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Original poster

Didn't register myself as owning my car

28 replies

Catastrophising · 28/10/2018 08:44

I'm not sure where to post this but hopefully here will do? Name changed as well although not sure why!

I traded my car in a couple of years ago and bought another second hand one from a reputable chain of garages.
I have just moved house and was talking to a friend about all the things I needed to change over when I realised I never legally registered myself as the owner of this car. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety at the time and was not coping at all well with life admin.

I have a tendency to anxiously catastrophise situations and have convinced myself that that this is an awful crime, that I'll have queues of bailiffs at my door for a dartcharge I forgot to pay last year, hundreds of speeding tickets I didn't respond to and will ultimately lose my driving license and then my job as have to drive for it. Also envisaged court appearances - basically I am imagining that my life is over.

Can anyone give me an idea of what I am really facing and what the best way to go about resolving this is? The panic of what might be is currently preventing me doing anything to fix it!

OP posts:
LIZS · 28/10/2018 08:49

Did the seller not send it off? Has it been taxed etc?

Hemlock2013 · 28/10/2018 08:52

Yes the garage selling it to you send off the slip to the dvla. So if you get speeding ticket or anything it’s not on them.., don’t panic. X

Evalina · 28/10/2018 08:52

The garage probably updated DVLA with the ownership details. If they didn't then had there been any fines etc, they would have received them and probably contacted you or told DVLA that they had sold the car to you. So it should be fine. Just contact them to check they have you down as the owner, and that you have paid road tax and if not get that paid asap.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 28/10/2018 08:53

How have you managed to tax/ insure it then?

GreenTulips · 28/10/2018 08:54

Did you not get a log book through the post? How have you taxed and insured the car since then?

reallybadidea · 28/10/2018 08:56

Don't panic! This happened to me a couple of years ago and it wasn't a big deal. The dealer is supposed to send off the form to send it and give you a slip (think it's the V5C/2). If this didn't happen then you can fill in this form www.gov.uk/government/publications/application-for-a-vehicle-registration-certificate and send to the DVLA. If you don't have the V5C/2 (?) then you have to pay a fee.

If there were unpaid parking/speeding tickets then these would have been sent to the person who sold the car and I'm sure that they would have made sure that you were aware!

Original poster
Catastrophising · 28/10/2018 09:07

I have been taxing and insuring it - wasn't ever asked for any evidence I owned it? Is my insurance probably invalid at the moment until I resolve this?

I remember the garage giving me something and saying I had to send it off, and that I didn't, so had assumed that made it my responsibility?

OP posts:
LIZS · 28/10/2018 09:11

What prompted you to tax it? You show v5 (?) if in person or need to be registered online.

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 28/10/2018 09:27

The insurers will have asked you if you’re the registered keeper. They have to make sure you have an insurable interest in the car- otherwise I could insure my neighbours car and make a claim when they have it stolen!

PattiStanger · 28/10/2018 09:30

Good point about the tax, if you've been taxing it you need something in your name to be able to do it now don't you?

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 28/10/2018 09:31

Maybe you have done it and just don’t remember?

onlyonmumnet · 28/10/2018 09:31

The insurers don't care actually if you're the registered keeper. I was (accidentally) not the registered keeper of my car. I only found out when the police stopped me during a routine check. It was insured and taxed. The problem came when the tax needed renewed.

It's really easy to sort and not actually that big a deal ( the police's own words).

Go to post office and fill in a form. Pay 25 quid. Sorted. 

onlyonmumnet · 28/10/2018 09:32

So if you've been managing to tax it all must be okay

PattiStanger · 28/10/2018 09:33

I don't think you do need to be the registered keeper to insure a car but you'd have to show you own it.

80sMum · 28/10/2018 09:36

If you've taxed it, then DVLA must have it registered in your name, so all ok. Maybe you lost the V5?

reallybadidea · 28/10/2018 09:43

Just call the DVLA and ask. If you've got evidence that you paid for the car and are attempting to sort out the registration issue, I think it's unlikely that your insurance would be void. Otherwise nobody would be insured until they had their new registration document and wouldn't be able to drive their new car home.

Beamur · 28/10/2018 09:49

If you were still the registered owner and the new owner had got speeding tickets, these would have been sent directly to you.
Just call the DVLA I think you'll find this is easier than you fear to sort out.

HeyThoughIWalk · 28/10/2018 10:00

I'd ring the DVLA in the morning, and see what they say. They can probably check the details for you. If there's a problem, they'll tell you what you need to do.

If it's been taxed and insured, though, I wouldn't worry too much. In my experience, they're not too bothered about honest mistakes, as long as you put out right ASAP. I doubt you're going to jail!

GreenTulips · 28/10/2018 10:09

The insurers don't care actually if you're the registered keeper

Yes they do! You cant insure something you don't own.

They would refuse to pay out in an accident or theft

You were lucky

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 28/10/2018 11:54

Of course they care if you own it! You think they’re going to pay out to a random who has suffered no financial loss on a car?

PattiStanger · 28/10/2018 11:56

You're confusing the two things, insurers care that you have an insurable interest but you don't have to be the registered keeper. Owner and registered keeper don't have to be the same person

PrincessTwilightStoleMyToddler · 28/10/2018 12:01

The insurers care if you own the car but the v5 doesn’t prove ownership. It shows you are the registered keeper.

OP - please try not to panic. I had this a few years ago, it was quite easily sorted - I just rang the dvla and filled in a form.

AnnieOH1 · 28/10/2018 12:09

To tax it you've presumably received the V5C, which will be in your name over this length of time. In any event the registration isn't proof of ownership. For at least the last 5 years it is the responsibility of the seller to complete and send off the old registration document with the buyer's information to DVLA. You will be absolutely fine.

Original poster
Catastrophising · 28/10/2018 14:10

Thank you all so much I feel a lot better! Will give the DVLA a call in the morning and hopefully it will be easily resolved...

OP posts:
birdladyfromhomealone · 28/10/2018 17:34

We part x our car in the spring and the dealer said he would sort out all the paperwork with the DVLA.
He didnt and we received a fine of £60

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