Perils of selling a damaged but unrecorded car?

[2Btoo]

Guys,

Serious Q: I am selling a car which is damaged and financially not worth repairing (when paying commercial rates), but the damage is not recorded anywhere. It has not been subject to an insurance claim so the damage is not recorded.

What are the perils of selling it as it is, with all the registration documents, chassis number and what not? Is there a risk that the car's identity will be used in a nefarious way? Is there any way I can guard against this happening, while still trying to get a good price for the car?

Thanks.

[InitialDave]

2Btoo said:

Guys,

Serious Q: I am selling a car which is damaged and financially not worth repairing (when paying commercial rates), but the damage is not recorded anywhere. It has not been subject to an insurance claim so the damage is not recorded.

What are the perils of selling it as it is, with all the registration documents, chassis number and what not? Is there a risk that the car's identity will be used in a nefarious way? Is there any way I can guard against this happening, while still trying to get a good price for the car?

Thanks.

Are you concerned that someone would buy it and use its paperwork and VIN plate as a ringer to launder the identity of a stolen car?

I don't think there's much you can do about that from your side.

What specifically makes you concerned about this?

Edited by InitialDave on Friday 5th June 11:20

[Truckosaurus]

Indeed. Best you can do is get some ID from whoever buys it, a genuine buyer shouldn't have an issue with doing that.

Then if there's any come back you've got some proof of who you sold it to.

[SS427 Camaro]

Stop worrying & just sell it !!

[pigface1001]

After you sell it, its got nothing to do with you what the next owner does with it

[Matt_T]

I did exactly this a few months ago with a road-legal track car that had structural damage. The guy taking the car wanted the wheels and some parts. I made the decision to just have him fill out the New Keeper supplement and then recorded this online with DVLA.

Once this is done the car is theirs... the condition is irrelevant.

[Matt_T]

...out of interest, when you buy a damaged car from copart or a salvage yard, do they have you sign a letter or disclaimer saying that the car is damaged? Or do they just have you sign the New Keeper Supplement and send you on your way?

[Matt_T]

2Btoo said:

Is there a risk that the car's identity will be used in a nefarious way?

If I was doing this I would want to buy a roadworthy car to start with... but it has nothing to do with you. Anyone could do anything with your car when they buy it, as long as the DVLA are notified of new keeper it doesn't affect you

[craigjm]

Matt_T said:

...out of interest, when you buy a damaged car from copart or a salvage yard, do they have you sign a letter or disclaimer saying that the car is damaged? Or do they just have you sign the New Keeper Supplement and send you on your way?

If you buy something from copilot it says in the T&Cs you sign up to that you are buying a vehicle "as is, where is"

[2Btoo]

InitialDave said:

Are you concerned that someone would buy it and use its paperwork and VIN plate as a ringer to launder the identity of a stolen car?

I don't think there's much you can do about that from your side.

What specifically makes you concerned about this?

This is indeed pretty much my worry. I have nothing specifically to make me concerned but am aware that it's a big, bad world out there and I don't know what options there are for mischief post-sale, and I don't want to land myself or anyone else in hot water if I can avoid it.

Thanks for your help everyone. I'll go ahead with the sale as planned.

[kiethton]

What level of damage are we talking, a re-shell or some pannel damage which is just uneconomic to actually repair?

[2Btoo]

The latter. Someone with more practical skills than me could make it a good car again. I don't have the skills, and it's not economic if paying for someone else to do it.

It's not recorded on insurance. (Not sure if that makes any difference.)

[Sir Bagalot]

Get in touch with @sruk on you tube

[InitialDave]

2Btoo said:

InitialDave said:

Are you concerned that someone would buy it and use its paperwork and VIN plate as a ringer to launder the identity of a stolen car?

I don't think there's much you can do about that from your side.

What specifically makes you concerned about this?

This is indeed pretty much my worry. I have nothing specifically to make me concerned but am aware that it's a big, bad world out there and I don't know what options there are for mischief post-sale, and I don't want to land myself or anyone else in hot water if I can avoid it.

I don't think you're being silly, in a sense it's actually very socially conscious of you to consider whether your (completely innocent and legal) sale of your car could inadvertently help facilitate the theft and disappearance of some other poor bugger's pride and joy.

But I think it's quite an outside probability, and not likely enough to let it affect you doing what you need to do to move the car on.

[Decky_Q]

I bought my vx220 with unrecorded crash damage (track day mishap by the look of it). It was delivered on a flatbed outside my workshop with no paperwork whatsoever, took a while for v5 to come but I was busy stripping it down and putting new panels on for first few weeks anyway.

[paul_c123]

It is worth making yourself familiar with RTA 1988 section 75.

[E-bmw]

paul_c123 said:

It is worth making yourself familiar with RTA 1988 section 75.

Although just because it is damaged does not necessarily mean it is unroadworthy, obviously from the OP's question we currently have no idea, but none the less a valid point.

[Doesitdrive]

Matt_T said:

...out of interest, when you buy a damaged car from copart or a salvage yard, do they have you sign a letter or disclaimer saying that the car is damaged? Or do they just have you sign the New Keeper Supplement and send you on your way?

With my gti they just handed over the V5 and I got speeding tickets, they did resolve it though.

[Rockatansky]

Sir Bagalot said:

Get in touch with @sruk on you tube

This.

Salvage rebuilds UK, email address is [e-mail]

[Peter-e2535]

The biggest issue will be dealing with the spivs / scum that it will attract.