Help! Bought a stolen car

davidmaiden18183

TonyMMM wrote: »

Ground out VIN numbers can almost always be recovered using an acid process - filled and painted ones are even easier to read.

It sounds like from this and what the others saying that they will be able to ID the vehicle one way or another and that might be a drawn out process.

I guess then with that a reality the best I can hope for is the insurer has already settled and I can buy it back of them. They will obviously want what they paid out. I hear you can offer cheap and sometimes they will give it to you.

Thing is I assume it would then be Q plated (unknown origin/mileage/history), it would be difficult to sell on years later (it's recorded on the v5), might cost more to insure (can anyone confirm) and would probably have to pay for full assessment to check its fit for the road

When I've already lost £3400 is that likely to ever be a sensible option? -I'm not saying it would be a happy one for anyone buying a car twice

verityboo

There was a case shown on the TV where the insurers had paid out. The inoccent buyer of the stolen car (a Discovery I think) made the insurers an offer to buy the car back but could only afford about 10% of its valve. The insurers still accepted so although they paid a bit extra they didn't loose everything!

davidmaiden18183

verityboo wrote: »

There was a case shown on the TV where the insurers had paid out. The inoccent buyer of the stolen car (a Discovery I think) made the insurers an offer to buy the car back but could only afford about 10% of its valve. The insurers still accepted so although they paid a bit extra they didn't loose everything!

I've heard this also, just don't know practically how easy it is or will be to contact the insurer, or even if getting the vehicle back on a q plate is even worth it.

vax2002

If they can not identify the car as stolen they must give it back to you if you have DEMANDED not asked DEMANDED in writing that this is the case, also to do this you must not "consent" to the car been taken away, you must only allow them to do so by way of Law.
Otherwise they keep it and sell it at auction.
The key is not to sign any forms giving consent, insist they take it under force of law if it is to be removed.
If they can not identify the keeper or the car, then you get it back and can apply for a new registration.
This may go against your grain, but do not do the polices job for them and you may get it back.
Otherwise you loose the car and your money.

s_b

you did most things correct apart from obviously meeting the seller in a garage forecourt,even autotrader advise against this or they did
basically if car can be identified then insurer normally takes it off you because put simply its easier,you could make an offer but it would need to be at least 1/3 of payout made to original owner
i would expect it would flag as needing a vic check and also be categorised as a cat c seeing as numbers tampered with,this would also do away with a Q registration that is now only used in very few applications and would not be needed anyway if vehicle identified
if there is no way the vehicle original identification can be found then i would expect the police to seize it but theres so many build dates built into modern cars that a simple case of deduction would be able to tie it down to a week or a month and then with cross identification and marks on car etc the original owner would be found
of course you shouldnt be driving this car either because it has invalid road tax it cant be insured and the plates dont fit for identification purposes

i can only add if you had purchased from a good local established motor trader with a reputation to keep then the trader would make good your loss because he would make a claim against the person or persons who sold this clone be it an auction house or another trader because lets be honest here crime helps noone who is legit

s_b

vax2002 wrote: »

If they can not identify the car as stolen they must give it back to you if you have DEMANDED not asked DEMANDED in writing that this is the case, also to do this you must not "consent" to the car been taken away, you must only allow them to do so by way of Law.
Otherwise they keep it and sell it at auction.
The key is not to sign any forms giving consent, insist they take it under force of law if it is to be removed.
If they can not identify the keeper or the car, then you get it back and can apply for a new registration.
This may go against your grain, but do not do the polices job for them and you may get it back.
Otherwise you loose the car and your money.

they will take the car for inspection though
also remember the stolen vehicles departments were just about all disassembled
last time i got lumped with a stolen clone a vosa official came to my works, i dont think they have the manpower to do this anymore

vax2002

They will "request" to take the vehicle, this is a consent required move.
Now if you you refuse to consent, the police can take it as evidence, they do this and you get it back if they can not prove its identity.
It can be hard to be obstinate, but sometimes you have to put your own interests ahead of others.

davidmaiden18183

Thanks for the comments guys and vax2002 for your word,

I will bare that in mind. So when the police/vosa call to want the vehicle I need to say no and ask there address to write them off a letter post haste.

davidmaiden18183

s_b wrote: »

they will take the car for inspection though
also remember the stolen vehicles departments were just about all disassembled
last time i got lumped with a stolen clone a vosa official came to my works, i dont think they have the manpower to do this anymore

So are you saying they ight not have the manpower and resources now to delved too deep to ascertaining correct identifiers of the vechicle- potentially as soon as they have to go back to the manufacturer for them to check part serial databases etc it gets more difficult that acids etching or removing where they have filled the VIN.

davidmaiden18183

s_b wrote: »

i would expect it would flag as needing a vic check and also be categorised as a cat c seeing as numbers tampered with,this would also do away with a Q registration that is now only used in very few applications and would not be needed anyway if vehicle identified
add if you had purchased from a good local established motor trader

Can anyone else comment on what th future would likely hold if the insurer has paid out already and the car returned to the road - is it likely a Q plate or cat C ...or both

What is the impact on insurance with either? I guess there would be a fee to get either back on the road and tested.