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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think we might have bought a stolen car?

32 replies

IceBeing · 18/07/2016 13:24

We just got the Log book through and the listed previous owner isn't the person we bought it from...

What are you supposed to do in this situation?

OP posts:
honeysucklejasmine · 18/07/2016 13:27

Log book is proof of responsibility for the car, but not of ownership.

You could ring the dvla, I guess?

frazmum · 18/07/2016 13:27

Contact the DVLA. Don't panic yet. Maybe the person was selling on behalf of the owners?

Original poster
IceBeing · 18/07/2016 13:29

Okay - so contact the DVLA then. We did pay for a check on the car that was supposed to tell us if it was registered as stolen that came back clean...but now we are all in a panic :(

OP posts:
Madbengalmum · 18/07/2016 13:29

Im sure it is just a case of a trader buying a car and not updating the log book details. You can do a check online to see if it is stolen or not with AA or RAC.

bloodynoris · 18/07/2016 13:30

Was it a private sale? Or one of these people that call them selves trade seller but do it from they own house?

Original poster
IceBeing · 18/07/2016 13:31

We bought from a private seller though....who certainly claimed to be the owner of the car. Showed us documentation to prove the finance on it was paid off etc.

OP posts:
mrtumblesbagisspotty · 18/07/2016 13:31

You could do a HPI check which will show of it is stolen and also whether there is any outstanding finance on the car

Original poster
IceBeing · 18/07/2016 13:32

Yep we did the HPI check before buying it, which came back clear so we thought everything was fine. :(

OP posts:
c3pu · 18/07/2016 13:46

If it's come back HPI clear then you don't need to be too worried about it being nicked.

Probably the bloke who sold was it actually a trader and not the previous owner.

Lurkedforever1 · 18/07/2016 14:12

It's far more likely that the person you bought from was lying about being a private owner, when actually they bought it as trade.

19lottie82 · 18/07/2016 14:15

No need to panic, there are plenty of reasons why the person you bought it from may not be the one on the V5.

Original poster
IceBeing · 18/07/2016 14:32

So we contacted the DVLA, who basically didn't care Confused.

So is that the end? Or is there anything else we need to do?

OP posts:
BibbidiBobbidiBoo1 · 18/07/2016 14:36

I'd definitely say the person you brought if off was trade - or close enough. Dabbles in buying and selling them on quickly, and just didn't bother updating details because they'd be doing it several times a week.

I'm sure if you have done all the checks and DVLA aren't worried then you are fine. And as long as you have all the paper work to say when you brought it you are covered in the fact it wasn't you that did any wrong.

Enjoy the car

specialsubject · 18/07/2016 14:38

If the hpi check is clear then it shouldnt be stolen, but did you buy it from the address on the v5 ?

If not i also think this is a trader. Lots of cars at the same place?

Call trading standards.

sparechange · 18/07/2016 14:40

There are loads of innocent explanations!

DH sold my car for me shortly after I moved in with him, and the V5 would have shown it in my name at an address on the other side of London.
Nothing dodgy about it though...

My friend has her car registered to her mum's address so she can get a parking permit.

If you are worried, you could always just phone the seller and ask them why the names don't match up

Original poster
IceBeing · 18/07/2016 14:42

We would definitely phone the person on the log book but there isn't a number given. I guess we could write to them...but we don't really want to give our details out....
I suppose we could give them an email address?

OP posts:
Original poster
IceBeing · 18/07/2016 14:43

thank you for all the advice! MN is awesome!

There are certainly a lot of innocent explanations...but on the other hand the address registered is the other end of the country...and the person we bought from had a charge point in their house so they have had it for a while (electric car).

OP posts:
toadgirl · 18/07/2016 14:45

Don't know if this helps

www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk

AnaisWatterson · 18/07/2016 14:47

I honestly wouldn't worry.
He sounds like a trader, my oh us a trader, the cars are taxed, insured etc but the log books not in his name as he's not a "keeper". If you've hpi'd it and it's clear, it's not been reported stolen so your fine. My dh often sells on behalf of people, so again log book in friends name.
If you went to his house, have a receipt and preferably paid by transfer into his bank there's such a trail, it won't be stolen.

candybar007 · 18/07/2016 14:59

If you have the logbook in your name and the HPI check was clean then the seller was a small time dealer but you have absolutely nothing to worry about.
Ex small time car dealer helper here.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 18/07/2016 15:06

My brother transferred my father's car to me when my Dad died. My DB was executor so had authority to give me the car as part of my share of the estate and he would also have had authority to sell it. He was not listed as the registered keeper the ownership was transferred from my DDad's name to mine.

DiscoMoo · 18/07/2016 15:10

If the car was reported stolen, it would have a stolen marker on the DVLA record. If DVLA seemed unconcerned, you can safely assume that it hasn't been reported stolen.

I suppose it could have been stolen and not reported but that is unlikely.

sparechange · 18/07/2016 15:16

Presumably you have the number of the person you bought it from though?

Why don't you just phone them now, and say "I've just taken a closer look at the V5, and notice the address listed isn't where we picked the car up from. Can you explain why that is?"
If it is an innocent explanation, you'll get it and can thing nothing more about this.
If they sound panicked or make up something far fetched, you can make additional inquiries

candybar007 · 18/07/2016 15:31

Check the chassis number with that shown in the logbook. It will be found by either looking through the windscreen down at the dashboard, low down in one corner or the other OR by raising the bonnet. Small plate around 3" long.

AnotherPrickInTheWall · 18/07/2016 15:36

Thanks for the link toadgirl.