Whilst I've seen this before, with traders, is there anything I should be doing?
I asked for a letter/ note with the names and address of the person on the v5 and the seller to state receipt for the transfer. He is happy to oblige.
I also checked the seller showed his insurance policy on the car reg.
Car is taxed and full 12 months mot.
If his story is legit, you could pay the person named on the V5C and complete the transfer online there and then... and the registered keeper could forward you confirmation etc. He could then transfer the funds to his sister's boyfriend or whoever the guy is acting on his behalf. The latter not being your issue.
I don’t like buying cars where you’re not actually speaking to the owner, the individual that knows the car, the history etc. I’m always suspicious of such transactions so I’d advise you to have your wits about you as they could be trying to hide something and you’ll get lost trying to sort issues out of they arise once bought.
You can still buy it but try and deal with the actual person who owns the car, or is on the V5.
You can still buy it but try and deal with the actual person who owns the car, or is on the V5.
OctaneV8 said:
Hi all I've found car I'd like to buy, (advertised privately on ebay) the v5 is not in the sellers name.
He said it's his gf brothers name. He called him twice during my viewing of the car to talk through some of the service history and sent across photos / purchase receipts etc.
The seller said he can transfer ownership to me using the online dvla website.
His reason for not putting the car in his name is to not add another registered keeper, as he took the car in part-exchange and only planned to keep the car for a short while.
Whilst I've seen this before, with traders, is there anything I should be doing?
I asked for a letter/ note with the names and address of the person on the v5 and the seller to state receipt for the transfer. He is happy to oblige.
I also checked the seller showed his insurance policy on the car reg.
Car is taxed and full 12 months mot.
I’d wager that’s a Trader pretending not to be a trader. The registered keeper or the seller has it insured, but not registered , took it in px??He said it's his gf brothers name. He called him twice during my viewing of the car to talk through some of the service history and sent across photos / purchase receipts etc.
The seller said he can transfer ownership to me using the online dvla website.
His reason for not putting the car in his name is to not add another registered keeper, as he took the car in part-exchange and only planned to keep the car for a short while.
Whilst I've seen this before, with traders, is there anything I should be doing?
I asked for a letter/ note with the names and address of the person on the v5 and the seller to state receipt for the transfer. He is happy to oblige.
I also checked the seller showed his insurance policy on the car reg.
Car is taxed and full 12 months mot.
Or it’s been biffed and has mechanical issues, easy for vendor to sidestep any responsibilities and claim he didn’t know.
Proceed with extreme care. Is the green section of the v5 present?
Thanks, gut feeling is that it's fine, but thought worth asking,
it's not super rare, very few in that colour, interior, spec etc. not many options for similar cars, it's around 15 years old, bit of an enthusiasts car, someone that has been particular with the brands of oil, and service parts they chose for the car.
it's not cheap but slightly above the figure I had in mind, mid-range of pricing, around 20% more than what autotrader have valued it at, based on reg, current below average mileage, it's about right I'd say
the v5 looked to be complete no missing parts, including green section
I did a vehicle paid vehicle check last week using "motorcheck" website, all came back good, not stolen, not accident category, just the private plate on the vehicle currently, which the previous-previous owner had from 2017, and the person on v5 has kept ever since they purchased in 2021, I just need to take the VIN to enter that in to the report.
Maybe I can arrange to meet the person with name on v5, address is maybe 30 mins from the seller's. I met at the sellers place of work, as he is using the car currently to commute.
Seller seemed quite happy to get the named v5 person on the phone, and talk about the history of the car, and has offered to have them present their ID (video call) to prove it is who they say they are.
it's not super rare, very few in that colour, interior, spec etc. not many options for similar cars, it's around 15 years old, bit of an enthusiasts car, someone that has been particular with the brands of oil, and service parts they chose for the car.
it's not cheap but slightly above the figure I had in mind, mid-range of pricing, around 20% more than what autotrader have valued it at, based on reg, current below average mileage, it's about right I'd say
the v5 looked to be complete no missing parts, including green section
I did a vehicle paid vehicle check last week using "motorcheck" website, all came back good, not stolen, not accident category, just the private plate on the vehicle currently, which the previous-previous owner had from 2017, and the person on v5 has kept ever since they purchased in 2021, I just need to take the VIN to enter that in to the report.
Maybe I can arrange to meet the person with name on v5, address is maybe 30 mins from the seller's. I met at the sellers place of work, as he is using the car currently to commute.
Seller seemed quite happy to get the named v5 person on the phone, and talk about the history of the car, and has offered to have them present their ID (video call) to prove it is who they say they are.
Edited by OctaneV8 on Sunday 10th November 19:27
I’d swerve this personally, traders pretending not to be are never a good thing.
Had identical a few years back, turned out that the guy selling it had wound the odo back 80k miles.
Found he’d brought loads of high milers from a local lease company, suggested all were his ex company car, fleet manager at lease co said differently and confirmed miles were double.
So I got trading standards involved when he wouldn’t return my deposit, he got done for more than 12 cars.
Had identical a few years back, turned out that the guy selling it had wound the odo back 80k miles.
Found he’d brought loads of high milers from a local lease company, suggested all were his ex company car, fleet manager at lease co said differently and confirmed miles were double.
So I got trading standards involved when he wouldn’t return my deposit, he got done for more than 12 cars.
I know what's it like when you finally find the car you want in the colour, spec and mileage and there is always something just not 100% quite right.
Has the current seller got any other cars for sale or just this one, if others then definitely trying to avoid being classed as a trader and the obligations that that entails...
He may have sold his previous car to his girlfriends brother and then taken this specific car as a part ex to get the deal done... I'd still be cautious though.
If the owner on the V5 is only 30 minutes away get him to come down when you finally do the deal as if it/he is genuine he'll want to help his sisters boyfrend out... get him to come with ID (driving licence) as well to prove its him...
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Has the current seller got any other cars for sale or just this one, if others then definitely trying to avoid being classed as a trader and the obligations that that entails...
He may have sold his previous car to his girlfriends brother and then taken this specific car as a part ex to get the deal done... I'd still be cautious though.
If the owner on the V5 is only 30 minutes away get him to come down when you finally do the deal as if it/he is genuine he'll want to help his sisters boyfrend out... get him to come with ID (driving licence) as well to prove its him...
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
In years gone by, I've sold family cars for them via eBay, my sister once and my stepfather twice. Nobody seemed all that concerned (I was up front about it in the descriptions), or asked to speak to them although it would have been OK if they did.
The most expensive of these was still under a grand though; it's different for a bigger purchase.
The car will remain taxed until it has a new keeper, is declared SORN or goes 'into trade.'
The most expensive of these was still under a grand though; it's different for a bigger purchase.
The car will remain taxed until it has a new keeper, is declared SORN or goes 'into trade.'
Thanks to all, really appreciate your input, wanted to proceed with caution, gut feeling good, now confirmed seller's story added up, to answer your question no he wasn't selling any other vehicles, all good, wanted to wait until v5 doc came through in post to be sure.
the seller was very helpful and patient, he showed me a photo of driving license of the registered keeper, he also got a handwritten note from the registered keeper, I took it for another test drive all ok, no fault codes, VIN number matched V5, after funds bank transfer, he transferred ownership online, I wrote out a receipt and got seller to sign.
the seller was very helpful and patient, he showed me a photo of driving license of the registered keeper, he also got a handwritten note from the registered keeper, I took it for another test drive all ok, no fault codes, VIN number matched V5, after funds bank transfer, he transferred ownership online, I wrote out a receipt and got seller to sign.
Edited by OctaneV8 on Thursday 14th November 10:39
OctaneV8 said:
Thanks to all, really appreciate your input, wanted to proceed with caution, gut feeling good, now confirmed seller's story added up, to answer your question no he wasn't selling any other vehicles, all good, wanted to wait until v5 doc came through in post to be sure.
the seller was very helpful and patient, he showed me a photo of driving license of the registered keeper, he also got a handwritten note from the registered keeper, I took it for another test drive all ok, no fault codes, VIN number matched V5, after funds bank transfer, he transferred ownership online, I wrote out a receipt and got seller to sign.
Then, I wish you well and hope everything works out for you.the seller was very helpful and patient, he showed me a photo of driving license of the registered keeper, he also got a handwritten note from the registered keeper, I took it for another test drive all ok, no fault codes, VIN number matched V5, after funds bank transfer, he transferred ownership online, I wrote out a receipt and got seller to sign.
Edited by OctaneV8 on Thursday 14th November 10:39
But, I wouldn't have bought it.
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