How to cancel transfer of car ownership with DVLA ?

baart77

Hi,

weird situation or an attempted scam happened to us today. We were selling an old car. The buyer arrived and we agreed the price of £500. He put the money on the table. We did the transfer online od DVLA website then the buyer wanted the log book which we explained we would have to destroy as advised by DVLA. He said he was a trader and he needed it even though initially he asked for it to be transfered to him as a private buyer. We wanted to double check what to to but he got very impatient and grabbed the money of the table and stormed off. We still have the car, the keys and the log book. Technically though DVLA thinks he is the owner. It was too late to call them so sent an email explaining the situation. Can't see any guidance on DVLA website. Rang the police to double check what to do but the advice was that this is a civil matter and that in their opinion as money has not changed hand we were still the owners but suggested talking to CAB. We locked the car in the garrage. Can anyone please clarify where we stand ? It was not something we expected so are a bit anxious. 
Any help would be appreciated.

Thx

Car_54

Read your V5C again. At the top, in large letters, highlighted in red: "This document is not proof of ownership".

You're still the owner, you've just advised DVLA of a change of keeper. 

Unless anyone has a better suggestion, I'd phone DVLA on Monday.

facade

Possibly that wasn't his address, and he wanted the V5 to give to any buyer (I'm selling it for my aged relative), or he's selling it on to another trader straight away, and they want the whole V5 as it is "in trade". Anyway, he isn't scamming you, and the car isn't stolen or anything, so at worst it can only be to avoid any come-back from a buyer or to dodge tax somehow.

Have to say I'd have just given it to him, the online transfer has been done and cancels that V5 anyway, but thinking about why he so desperately wants it makes me suspicious, as the new V5 arrives in a few days anyway.

baart77

Eventually we wanted to give it to him but that is when he stormed off and took the money. There were other people wanting the car but now we are stuck. We just want to reverse it quickly and sell it. Now he will have to tax it so his actions make no sense. He didn't buy it as a trader.

Car_54

AFAIK, since the transfer has gone through, DVLA will not reverse it until they've tried to contact your buyer.

They'll write, and if he has any sense he'll respond confirming it was a mistake (otherwise he's on the hook for tax etc.). If he doesn't reply within xx days they'll go ahead anyway and give you a new V5C.

baart77

An update just in case anyone has similar experience, DVLA advised to send them the old log book with my name as a new keeper in the green section and a covering letter explaining the situation. The said a new log book would be issued with my name on it and any changes would be cancelled. Also advised to report it to the police which I have done already. 

droopsnoot

If you do that - staple the letter to the V5. I once had someone intending to buy a car, so we filled in the "new keeper" sections ready to send off. He then got back in touch and cancelled the sale, I sent the V5 in to get a replacement with a blank new keeper section along with a letter, and they just registered it to the new keeper. First I heard of it was when the chap who had cancelled posted the new V5 to me - fortunately he was honest enough to do that. I presume the letter had come adrift from the V5 when it got to Swansea.

SteveJW

I guess the road fund licence / tax will be cancelled and the vehicle will need to be SORNED and kept off the road

baart77

They suggested sending the form to SORN it at the same time