View Full Version : How to adopt an abandoned vehicle?
Hi Guys.
There's a scooter that has been sitting in my drive since I moved in, but probably a long time before then. There is a plant growing on/in it and the tax disc is showing 2007. Clearly it is not being used.
I have decided to try to adopt it and bring it back to life.
How would I go about that?
Is there a way to do "take over" through the DVLA, or do I need to find out who owns/owned it, and convince them to sell it?
Background: I live in an apartment complex, the scooter is in our "internal" motorcycle parking area, which you need a key to access, or the guards need to let you in, so I assume it belongs to someone who used to live at the same place. It has plates on it, but that is my only way of figuring out who owns it. The building managers do not keep a record. The complex I live is in used by city professionals and many foreigners who come here to work for short stints, so I assume someone has just left the country and the scooter.
Cheers
So apparently there's a difference between the legal keeper and the legal owner.
https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20120304142235AAfo73h
Just for clarification, I would like to be the legal owner of the vehicle.
Matt-EUC
04-08-14, 10:18 AM
Put a fence round it. If nobody claims it back after 7 years it's yours.
Sent via the medium of interpretive dance.
No fence would be needed, the tax disc suggests it has already been 7 years :) Is there anything to the 7 years that you suggest or was it a joke?
Sid Squid
04-08-14, 10:34 AM
Apply for a V5, the DVLA will contact the presently registered keeper, if they do not respond then you will be given a V5 in your name, this means you are the keeper not the owner as you know, the previously registered keeper's details will be on the V5 - contact them. If the details are still at the building you live in now, or they have moved from the subsequent address you can't go further on that route, but having their name might allow some Googling to good effect.
So there's no point in requesting the current owners details first, as they will be on the V5?
Neat trick. Thanks Sid
So fill in this form: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269833/V62_061213.pdf
And then on Section 3, tick "I cannot produce it for another reason. (Give the reason below)", and then what reason would be a valid reason?
Is this not borderline criminal to try and hijack a v5?
Sid Squid
04-08-14, 11:35 AM
I've done it before - the first time at the suggestion of the police. As far as I know nothing on this front has changed, if you're concerned - and I quite understand that you might be - ask at a police station first.
Do you remember the reason you gave for the request?
Red Herring
04-08-14, 12:53 PM
As Sid said, just apply for a V5 saying you are the new keeper and the previous keeper didn't give it to you, which is all perfectly true. With regard to ownership then you need to show that you have taken all reasonable steps to trace the owner. If it is in a private garage, but one that other residents have access to, then put a note through each of their doors asking if they have any interest in the scooter, if it is in a public place then attach a note to the actual bike. For a real belt and braces job you can go to the local police station and report it as found property. Some forces have a policy where they won't treat motor vehicles as such, however most will at least check the PNC just in case it has been reported stolen previously and abandoned where you found it (don't expect them to tell you who the registered keeper is though) and then they should place a "found" marker on the PNC just in case it is subsequently reported missing. If they do treat it as found property, or even if they don't, if it's not claimed within 28 days it's yours.
Thanks Red Herring. Do you happen to have any experience from the inside of the police force? You seem to be in the know.
21QUEST
05-08-14, 08:34 AM
Thanks Red Herring. Do you happen to have any experience from the inside of the police force? You seem to be in the know.
Dunno bud but he could probably be one of those 'T'internet keyboard experts' who have perfected the act of googling :confused:
I might be wrong of course ;) but a test could be, flying past him doing 100mph in a 30mph and see if his company car lights up like a Christmas tree(sparkle?) or not :p ;)
Matt-EUC
05-08-14, 11:59 AM
He works at MI5. Ex copper.
I now fully expect to be sniped through a window.
Sent via the medium of interpretive dance.
Matt has just been rendered...
Matt-EUC
05-08-14, 12:43 PM
Today at 1325hrs Matthew was the victim after a rifle cleaning accident in a building site nine streets away with a clear line of site to the carpark.
The bullet struck between his eyes. He died instantly.
Inquiries will be made as to why Matthew was in the way of the bullet but preliminary reports say it was a very unfortunate accident.
The funeral will be held next week.
There will not be an open casket.
RIP
Love, Matt's Mum.
Sent via the medium of interpretive dance.
Matt has just been rendered...
Useless? Inappropriate? Come on, you need to finish your sentence!!
Sent from my magical portable device
Useless? Inappropriate? Come on, you need to finish your sentence!!
Sent from my magical portable device
Haha, I meant as in extreme rendition. You know, black hood, white van, unmarked private jet, nice cozy cell in Egypt, electrocution, water boarding, etc
aesmith
05-08-14, 02:41 PM
You can apply to the DVLA to get the current keeper's details. They specifically give "tracing the owner of an abandoned vehicle" as a valid reason for receiving the info. There's a £2.50 fee though.
https://www.gov.uk/request-information-from-dvla
Corny Gizmo
05-08-14, 04:40 PM
£2.50 !!!????
just burn it lad, not worth it!
Red Herring
05-08-14, 04:51 PM
He works at MI5. Ex copper.
Yeah right..... Remind me to drain your sump again.
I went down the route of request the keepers details, for £2.5.. Handed in the papers yesterday a long with some nice pictures. I will let you know how it goes!
Red Herring
07-08-14, 06:08 PM
So parked in the communal motorcycle parking area under your block of flats is abandoned on your private property is it? I suspect the building managers should have made the enquiry, not you, however I suspect DVLA won't be to bothered.....
Nope it is not abandoned on my private property, but it is abandoned on private property, which is why it isn't the councils problem.
My building management doesn't keep a record of the bikes, so they wouldn't know - and don't forget I want to find the owner to buy the scooter, I don't want someone to just take it away and crush it.
Red Herring
08-08-14, 03:51 PM
My point being that in order to ask the DVLA for keeper details under these circumstances a vehicle has to be abandoned on YOUR private property, not land belonging to somebody else. Just because you have access to the private property and even a right to park on it (that isn't exclusive to you), doesn't make it yours. If you want to apply for details of a vehicle abandoned on private land that isn't yours you are supposed to include evidence from the owner (in this case the landlord or building association) that you are acting on their authority.
Like I said, not a big deal under these circumstances I'm sure.
Aaah, right. That didn't occur to me, but now that you point it out it makes perfect sense.
punyXpress
11-08-14, 09:43 AM
the scooter is in our "internal" motorcycle parking area, which you need a key to access, or the guards need to let you in,
Cheers
Have you asked 'the guards' about it?
The owner may, of course, be in Pentonville doing time for GBH.
He's due out on Friday!
Red Herring
11-08-14, 11:51 AM
The owner may, of course, be in Pentonville doing time for GBH.
Err, it's a moped, not a Harley....:)
I haven't asked the guards about it, because I know they do not keep a record, I found that out on another occasion :)
So now I am just waiting for the DVLA to get back to me and see where this guy resides now - If he is jail i'll let you know Puny :)
Hi Guys.
I got a response today, unfortunately my adoption attempt has been denied.
I had also attached 3 pictures of the moped which showed the license plate, the old tax disc and the sad state of the vehicle.
For future reference, here's my request and the response from the DVLA.
Explaination:
http://i57.tinypic.com/qspked.jpg
Response:
http://i60.tinypic.com/2i11155.jpg
Red Herring
27-08-14, 08:04 PM
That does kinda restore some confidence in the system though....
I wouldn't necessarily give up, why not go to the owners/managers of the site and ask them to do it properly. They are perfectly entitled to ask for the registered keeper details as it appears to be abandoned on their land and the reason they should give for wanting the information is that they intend to contact the keeper giving them 28 days to remove it from their property before they dispose of the vehicle, which they will obviously do by selling it to you! With abandoned property all they have to do is show that they have taken all reasonable steps to locate an owner before assuming the rights of ownership.
goodgumbo
27-08-14, 08:27 PM
Nice of them to return the fee though.
Yes - but it's not like I can use the £2.5 postal order for anything, since it's in their name :)
Red Herring
28-08-14, 01:20 PM
Give it to the building management team to send them.
With abandoned property all they have to do is show that they have taken all reasonable steps to locate an owner before assuming the rights of ownership.
Surely the OP has already done this, not his fault DVLA wont release this information.
Get the lock barrell changed, and apply for a V5 for it.
To cover your back send a letter to the property management company saying it's in the way and they haven't taken steps to remove it so you did it yourself.
Red Herring
28-08-14, 03:07 PM
Surely the OP has already done this, not his fault DVLA wont release this information.
Get the lock barrell changed, and apply for a V5 for it.
To cover your back send a letter to the property management company saying it's in the way and they haven't taken steps to remove it so you did it yourself.
DVLA won't give him the information because under the circumstances he isn't entitled to it. For all he knows the moped owner has an agreement with the landlords that he can store it there, just because the "guards" have no knowledge doesn't necessarily mean it is abandoned. That is for the owner or manager of the property to decide which is why the legislation is written the way it is.
davepreston
28-08-14, 03:45 PM
write to the facilities manager of the complex
stating your attempt to trace the owner of the PROBLEM abandoned vehicle on their property
inform them you are willing to deal with it all from your end to save them money and time , but you require a tiny bit of assistance in doing so, attach completed forms for DVLA which only require minimal completion from themselves ( nice arrowed -sign here here and here stickers)
state you are willing to pay all fee's involved if any, and your intentions towards the vehicle, also say what steps you have taken so far to trace the owner already (spoke to residence workers etc)
point out the mutually beneficial result of this when completed and make yourself fully contactable for any questions they may have.
all in all your saying look mate I want this bike , it aint going to cost you anything, in a way im doing you a favour, all you have to do is this 2 mins of work and im happy your happy, after that you'll never here for me again.
hopefully they will go if I do this a problem goes away without me having to do any work, cool where do I sign
good luck
Sid Squid
28-08-14, 08:44 PM
Just apply for the V5 and be done with it.
goodgumbo
02-09-14, 03:30 PM
Any updates?
No I still haven't decided what to do. I might just go ahead and do what Sid suggests.
When my partner's father died, we found a mobility scooter in his garage complete with registration plate and expired tax disk. We couldn't find a key or a V5 for it. We eventually sold it to a local dealer in these vehicles who said that just applying for a new V5 wouldn't be a problem and that he could then re-register his business as the registered keeper.
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