Buying Car - V5 Registered Keeper is a 'Company'

efunc

Hi all,

I'm about to buy a car privately and managed to look at the V5, but the seller's name and address is not present. Instead it's his 'Company' name. The seller is selling this car privately and has been the owner for 2 years. However he owns a car leasing company with a small fleet. As such he has company car insurance which covers many cars at no extra cost. He privately owns 3 cars, not connected to his core business, however because they are insured under his company scheme it is his LTD Company and (previous) company address that appear on the V5, not him. How on earth do I go about exchanging documents and verifying that he's the owner? Anybody encountered this?

thanks for any help.

rich13348

Well for a start a V5C is not proof of ownership merely the registered keeper. If you are really bothered about it ask for a proof of purchase for when he bought the car and get a full HPI check too.

efunc

I've bought the RAC Vehicle Check (RAC CAR PASSPORT) and it's all clear, no warning flags. But I thought the golden rule was to never buy a used car from anywhere other than the address on the V5 and from the individual named on the V5. I cannot verify any of this so I'm not sure where it leaves me, in case someone else at the company says it's not for sale, for example, or any other scenario

Aretnap

Check whether he's a director of the company. (It's free online - Google companies house) If so you can assume that he has the authority to sell it on behalf of thecompany especially if he's the only director.

Hintza

OP if you are this worried about it then just walk away, simple.

xHannahx

efunc wrote: »

I've bought the RAC Vehicle Check (RAC CAR PASSPORT) and it's all clear, no warning flags. But I thought the golden rule was to never buy a used car from anywhere other than the address on the V5 and from the individual named on the V5. I cannot verify any of this so I'm not sure where it leaves me, in case someone else at the company says it's not for sale, for example, or any other scenario

So you never buy from a trader/dealer? Their name is never on a V5. That's the most ridiculous golden rule I've heard!

Rain_Shadow

efunc wrote: »

I've bought the RAC Vehicle Check (RAC CAR PASSPORT) and it's all clear, no warning flags. But I thought the golden rule was to never buy a used car PRIVATELY from anywhere other than the address on the V5 and from the individual named on the V5. I cannot verify any of this so I'm not sure where it leaves me, in case someone else at the company says it's not for sale, for example, or any other scenario

xHannahx wrote: »

So you never buy from a trader/dealer? Their name is never on a V5. That's the most ridiculous golden rule I've heard!

The OP missed out one word. That is good advice.


In this case if the seller can be shown to have the authority to act for the company then it shouldn't be a problem.

efunc

Well it's a private sale as originally stated. I checked companies house and the sellers name doesn't appear there, only someone else's who appears to be his girlfriend. I guess I need to see him produce something like a company check book or credit card at least.

efunc

My RAC CAR PASSPORT also states, in in T&Cs, that its garantee is only valid if I do the following when I purchase the car:

-Confirm that the other details provided in the RAC Car History Check match those of the vehicle and the vehicle registration certificate (V5C).
-Confirm the full name of the seller of the vehicle and verify this by checking their passport or driving licence.
-Confirm the address of the seller of the vehicle and verify this by checking a utility bill.

All of these are different here, but it's his car, so how do I go about checking? Anyone buying a used car privately gone through this?

Car_54

The OP should ask the "owner" to see the invoice for the car.

If that is in the "owner's" name, then no problem. If it's in the company's, then he should get an invoice from the company and make his payment to it, i.e. by cheque or bank transfer rather than cash to the "owner".

efunc

Yes, the invoice is to the company and it has a female name, not the man that is selling the car. I could ask to pay the funds into her account.

...However I have bigger problems after doing some RAC / Audi car checks on this and will create a new thread about that.