Help ! I have V5 but no car

motherofstudents

I am hoping that people who are a lot more knowledgeable about cars than I am might be able to help. On 25 April I went to my local Vauxhall dealership to buy a new car. They said they didn't have it in the colour I wanted but could get it in black which was extra for metallic paint. I said I wouldn't pay any more and they agreed. I feel that I did ok on the deal and they said it would arrive in 7 to 10 days. I paid a £500 pound deposit on CC. So, on 30 April the salesman rang to ask me to phone a number to arrange the free 7 day drive away insurance. He taxed the car that day and said I could pick it up midweek. I heard nothing so rang them on the Friday (last week). He told me the car had been delayed at customs but the transporter would be coming late Monday/early Tuesday (today). So far I have heard nothing. I received the V5 last week. I would like to know what to do if they fob me off again and say it's fallen off the transporter (or similar excuse). Can I cancel it at this stage and will they refund the deposit ? What about the V5 saying I am the first owner ? Can I send it back to DVLA and say I have never owned the car and haven't even seen it ? I wouldn't mind waiting if it had not already been registered, or if they had told me the truth. Can anybody help ?

Tilt

I didn't know that they could register a car before actually taking possesion of it. As far as I know they need all the docs which actually come with the car. I think I would be checking these points with the DVLA to be sure but something certanly ain't right here.

harveybobbles

It seems odd that they have reg'd the car without you actually taking delivery of it. Maybe it was a way of the saleteam hitting their targets and they reg'd it in the hope that the car was delivered!

Naughty to be honest! but I'd keep hold of the docs. If you don't want the car then you are in a VERY good position to try top get extra money out of them in return for the Reg doc...

Road_Hog

Tilt wrote: »

I didn't know that they could register a car before actually taking possesion of it. As far as I know they need all the docs which actually come with the car. I think I would be checking these points with the DVLA to be sure but something certanly ain't right here.

Of course they can register it, all the details will have been supplied to the dealership from Vauxhall head office. To the OP, no you can't just send the V5 back.

So the car has been delayed at customs (or even just at the port, logistical problems etc.). He told you it'll be here today and at 11:15am, you're threatenting to refuse the car? There's a little more to buying a car than there is to buying a toaster or some flat pack furniture, have some patience.

Road_Hog

harveybobbles wrote: »

It seems odd that they have reg'd the car without you actually taking delivery of it. Maybe it was a way of the saleteam hitting their targets and they reg'd it in the hope that the car was delivered!

Naughty to be honest! but I'd keep hold of the docs. If you don't want the car then you are in a VERY good position to try top get extra money out of them in return for the Reg doc...

It's not odd and it's not naughty, it is how the industry works. The price you got was probably dependent on the car being registered in April.

Please people, if you have no understanding of how the car industry works, please refrain from scaremongering.

Please also note that the saleman told the OP that he was going to tax the car on 30th April, you can't tax an unregistered car, the tax disc needs a registration number (as does the vehicle).

Tilt

Road_Hog wrote: »

Of course they can register it, all the details will have been supplied to the dealership from Vauxhall head office. To the OP, no you can't just send the V5 back.

So the car has been delayed at customs (or even just at the port, logistical problems etc.). He told you it'll be here today and at 11:15am, you're threatenting to refuse the car? There's a little more to buying a car than there is to buying a toaster or some flat pack furniture, have some patience.

Oh, obviously changed then since I worked at a dealership. We had to actually have all the paperwork to hand and all the vin numbers ect had to all be checked before we could register a car, But thanks for putting me straight.

motherofstudents

Yes, as I said I am no expert about buying cars that's why I posted on here ! And the reason for doing it today is because if they ring me today or tomorrow to say it is still not here, I would be prepared and know what to say to them. I just think it is a bad way to do business to say that I could pick the car up last week, then this week and I have no idea where it is. Obviously it exists because I have the reg no and the V5. It just reinforces the stereotype of car salesmen/women, they will promise anything till they have your money.

molerat

Now you know how people end up with a car that does not tally with the V5 info.

Road_Hog

Tilt wrote: »

Oh, obviously changed then since I worked at a dealership. We had to actually have all the paperwork to hand and all the vin numbers ect had to all be checked before we could register a car, But thanks for putting me straight.

It changed an awful lot in the 20 years I worked for a manufacturer. But the manufacturer can supply all the details as soon as the stuff leaves the factory and the info is on the shipping list.

Road_Hog

motherofstudents wrote: »

It just reinforces the stereotype of car salesmen/women, they will promise anything till they have your money.

Selling cars isn't a fun business, the margins on new cars are miniscule* and the pressure to hit monthly targets is tremendous. It's not the person, it's the job. But do hang on, he said today and we're only halfway through, so he hasn't broken his word yet.


*Profits are made elsewhere in the dealership.

motherofstudents

yeah, I know...I'm not really blaming the sales person, he was ok but why can't they just say, look the car will take a few weeks to get here rather than saying you can pick it up next Tuesday which turns to Wednesday, which then becomes the following week.....And I have never had the V5 before the car. He hasn't let me down yet, if it arrives anytime this week I will post on here and grovel:)