Stolen & Recovered
Discussion
Does anyone know of the implications of buying a vehicle that has been stolen & recovered?
These appear to be a "bargain" as they are usually available for between £1-2k less than a straight comparable car. But is it wise to consider a car that has been pinched, thrashed and returned to it's rightful owner ?
Also, am I right in thinking that a stolen & recovered vehicle is recorded as such on the HPi register ?
Apologies if this has already been covered in a previous thread.
Any advice / opinions would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Paul
These appear to be a "bargain" as they are usually available for between £1-2k less than a straight comparable car. But is it wise to consider a car that has been pinched, thrashed and returned to it's rightful owner ?
Also, am I right in thinking that a stolen & recovered vehicle is recorded as such on the HPi register ?
Apologies if this has already been covered in a previous thread.
Any advice / opinions would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Paul
It probably wouldn't have been returned to its rightful owner.
I used to buy stolen recovered bikes, fix them up and sell them on. Mostly off roaders, kids nick 'em then rip off the lights and clocks and belt about the hills on them.
To be honest they were usually a mess. I'd often replace the entire wiring loom where they'd been hacked, but I was doing this mostly as a hobby rather than trying to make money - in which case I'd probably have bodged the wiring with solder and sticky tape.
Personally I'd stay clear of stolen recovered cars, you just have no idea what the scrotes have done when they had them, but you can bet that engine longevity wasn't uppermost in their minds.
I used to buy stolen recovered bikes, fix them up and sell them on. Mostly off roaders, kids nick 'em then rip off the lights and clocks and belt about the hills on them.
To be honest they were usually a mess. I'd often replace the entire wiring loom where they'd been hacked, but I was doing this mostly as a hobby rather than trying to make money - in which case I'd probably have bodged the wiring with solder and sticky tape.
Personally I'd stay clear of stolen recovered cars, you just have no idea what the scrotes have done when they had them, but you can bet that engine longevity wasn't uppermost in their minds.
My 20V quat is stolen recovered and I got it for about half the price you'd normally pay for one in comparable nick. It's not perfect, but even with everything sorted I'll have saved about 30% of the price you'd normally pay.
It's not the sort of thing I'd recommend though - I took a lot of advice first and was still pretty nervous when I handed over the cheque.
It's not the sort of thing I'd recommend though - I took a lot of advice first and was still pretty nervous when I handed over the cheque.
I bought my BMW 316 after it was stolen and recovered, it was found under and inch of dust in a long term car park at an airport, obvioulsy nicked to get to the airport cheap rather that pay for a taxi. It had no damage and looked ok but but did not come with any history.
I ran it for 8 years and it was fine but I might have just been lucky. The bloke I sold it to didnt bother with an hpi check just came round took a run and stuffed a load of notes in my hand, didnt even bother looking at all the history I had built up over 8 years.
Suppose it comes down wo why it was nicked, and if they knew what they were doing
it might have very little damage.
Paul
I ran it for 8 years and it was fine but I might have just been lucky. The bloke I sold it to didnt bother with an hpi check just came round took a run and stuffed a load of notes in my hand, didnt even bother looking at all the history I had built up over 8 years.
Suppose it comes down wo why it was nicked, and if they knew what they were doing
it might have very little damage. Paul
quote:
I was under the impression that a Kit went on a Q if any of it's parts were not new - Ie recon engines, reclaimed uprights, recycled steering rack or whatever...
Nope.. as long as "the predominant parts of the car" ( back axle is a key point I think) match, and the engine matches the V5 it can have the same plate.. of course you can the swap the engine afterwards..
Cheers
Matt.
Q plates are dead for kit cars now as they have the SVA and get a new reg plate. It used to be a "dodgy" bit about how many parts came from the doner for it not to have a Q plate. The rear axle was one major part but so was the engine and chasis. I seem to remember 80% of the car had to come from one doner or something like that.
My kit had Q 'cos lots of parts from various sources as well as new. I personally didn't mind as the Q plate was ageless and lots of people thought it was new even after 7 years of running.
The Q plate was also used on imported cars (with no history or something like that), as a friend had a VW with a Q and it was an import.
My kit had Q 'cos lots of parts from various sources as well as new. I personally didn't mind as the Q plate was ageless and lots of people thought it was new even after 7 years of running.
The Q plate was also used on imported cars (with no history or something like that), as a friend had a VW with a Q and it was an import.
Most stolen recovered cars still have their proper identity if they were the result of TWOC.
Those that usually are found for sale as stolen recovered are the result of 'ringers' where the identity has been completely lost. Engine numbers ground out beyond recovery and chassis stamps in the bodywork cut out and welded over.
If it is a ringer then it was probably stolen to make a fat profit for the theif or handler and will in the main been used no more harshly than any other car that is rightfully owned.
The ones that are to be avoided are those that have been TWOCed and dumped as they have had the thrashing.
Q plates were attatched as previously stated to stolen vehicles that the identity had been lost from.
AND Those that were importede and no history was available.
AND to cars made up from various donor cars (Kit cars)
Those that usually are found for sale as stolen recovered are the result of 'ringers' where the identity has been completely lost. Engine numbers ground out beyond recovery and chassis stamps in the bodywork cut out and welded over.
If it is a ringer then it was probably stolen to make a fat profit for the theif or handler and will in the main been used no more harshly than any other car that is rightfully owned.
The ones that are to be avoided are those that have been TWOCed and dumped as they have had the thrashing.
Q plates were attatched as previously stated to stolen vehicles that the identity had been lost from.
AND Those that were importede and no history was available.
AND to cars made up from various donor cars (Kit cars)
Madcop,
I thought the majority of Stolen Recovered's for sale were not because of the identity being missing, but the fact that the insurance company had already paid out on the claim to the owner, and therefore become the "owner" of the stolen car once recovered, therefore they sell them on to reduce their losses..
Perhaps I am wrong..?
Cheers
Matt.
I thought the majority of Stolen Recovered's for sale were not because of the identity being missing, but the fact that the insurance company had already paid out on the claim to the owner, and therefore become the "owner" of the stolen car once recovered, therefore they sell them on to reduce their losses..
Perhaps I am wrong..?
Cheers
Matt.
quote:
Madcop,
I thought the majority of Stolen Recovered's for sale were not because of the identity being missing, but the fact that the insurance company had already paid out on the claim to the owner, and therefore become the "owner" of the stolen car once recovered, therefore they sell them on to reduce their losses..
Perhaps I am wrong..?
Cheers
Matt.
That is one of the ways that they get rid of them. however many of the cars that are recovered from TWOC are done so quite quickly and therefore the insurance companies mend them and return them to the owners if they need mending. This is much cheaper than settling a full claim.
Many are returned with minor superficial damage to the door locks or a window smashed. Most have some steering lock and ignition barrel damage unless they were taken with the keys.
Most have been unmercifully thrashed but if the engine still goes and it sounds alright, they do not engine rebuild them. Thats down to the owner when it goes bang in 3000 miles time.
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