buying car with dodgy log book
 

I've viewed a used car that I want to buy, but the log book is slightly iffy.

The log book is in the owners name, but he's already filled the "transfer of ownership" slip over to his ex cousin in law, but never sent it off.

He's in a bit of a pickle money wise at the moment, so he wants a really quick sale. According to him, I could just tip-ex the details out and send the slip in, but this seems a bit dodgy (is it?)

What's the score with buying a car with a log book like this?

I don't think it's likely to be stolen, he's had it since 2005 and he bought it as a project but now he's sick and tired of it and needs the money to finish off his custom motor bike. I'll do a HPI check on it anyway, if I buy it (where's a cheap place to do a HPI check?). I don't think it's stolen, I know where his workshop is and he seems quite genuine.

Can I just get him to sign a receipt saying that it's sold to me?

It's got no tax or mot at the moment, so I need a log book at some stage to tax it.

Edit: The car is going for less than 500 quid.

He could always get the DVLA to send him a duplicate...

If you unsure ring the DVLA and ask... I have always found them surprisingly helpful in the past.

con artists don't get very far if they don't!!!!!

Let him sort it out (i.e. get a replacement log book from dvla).

It may work out ok, but why give yourself the bother and risk. If nothing else, phone the dvla and ask them the state of play.

Has the green slip been filled in or is it missing? He could be selling the car "twice"....

no risk at all i do this all the time if someone wants there car taxing to pick up

with someone ELSE's name on it??

yep not a problem

The green slip has been filled in, he's got the whole v5 document

but doesn't the slip need to have the same name as the insurance certificate?

Should be ok, I've bought /sold with v5's like that before no problems, if in doubt, phone dvla, if there are no problems, he won't mind

You can get a new v5 form posted out next day delivery from the dvla for about £20 did it the other month to tax the car as i had lost it . This will clear up any issues .

Mark Smith

I've tippexed out the green slip and changed them before. Guy had an agreed sale thast fell through, but had allready filled in the V5, Just tippexed it out and put my details in.

...

chances are the mate will have trade insurance which has been used with the v5/c(green slip) to tax the car at some point in the past.
Richie

Cool, thanks for the info guys :)

You should (speaking from experience) cross it out and write your own name in, they wont care.

RAC website does the HPI check for £5:

Car history report and vehicle data check available from RAC

RAC own HPI (or is it the other way round?) so this is the identical check that HPI charge £20 for!