Buying a car from Police Auction. What problems may I encounter??

bobbentos

Local to me there is an Auction House that specialises in Government/Police Auctions. The stuff on sale here is goods seized by Inland Revenue (such as Cars, Computers, machinery etc from companies that have gone bust owing the Government (Inland Revenue)). There's also lots of stuff from the Police, such as Goods confiscated under the proceeds of crime act etc, Such as Jewelery, Computers & Cars etc. This is an established auction House fully Authorised by the Police to sell their goods. !Obviously some of the Vehicles sold by The Police are vehicles that have been seized or possibly stolen recovered???

In the Auction, amongst other lots, every month there are about 40 cars. The vast Majority of the cars come with something missing (ie, no keys, No Log Book, etc).!

My question is this:

There is a car. It is a lovely specimen. It is a SAAB 9-3, with the Reg No MF59TZS
!
You buy the car on the following conditions;
No MOT
No Tax
No Log Book

So, what do I have to do to make this vehicle road legal if I buy it? I have done some homework and guess that I can apply for a new Log Book from DVLA. So, when I have the log book, what is to stop me selling the car on next year? How am I fixed with the Manufacturers warranty (considering the car's History)?. I have checked the Reg no on my iPhone (My car check), and the vehicle comes up as a legitimate car that matches the car on sale and as listed. So, what problems could I encounter if I bought this vehicle? Thanks all.!

paddedjohn

If you buy it you will need to apply for the v5 and you can do whatever you want with it. You dont have to worry about mot as its not required until its 3yrs old and as soon as its insured you can tax it and drive away. Make sure you get the master key with the car unless you are getting an absolute bargain.
Be prepared to be pulled by the police as it may have a marker on the car as it may have been used in criminal activities before siezure (a private plate may be a good idea).

bobbentos

Thanks for that advice.
1. I never even considered the key situation. I'm guessing that will be a few quid.

2. If I put it on a private Reg, will that stop me from getting regularly stopped because of a possible marker that may of been on the Vehicle?

3. Is the car still under warranty? I ask that because I suspect there may be some small print somewhere that says the warranty is invalid if the car was seized etc.

4. What if the vehicle was previously stolen but recovered by the Police? And if it was could there still be outstanding finance or loans left to pay on it???

5. What EXACTLY does a HPI check confirm?

Thanks

mcjordi

HPI it chances are its still got finance on it..

private plate is a good idea as the "criminal" could be on the look out for the car

its less than 3 so no mot needed anyway
new log book is £25 send of reciept from auction with the application
Keys are a dear do unless you get one with the car

victor2

"Procceds of crime" items are goods which have been confiscated as they were purchased with ill-gotten gains, not stolen or obtained directly by criminal activity. As such, they have no record attached to them, but still they could have been used illegally, such as without insurance. Once you insure it, that alert would disappear though.
Not sure what happens with recovered stolen cars as presumably the original owner cannot be traced.
As already mentioned though, getting a private plate would help prevent other undesirable elements spotting the car. Fairly meaningless plates can be obtained pretty cheaply.

Invalidation

There used to be a car yard in Cochester that sold on cars seized by Customs & Excise. These had been seezind for smuggling extra ciggies or booze or whatever. We bought 2 cars from this place. Great cars. No problems with paperwork. Only roblem was the cars wer usuall internally in a mess.
The original owners stuff was quite often still in it. But great cars all the same

Doozergirl

IIRC, you have to wait for the the V5C to come back before you can tax the car, so you may have to SORN it and tuck it away until you can get it road legal.

We bought a car that was repossessed, it did sit on the drive for a bit before we could drive it. One key etc, warranty will be valid as long as it's been serviced correctly - it may not have even been due one yet!

Kilty_2

I'd definitely put a private reg on it TBH - might not help with any markers (they'd go with the car I think) but means any undesireables wouldn't recognise the car.

Can buy one for about £150 from https://www.r4v.co.uk if you aren't bothered about what it actually says (old suffix plates ie ABC 123D)

smitchy73

Any private plate when registered with DVLA will replace the current registration, but when ANPR checks are done it although registered with your private plate, I think it still links to the original reg.
Also if you do get stopped for any markers being on the car etc, if you travel with the documents from the auction house, that should be enough to prove it is legit, plus being insured and taxed helps too.
Don't think any criminals would come after you for buying their car's seized under proceeds of crime act as there is a good chance their in the nick most likely, and the only other way would be if there was something hidden in the car, drugs or money, but if the police had checked out the car probably this would already have been found.

Flyboy152

Hmm.....perhaps the drug smuggler coming back for his stash, would be a worry for me, or forensics not finishing their job properly (body in the boot, anyone?).

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

goldspanners

private reg is the way to go here.
most criminals will have enemies, you don't want them mistaking you for the original owner or even presuming you work for orignal owner.