Unusual Vehicle History

jaybeetoo

Iceweasel wrote: »

Reverting to the original number does not normally add to the number of keepers.

That's been my experience as well. Perhaps it us down to how you notify the DVLA (clutching at straws)???

straighttalker

I've always had a private plate on my cars. It's never added an owner onto my V5. Maybe people have been using the wrong forms?

s_b

straighttalker wrote: »

I've always had a private plate on my cars. It's never added an owner onto my V5. Maybe people have been using the wrong forms?

its done with lectonicky now rather than people in the valleys pushing buttons
hopefully it will all come good soon see
davids thinking of selling it you know (your leader)
i wonders who would buy buy such informations

GabbaGabbaHey

Iceweasel wrote: »

Fair enough - but that's that's not been my experience on more than 10 changes.

Have to agree with this. A "CT" (Cherished Transfer) on the V5 for any of my cars has never increased the number of owners.

BeenThroughItAll

Nor me here. Quick straw poll around office and not one of my colleagues has ever had an owner added by a plate transfer, and nor have I in at least 10 transfers.

AdrianC

efunc wrote: »

The V5 I saw showed two owners, and they were both the same person. i.e., the first owner transferred it back to himself as the 'new' owner. I was told this related to the fact that it reverted to its original number plate. Is this not correct?

It is not normal, but it is feasible. DVLA have been known to drop a clanger.

The MOT history itself is odd. YF55 UPA only has one entry for December 2015, while the bulk of the car's MOT history is under a separate search on W90 RUS (2008 - 2014). I guess this can happen, but normally you see all the history under the current registration number.

That's entirely expected - the MOT history tracker doesn't seem to cope with plate changes well at all.

At the end of the day it's an old car

Well, no, not particularly. It's an 11yo Merc. It's still worth a good few grand. There are plenty out there - if anything about any particular car gives you the wobbles, look on.

jimjames

I'd be very wary of a car that had zero history of servicing for the last 5 years if it was one I wanted to keep and wasn't one I was running into the ground soon. Generally someone doing their own work will keep the receipts for parts so you have some record. It can get lost with changes of keeper but it could equally be that no work was done other than bits to get through MOT.

efunc

Yes, I agree, I couldn't quite fathom it hence my post here. It's 7 years if you discount that weird 'recovery centre' stamp in the last entry. And yet there's only been one owner of this car throughout, and he's clearly had stuff done in the last few years such as new brakes, suspension coil, tyres, etc. But no paper work other than the MOT history that I can access online. The car drove well though (in my untrained assessment) so I guess it would have had it's oil changes over the years surely?

I just didn't understand the absence of history and wondered if this was common. As it stands I'll skip this car as it's too high risk. A shame since it's low mileage and has nice extras like xenon lights, parking sensors, heated leather, low miles, upgraded stereo, etc at a lowish price. If anything it's the trader who puts me off. He was dismissive of all my questions and couldn't really be too bothered. Not a great sign.

k3lvc

I'd be doing some digging if you like the car (and well specced C320 estates are getting rare now) - could it be that it's been owned by someone at Gateshead Recovery Centre - either personally or via the business. As a laugh a quick google of this brought up a Drug Rehabilitation Centre on Team Valley so look out for needles/white powder lol


Shouldn't be too difficult to get hold of previous owner via FB/LinkedIn etc - in fact I've just done it with mine as the owners name popped up relating to training racing drivers at Silverstone - a quick call to him reassured me it was his personal road car and he has far tastier machinery for the circuit

efunc

Thanks for the tips. I'm unlikely to pursue this car now, so it's just intellectual curiosity about getting to the bottom of things really. I just like to know what I'm dealing with. If I was thinking clearly I would have take a quick picture of the V5, VIN number and the service book entries. That way I would have been able to track down the owner and find out more about the car. Alas I only have what I can remember, which isn't enough.

On another note, is there anyone here that can obtain Service History from Mercedes Benz if I supply registration or VIN? There's another car I need to investigate but it too has no history. Different circumstances though and would like to know more about it..