Buying a used car V5 / Log Book Question

ITtim

I've been looking for a used car for my girlfriend and found a perfect car. its £400 and i've put down £50 as a deposit.

The only reason i havent paid in full is that the person i'm buying the car from is not the registered owner. apparently they are selling it on her sisters behlaf.

The V5/Log Book is on its way from the sister to them in the post with her details filled out ready for sale to me.

I've no reason to doubt the validity of the car, an hpi/vic check shows no problems. However i'd be much happier if I were buying the car from the registered owner and not the people currently looking after the car.

is there any checks i can do to ensure the registered owner knows about the car and wants to sell it?, i had heard that i can obtain a list of owners from the dvla is this true?

thanks for your time.

Hintza

If it was a £4k I would probably be a little worried. For £400 I might just let it pass. Does it feel right? Or are they dodging any questions?

Bit late now if you have already left a deposit, that can be counted as lost if you change your mind.

ITtim

well everything seems to check out, i have no reason to suspect its stolen.

Check came out clear
its obvious they have been using the car
certainly not had the number plates changed.

obviously i'll check the vin ect on the v5 when it comes but i would prefer to be dealing with the registered owner.

Although not fool proof i guess i can call the person on the registered document and get them to recite the address its registered too.

hewhoisnotintheknow

i dont think any one would try to pull a scam off for £400

how about ask for her name and adress then find her phone number and ring

How far away does she live, can you not go see her?

TiTheRev

If it's a VW or Audi I can check the reg to see if it's still registered, and if it's been to a dealer anytime recently it will have the owners details...

ITtim

could i obtain the phone number without asking the person i'm giving the cash too? if thats possible then that would put my mind at rest.

i'm planning on speaking with him this evening. if she's not too far away then i shall ask to go see her, however i imagine she must of reasonable distance for them to have posted the log/v5

ITtim

thanks Titi, not on the mattress thread?

sadly its a saxo but thanks for the offer.

TiTheRev

Cars are actually my thing, but help out with the Mattress thread when I can

Wig

Check the V5 is genuine, there's a DVLA watermark all over them.

Check here the car is still registered click on "vehicle enquiry"

You could make a cheque payable to the registered keeper? Might have to wait for it to clear before you can take the car.

ITtim

thanks wig, its all looking fine on dvla's website. i guess i could insist he registers the car in his name and then purchase from him but presumably that would take weeks.

TiTheRev

...and adds a previous owner to the history, which some people take as being an indication of how good a car is...less owners = happy driving in theory!