Seller has a Cert of Export, but no V5 ... worth the hassle?

PFiddy

Here's the deal:

My gf would like to buy a Seat Ibiza TDI. We drove to Cavan to look at one and were suitably impressed: low miles, excellent condition, very economical. The price is well below other models for sale, but here's why:

1. The guy who is selling the car is from Lithuania and is returning home in June so he's looking for a quick sale.

2. The car is a northern reg. He has had it since Sept 2008 and didn't pay the VRT (there are several other threads for ranting about this so keep on topic pls!)

Here's the problem. He didn't receive a V5 when he bought it, just the Cert of Permanent Export with name & address on it. I don't know why he didn't get the V5 - he just didn't.

I've a couple of questions some of you can maybe help me with:

Is the Cert of Permanent Export enough for me to pay the VRT or do I need a V5?

If the cert is not enough, can he obtain a V5 for the car at this stage? How?

I know the whole thing sounds way too much hassle, and normally I would just walk away from any deal with so many question marks but my girlfriend really loves the car and it's a damn good price. The guy seems genuine enough, but he doesn't really understand the complications of trying to sell "an exported northern reg car" in the south without any paperwork!

Max Power1

sounds fishy. did you meet him inside his house or just at a random location.

IMHO i'd say it was stolen up north.

leeroybrown

To my knowledge either the V5 or Certificate of Permanent Export can be used to VRT the car. That said, I wouldn't be too keen on buying a car which was legally exported from the UK last September as the VRT should have been paid within 24 hours. It'll effectively look like you've been dodging VRT. The car would most likely be confiscated if you're found with it on the road before you can do it your self.

Also, you'll have to pay VRT on it's value at the date of export not based on whatever the calculator says.

I'd walk away and certainly wouldn't even consider touching it without a full HPI check.

gusmurphy216

walk away sounds dodgy

PFiddy

Max Power1 wrote: »

sounds fishy. did you meet him inside his house or just at a random location.

IMHO i'd say it was stolen up north.

Met him at his house. I'm certain he's a decent bloke, just wants rid of a car that he can't afford to register. I'm from the north myself and got it checked out, def not stolen. I guess I'll leave it though, I don't have the time nor the patience to oversee what could be a drawn out paper chase.

A real shame though, it's a great car. You should have seen my girlfriend's face light up when she saw it! Ah well, we'll keep lookin.

Thanks for the input everyone.

lifer_sean

I wouldn't worry about it. You can definitely VRT the car with export cert. AFAIK Swansea will only issue a V5 to a UK mainland address, so you will not be able to get a V5 anyway. Export Certs are used when transferring vehicles from mainland UK to NI, not just to Eire and other countries.

Whose name is on the export cert ? The seller or a third party ?

Definitely HPI the car. Many Cat C cars from UK end up in NI, and since these do not come with documentation, the NI buyer has to apply for duplicates, and Swansea will only issue export certs in these cases.

leeroybrown wrote: »

Also, you'll have to pay VRT on it's value at the date of export not based on whatever the calculator says.

First time I heard anything like this. Can you provide data to support this ?

leeroybrown

leeroybrown wrote: »

Also, you'll have to pay VRT on it's value at the date of export not based on whatever the calculator says.

Thats incorrect. You pay the vrt thats on the system for the car on the day you vrt it. Otherwise why would people avoid paying it for a few months etc if they were not going to make a saving.

leeroybrown

Winston Wailing Lettuce wrote: »

That incorrect. You pay the vrt thats on the system for the car on the day you vrt it. Otherwise why would people avoid paying it for a few months etc if they were not going to make a saving.

My mistake. Once he claims that it's been permanently off the road since export he should be fine.

leeroybrown

leeroybrown wrote: »

My mistake. Once he claims that it's been permanently off the road since export he should be fine.

I'm actually going to correct myself again. I'm fairly sure that they're unlikely to cause any issues but they could be difficult and claim that the car was imported last year and claim that VRT was due from then. Theoretically they could turn around and start demanding proof of import date, etc. I wouldn't want to go there in the current climate...

lifer_sean

leeroybrown wrote: »

I'm actually going to correct myself again. I'm fairly sure that they're unlikely to cause any issues but they could be difficult and claim that the car was imported last year and claim that VRT was due from then. Theoretically they could turn around and start demanding proof of import date, etc. I wouldn't want to go there in the current climate...

If buyer's name is not the one on the export cert, and especially if it is a NI name/address on the export cert, why would there be a problem.

Also the OP says (s)he is from the North, so there you have a way out anyway.

I think this can all be overcome if the car checked out in all other respects, and if you wanted it. However I can see why one could decide it's not worth the hassle.

galwaytt

lifer_sean wrote: »

If buyer's name is not the one on the export cert, and especially if it is a NI name/address on the export cert, why would there be a problem.

Also the OP says (s)he is from the North, so there you have a way out anyway.

I think this can all be overcome if the car checked out in all other respects, and if you wanted it. However I can see why one could decide it's not worth the hassle.

Who's name/address is on the export cert ? If it's not the seller, walk away.

If it is the seller, you'd need a full receipt from him, and his PPS no.

Btw, if he's willing to meet you, on the day, at the VRT office to clear it, then there's no issue at all, I'd say.

PFiddy

Judging by the last few posts I may have been too hasty in giving up!

The seller's name is on the cert, and it's his address in Cavan. Will that be a problem? (given that the date on the export cert is Sept'08??)

I reckon I could persuade him to come down to the VRT office if it meant he would sell the car. Hell I'd even give him a lift back to Cavan again if it worked out.

I'll get the HPI check done (never done it before - tips anyone?) and if it's all good i'll give him a ring and see if he'll come down to the VRO in Santry.

PFiddy

The plot thickens! Got the HPI done, turns out its a Cat D write-off. Asked a mechanic mate of mine and he says he's bought Cat D's before and would do it again. Is it true that Cat D amounts to panel/window/wheel/lights damage?

I reckon its a decent bargaining chip at least ...

kdevitt

Cat D is generally light damage yes - car could have been keyed and required a full respray for instance. I know of an 8 series BMW which was a Cat D write off because its windows were smashed.