Money Moral Dilemma: Should I sell her my car?

colinlyne

I would suggest that you would be aiding and abetting and therefore committing a criminal offence.

screamin

Sell her the car.

You don't need a licence to own a car, you don't need insurance to own a car and you don't even legally need them to drive a car (she may be a part time banger racer).

The OP never even mentions she is planning on driving the car, she may be buying it for a relative, she may be planning on stripping it down for parts. There are plenty of cars worth more as parts than as a whole which may be why the offer was higher than the asking price.

You can not be "done" for allowing her to drive without insurance OR a licence as long as she is the legal owner which is once it is signed over, it is only if you are the registered keeper/owner where that situation would apply.

Just make sure all the V5 is completed and sent off (recommend you photocopy it before dispatch) and look out and save for the letter the DVLA will send acknowledging the change of keeper.

Give her a receipt and get her to sign your copy, sold as seen, no warranty included or implied OR even sold as spares or repair.

Make sure the money is legit (and not covered in baby oil) - smells of a scam itself, just wait for her to ask you to ship it to Africa and refund her the overpayment.

In todays second hand car market and economic climate I would definitely be selling, especially for more than I originally wanted but thats the most unbelievable part of the story in my eyes

oldnewhand

Lots of valid points for and against selling. Personally I don't think I could sell to someone Knowing that they intend to break the law. In the interests of harmony and getting shot of the car I think I would accept the £1500 - if she got her her license replaced; offering to help her do so and then buy her the insurance with the £850 extra I'd made (hoping to get it for less so I got something as well as peace of mind for my efforts)

tgroom57

She wants to buy the car.
Her comments regarding licence and insurance are irrelevant- because she hasn't said she will be driving the car herself.
She could just as easily be buying the car for someone else to use, and if pressed you can say thats what you assumed.

If the car already has tax and mot then all she has to get sorted is the insurance and apply for a replacement licence.

I would sell the car, taking particular care over the transfer of ownership forms - see screamin above. I would keep a copy before I send everything off.
I would also get her the forms to apply for a replacement licence, to help things along.
But I wouldn't buy her insurance, that is getting too far involved.

Although your neighbour made some careless remarks she can change her mind about getting insurance at any time. You must presume she will. (she sounds like a Gemini to me)

Better still, sell me the car for £650, then I can sell it to her. ;-)

Tianguis

Celyn wrote: »

Heavens, if she has enough money to offer £1500 for a £650 car, what's to stop her buying insurance like a normal driver? Oh yes, the lack of a licence, that's what. I assume road tax doesn't enter her plans either?

You are sufficiently worried to ask about this. So I'm thinking you sound like a person who would (rightly or wrongly) feel pretty bad if this unlicensed uninsured driver bashes into someone. I can see that it's socially tricky, what with keeping on good terms with your neighbour, but you would be enabling a couple of crimes there and you might not be happy to do that.

Awkward situation, really. If you DO sell her the car, you'll want to make damn sure that all legal transfer of ownership documents are done completely and properly.

I think it might be one of those occasions where the mere fact that you ask the question indicates that you do, really, know your own answer to this.

This is so true. I don't think she is being completely honest with you either but then that is only my opinion. If she was offering you half the money for the car...what would you think then...feel sorry for her? She is blatant about her intentions and as you clearly have a conscience...stay away from it and explain that the car may break down etc and you wouldn't want to fall out over it. SO doubt that she will transfer ownership and guess who's door the police will be knocking on?? What she does with her life is her business....do not get involved because it then becomes a part (and a worrying one) of your life. Seriously...do you need to carry the burden of being a potential accomplice should a serious accident occur?? You know the answer. I wish you luck. Neighbour relations can be a mine field. But as Celyn said..you know the answer already.

CrazyPhilCrazy

If your neighbour is not one for following rules, she probably won't fill in her part of the Vehicle Registration Document and send it back to the DVLA. Therefore in the eyes of the law, the car would still be legally yours (since she hasn't re-registered it in her name), you would still be held responsible for any parking or speeding fines that may occur when she's driving the car. Also, the DVLA will still be after you for the Road Tax and will probably fine YOU if it's not taxed. The police would also probably want to talk to you for not insuring the car either.

So my advice is steer clear of selling a car to someone who isn't likely to follow the rules. You know it's true that the law is an a***, and often seems to be on the side of the person that is in the wrong!

afletcher30

Sell her the car and then report her - simples

old_andrew2007

dont sell the car, she will buy one from someone else, then report the criminal

mentat72

Hmm, this is a good one..

Sell her the car, let the money clear, call the police, get the community action trust reward (£250?) for declaring an illegal driver, say you'll look after her flat while she's serving her time, rent it out, make sure they're out before she comes back, tidy her flat, she'll be happy, go out for dinner and make sure she pays.

She learns her lesson, she learns the value of money, you make a packet.

Everyone's a winner, actually, no, that'd be just you.

slickvic

Morally I wouldn't sell her the car, selling a vehicle to someone that you know does not have a licence however it has been "Lost" and knowing that they will NOT BE INSURE the vehicle is morally wrong, However to sell her the car and then infrom the police would ensure that the car would be impounded taking another uninsured unlicenced driver off the road, unlicenced uninsured drivers are a menace on the roads, not to sell her the car may make her decide to purchase one from someone else with no morals.