Abandoned Landrover?

Inspectorlund_2

Hi all

For over 3 weeks now there has been a Landrover parked at the end of my road, which I have been keeping an eye on. It hasn't moved in that time. It's M reg and looks to be in reasonable condition, with a couple of nice accessories like a snorkel, bull bar, full length roofrack etc etc, plus a number of Wolf storage boxes inside.

It doesn't have a tax disc and a couple of weeks ago I wrote a note along the lines of 'if you don't want this vehicle any more can we have a chat - here's my phone number?' and put it under the windscreen wiper - interestingly the note has stayed there untouched ever since.

Being a lover of Landrovers, I am beginning to wish it was mine!

I believe there is some kind of rule that allows anyone to apply to DVLA to get a logbook of an apparently abandoned vehicle transferred into their name, but DVLA will not get involved in any subsequent disputes if the original owner resurfaces.

My question - anyone have any experience of doing this?

Thanks

Strider590

Stolen perhaps, or has been declared SORN and the owner has nowhere to keep it?

TrickyWicky

Ring the police first and see if its stolen. If not there did indeed used to be a clause in the law where you could claim the vehicle if you believed it to be abandoned and couldn't after reasonable enquiries trace the owner. The last I heard of that law was over 15 years ago so you'll need to do some research on it but I remember hearing that the police didn't like getting involved and enforcing it.

Grey area, do your research. I suspect you'll need to look at some dedicated motoring sites rather than an all rounder like MSE.

Inspectorlund_2

Thanks for that.

TrickyWicky wrote: »

I suspect you'll need to look at some dedicated motoring sites rather than an all rounder like MSE.

Yes indeed - have ccd and pasted and done just that!! Posting on MSE to cast the net wide.

System

A lack of VED disc does not mean it is abandoned. The best that you can hope is becoming the registered keeper but not the owner.

You should report it to the council/DVLA.

Premier_2

Inspectorlund wrote: »

Hi all

For over 3 weeks now there has been a Landrover parked at the end of my road, which I have been keeping an eye on. It hasn't moved in that time. It's M reg and looks to be in reasonable condition, with a couple of nice accessories like a snorkel, bull bar, full length roofrack etc etc, plus a number of Wolf storage boxes inside.

It doesn't have a tax disc and a couple of weeks ago I wrote a note along the lines of 'if you don't want this vehicle any more can we have a chat - here's my phone number?' and put it under the windscreen wiper - interestingly the note has stayed there untouched ever since.

Being a lover of Landrovers, I am beginning to wish it was mine!

I believe there is some kind of rule that allows anyone to apply to DVLA to get a logbook of an apparently abandoned vehicle transferred into their name, but DVLA will not get involved in any subsequent disputes if the original owner resurfaces.

My question - anyone have any experience of doing this?

Thanks

I know exactly what you mean.
I see my neighbour has a magnificent Plasma tv in their living room, and I too am beginning to wish it was mine!

Thing is, they haven't been there for the last 2 weeks (and I'm sure they are not coming back next week either).
Anyway, I put a note through their door saying if they don't want their TV, could we have a chat?
Unsurprisingly they haven't responded yet.

If they don't respond within the next 7 days, do you think I could just break in and help myself??? :cool:

Do you think they'll mind when they get back from their Honeymoon if I go ahead with this?

mikey72

!!!!!! wrote: »

A lack of VED disc does not mean it is abandoned. The best that you can hope is becoming the registered keeper but not the owner.

You should report it to the council/DVLA.

I only ever buy cars from the registered keeper.
If it's not their name on the v5, I don't care if they tell me they're the "owner", or not.
I'm not chasing someone else for the paperwork.
I've never made anyone should me a witnessed bill of sale to prove they bought it and own it either.
v5 is enough every time.

TrickyWicky

Premier wrote: »

I know exactly what you mean.
I see my neighbour has a magnificent Plasma tv in their living room, and I too am beginning to wish it was mine!

Thing is, they haven't been there for the last 2 weeks (and I'm sure they are not coming back next week either).
Anyway, I put a note through their door saying if they don't want their TV, could we have a chat?
Unsurprisingly they haven't responded yet.

If they don't respond within the next 7 days, do you think I could just break in and help myself??? :cool:

Do you think they'll mind when they get back from their Honeymoon if I go ahead with this?

Except there was a legitimate law that allowed you to seize an abandoned vehicle years ago. That may have been repealled but it was legal years ago so don't ridicule it just yet.

I suspect these days its more profitable for the authorities to do the seizures themselves but it might still be legal. If no-one in the area is owning up to owning it then its entirely possible that it could legally be seized by a member of the public.

neilmcl

Report it to your local council and the DVLA. There'll probably be a link on your council's website for abandoned vehicles. I did this last year for a car that was left on our road for over a month, within a week of reporting it had gone.

System

Removal and Disposal of Vehicle Regulations 1986 seems to imply that only the police and local authority have authority to declare a vehicle abandoned and remove it.
If the vehicle is on private land then that is a different kettle of fish and you could probably claim it after attempting to contact last known keeper etc.

mikey72

neilmcl wrote: »

Report it to your local council and the DVLA. There'll probably be a link on your council's website for abandoned vehicles. I did this last year for a car that was left on our road for over a month, within a week of reporting it had gone.

That would mean a council employee driving it now, rather than the op.