Private car seller - proof of ownership?

StrangelyBrown

Hi,

I've never bought a car from a private seller before so the answer may be obvious, but I'll ask anyway.

When buying a car from a private seller, how do you satisfactorily get them to prove that they're entitled to sell the car?
I know the V5 matching their name and address is a good start, but it's not proof.

I'm looking to buy a car from a guy who says he's selling it on behalf of his old Mum who can't drive any more due to a stroke. He seems genuine and has the V5 and MOT paperwork etc.
But what do I need to ask for to make sure he's entitled to sell me the car?

Does his Mum need to sign anything? What if she's incapable? What would happen if I bought the car in good faith, then it later turned out that his dear old Mum had no idea and reports it stolen?!

mikey72

I'd be interested in this answer.
I never ask to see anything other than the v5, that's enough for me if everything else is ok.

bengalknights

As long as all the paperwork etc is transferred and you obtain a "receipt" there would be no comeback against you for stolen vehicle.

Just make sure you keep the part that says new owner.

Tremour-88

I recently brought a car from a dealer who sells it for other people, they charge a £99 fee and they'll sell your car for you.

The logbook was all in good order and the owner of the car signed it before he gave the dealer the car, I made an offer the guy called up the owner, he agreed so I signed the book and paid, job done.

You can sell someone elses car providing the V5C is signed, (you may have to call up the DVLA to ask in your case), just make sure you get a receipt from them, for mine I paid £1400 cash and £100 on CC (Not sure if S75 protection includes buying 2nd hand cars does it?).

StrangelyBrown

bengalknights wrote: »

As long as all the paperwork etc is transferred and you obtain a "receipt" there would be no comeback against you for stolen vehicle.

Are you sure? If someone 'sold' my car without my knowledge, I'd expect the police to go and recover it for me!

StrangelyBrown

Tremour-88 wrote: »

the owner of the car signed it before he gave the dealer the car

This is what I'm wondering - if the true owner (his Mum) is incapable of signing documents because of her age/stroke etc. then do I just take his word for it?
Don't really want to march him round to his Mum's to get her to sign stuff or grant him Power of Attorney haha!

TrickyWicky

Sounds a bit iffy to me. I did buy a car from someone a year or so ago which was in a similar situation but both people were there.

The bloke was selling the car but it was registered to his girlfriend. He had advertised it and he was the one I paid for it but she was the one it was registered to and she was the one who signed the V5. Had she of not been there, I would of walked away.

Joe_Horner

StrangelyBrown wrote: »

Are you sure? If someone 'sold' my car without my knowledge, I'd expect the police to go and recover it for me!

They will, but at least you won't find yourself being charged with receiving if you've got paperwork to show you bought in good faith.

There's virtually no way to prove ownership of a car in the UK, about the nearest you could get is a full trail of receipts for every time it's been sold since new and that's not likely to happen. So the best you have is the V5 and your "feel" for the seller. It's probably legit but, if you feel uneasy, then look for another car.

StrangelyBrown

Joe_Horner wrote: »

They will, but at least you won't find yourself being charged with receiving if you've got paperwork to show you bought in good faith.

A bit more Googling suggests that I'd have the car taken off me, as the genuine owner's insurer would now technically own the car and if I wanted to keep it I'd have to buy it (again) from them.

So I'd not be charged but I would be out of pocket!

Like you say, I don't think he's a scam artist but I wanted to know if I should insist on getting something from his Mum or if that's just insensitive and going too far!

Squiggybank

Is the car clear of finance? Might be worth a HPI check or similar.

mikey72

StrangelyBrown wrote: »

................ but I wanted to know if I should insist on getting something from his Mum or if that's just insensitive and going too far!

Both I think.

I've never bought a second hand car anyone could prove they owned.

I don't even know if it was the owner selling it. What do you do, ask to see their passport? All I know is (most of the time) they were the right sex. Unless it was their wife's car, then it's not unexpected to deal with the husband.
A lot of posters do advocate the v5 is not proof of ownership, but I've never found anything that stands up.