Contacting a previous owner

MakingEndsMeetToo

I recently learned through the DVLA registration lookup facility that my first car is still on the road. I thought it would be nice to reconnect with such an important part of my motoring history so I contacted DVLA to ask them if they could help me make contact with the owner. I appreciate that they are not prepared to give out personal details (unless you're the owner of a waste-ground-car-park) so I gave them permission to pass on my contact details.


To my disappointment they refused to do so and after exchanging a couple of letters effectively told me to "go away". Against this, in my view, unreasonable reaction I'm at a loss as to how I might make contact now that I know the old car is still running.


Any suggestions?

jbainbridge

You're serious aren't you?

It's a car .. not your best friend. Move on.

societys_child

The DVLA isn't some kind of meet-up or dating site . . . or facebook fgs . . .

walwyn1978

If it’s a classic, you could try the relevant classic car owners club (Google to get details) and see if they’d pass a message, assuming the current owrher is in that club which of course is not a given

If not, I think you’re out of options

Scrapit

Apart from it being really weird and super creepy there may be mentions of GDPR

BoGoF

Do you seriously think the DVLA are some letter forwarding system. Your car has moved on.....so should you.

shaun_from_Africa

BoGoF wrote: »

Your car has moved on.....so should you.

How do you know?
The car may well be pining for its old owner and as it can't use the internet or telephone itself, it can't ask the DVLA for contact details.

caprikid1

"Apart from it being really weird and super creepy there may be mentions of GDPR "


Sorry but for many classic car owners there is a desire to build up car history etc. Many ex owners often dream of seeing or buying that one special car back.


A previous owner of my car when it was 10 years old got in touch with me via a car forum and gave me invaluable information as to how every dent and ding got there etc. The car has effectively not changed in 17 years from his perspective its been so well pampered.


We are even friends on facebook , this is far from uncommon.


Google the car reg, go to the one make forums etc, if you have photo's of the car post them up.


Good luck OP, years ago DVLA use to give the info out just for filling in a form, now you only get it if you are attempting to fraudulent extort money from the motorist.

AdrianC

caprikid1 wrote: »

Good luck OP, years ago DVLA use to give the info out just for filling in a form

Even then, they wouldn't have given the current keeper's details to an ex-keeper.

Just think about it for a moment... You sell a car. You keep a key. Some time later, you get hold of the location the car's kept...

now you only get it if you are attempting to fraudulent extort money from the motorist.

Only inconsiderate goits who refuse to play nicely with everybody else and think they're entitled to abuse other people's land.

Scrapit

caprikid1 wrote: »

"Apart from it being really weird and super creepy there may be mentions of GDPR "


Sorry but for many classic car owners there is a desire to build up car history etc. Many ex owners often dream of seeing or buying that one special car back.


A previous owner of my car when it was 10 years old got in touch with me via a car forum and gave me invaluable information as to how every dent and ding got there etc. The car has effectively not changed in 17 years from his perspective its been so well pampered.


We are even friends on facebook , this is far from uncommon.


Google the car reg, go to the one make forums etc, if you have photo's of the car post them up.


Good luck OP, years ago DVLA use to give the info out just for filling in a form, now you only get it if you are attempting to fraudulent extort money from the motorist.

That doesn't change anything. Still as above.

hollie.weimeraner

GDPR has meant that the details of any previous owner are no longer shown on the V5 now.

My current car V5 shows the name and address of the previous keeper but due to GDPR they no longer do this so you can't even trace the last keeper any more.