Claiming an abandoned car in Ireland

nick1984

*Right this is going to be a bit of an odd question but im hoping some can help*

I recently found a car not too far from where I live ive knocked on the door but was told the owner had passed away by the neighbour next door now they told me the owners son lives in the uk.
I asked them had they any contact info for him they said they didn't

what I wanting to know whats the procedure to go with about claiming ownership of the vehicle the car has gone green from lying so long aswell as the tyres are completely flat and the house is empty and the car is lying in the driveway

now I don't want to just go take the car as that's illegal and wrong ,, the neighbour next door seemed to get a bit narky with me when I asked about it and that a friend of hers was trying to get the car.

can anyone give me any help on this as its a shame to see the car waste away for nothing

ba_barabus

Multiple thread on this if you search

Supergurrier

What do you feel entitles you to claim this car ?

Tzar Chasm

leave it there, if you figure out how to get it the neighbor sound like the sort who would take spite against you, bag of hastle, i've dealt with arseholes like that before.

what sort of car is it? would it really be worth the hastle

nick1984

Supergurrier wrote: »

What do you feel entitles you to claim this car ?

the car is a Toyota and I'm a big fan off Toyota's and I like seeing old Toyota's kept alive and on the road as this is getting a rare Toyota to see around and is getting on for a 20 year old car

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

i'd take it through proper measures !

why say no to a free car ? would be nice !

from what i read is once its not reported as stolen from the owner of the car to the gardai then you can take it but you would have to talk to the council or environmental govern body about ownership. maybe a quick call to shannon !

Carson10

See a car like that too. A 1998 fiat cinquecento has been sitting in the exact same spot untouched in the Carpark of Sligo Airport for about 5 years now. It would have been parked there when the airport was operating but closed about 2 years ago. It still operates as a private Airport but the carpark now is empty all but the fiat cinquecento sitting on its own.? Always wondered the story behind it. Probably someone who moved back to their home country. Its in Original condition too and hasn't weared too badly despite being right next to the sea.

Supergurrier

nick1984 wrote: »

the car is a Toyota and I'm a big fan off Toyota's and I like seeing old Toyota's kept alive and on the road as this is getting a rare Toyota to see around and is getting on for a 20 year old car

20 year old isn't that old anymore though is it.

I was behind a 1999 Red focus coming home from work today, looked fresh from the factory and that's not far off the 20 year mark.

Personally i doubt it's worth the hassle of contacting the relations unless you offer to pay scrap value and afew quid more and organize moving it and they oblige.

They more than likely won't though as they probably won't want anyone poking about.

nick1984

Tzar Chasm wrote: »

leave it there, if you figure out how to get it the neighbor sound like the sort who would take spite against you, bag of hastle, i've dealt with arseholes like that before.

what sort of car is it? would it really be worth the hastle

its a Toyota starlet import and 100% original I had one years ago and regretted having to get rid of it due to having a child I was going to go to the local garda station and inquire about the vehicle and in what way to claim ownership of the vehicle ,,the neighbour was a elderly lady I think she was just in a bad mood that day,,i didn't take it to heart as I told her im just interested in restoring the car to its former glory

nick1984

Supergurrier wrote: »

20 year old isn't that old anymore though is it.

I was behind a 1999 Red focus coming home from work today, looked fresh from the factory and that's not far off the 20 year mark.

Personally i doubt it's worth the hassle of contacting the relations unless you offer to pay scrap value and afew quid more and organize moving it and they oblige.

They more than likely won't though as they probably won't want anyone poking about.

See to one person its a car to another its something much more,, see that's the problem I cant get in touch with the son who is apparently in the Uk I would happily offer a decent cash offer for the car I have a Trailer and a jeep at my disposal to collect the vehicle

marmurr1916

If the car is in a private driveway, you can't take it without the owners permission.

The current owner(s) will be the lawful heir(s) of the deceased owner.

You'll need to contact them and offer to buy it from them or ask them to give it to you.

You can't just go to the gardaí and 'claim ownership' just because the car has been left to rot.

The owner(s) of a car are under no obligation to keep the car in any particular condition if they don't drive it on the public road.

You can't just take it or claim ownership.

Carson10

Yeah definitely that car does not sound abandoned to me. Its on a private driveway. Would most definitely be theft if you took. I think the gardai would look at you weird if you went in to the station.

Tzar Chasm

is it a glanza, or just a regular 94 starlet?

oh that old woman will cause you grief, in her mind you will have gotten something for nothing, which SHE should have got. people are stupid irrational and spiteful about stuff like that.

are you urban or rural?

nick1984

marmurr1916 wrote: »

If the car is in a private driveway, you can't take it without the owners permission.

The current owner(s) will be the lawful heir(s) of the deceased owner.

You'll need to contact them and offer to buy it from them or ask them to give it to you.

You can't just go to the gardaí and 'claim ownership' just because the car has been left to rot.

The owner(s) of a car are under no obligation to keep the car in any particular condition if they don't drive it on the public road.

You can't just take it or claim ownership.

well I may then leave a letter or some form of notification in the house explaining im willing to buy the vehicle if the owner or person that is closest relative is willing to sell the vehicle I don't want to be given the car unless they are happy with doing so as I would presume that the vehicle might hold a sentimental value to the family or relative of the person who passed away that owned it

Tzar Chasm

if you want to find the owner of the house I'd try with the local estate agents, although you should pretend you are interested in buying the house, if they don't have contact details they will find them, the whiff of commission would be like blood to sharks

nick1984

Carson10 wrote: »

Yeah definitely that car does not sound abandoned to me. Its on a private driveway. Would most definitely be theft if you took. I think the gardai would look at you weird if you went in to the station.

the car has been left in the same state position for the last four years could be longer ive have often delivered in that area and hoped to see someone at the house to ask them about the car,,
The house it self is in a bad way over grown bushes grass left to grow slate's coming off the roof paint coming off windows house green from moss
just a very run down house in general and definetley no signs of any living in the property for a long while

that's the reason I asked on here as the car isn't parked on the road and in a driveway ,,im going to ring Shannon in the morning about it see if they will give me any info or anything

nick1984

Tzar Chasm wrote: »

is it a glanza, or just a regular 94 starlet?

oh that old woman will cause you grief, in her mind you will have gotten something for nothing, which SHE should have got. people are stupid irrational and spiteful about stuff like that.

are you urban or rural?

its a regular starlet but its an import from japan so its has a massive following been from japan and in such a unmolested form..

well I don't mean to offend her by asking about the car or in a way annoy her as I don't think she even drives,, I know there are some very spite full people out there that don't wish anyone to have gotten something for free that they should have been given first

nick1984

Tzar Chasm wrote: »

if you want to find the owner of the house I'd try with the local estate agents, although you should pretend you are interested in buying the house, if they don't have contact details they will find them, the whiff of commission would be like blood to sharks

I was going to do this but I'd rather go through the right channels I did ask in a few estate agent about the property and if they could find out the owners name or a relative i though this might be of interest as its in a very nice estate and quiet but none seemed to want to help

born2bwild

Just hotwire it already

dgt

born2bwild wrote: »

Just hotwire it already

OP wants a car not a holiday :pac:

bren2002

Are you actually serious? What you are suggesting is called stealing.

I smell a troll.

biko

born2bwild wrote: »

Just hotwire it already

Less of this and more of the helpful thanks.

Carson10

You should perhaps get the address of the house and go to the local council office and see who is the registered owner of the property and set about contacting them in person.

The house & car may be abandoned. But you can be sure someone wouldn't be long turning up if you started to touch anything.

The best and safest option for you is to contact the owner of the property.

listermint

Sometimes this forum is hilarious. OP I hope you find the next of kin try looking for executors of the will. If you do write them a letter explaining everything I wish you best of luck in your endeavours.

Ignore the rest of the idiots here. A lot just looking for stuff to get their back up about

djimi

nick1984 wrote: »

that's the reason I asked on here as the car isn't parked on the road and in a driveway ,,im going to ring Shannon in the morning about it see if they will give me any info or anything

Shannon wont be able to give you any info; it would go against data protection laws.

heffoo

If you ring Shannon they should be able to advise you sbout what to do iv found them very helpful with missing log books and stuff in the past

ardmacha

Shannon should not help you with someone else's car on private property. Hopefully not anyway.

swarlb

Why not claim ownership of the house ? Far better deal than a 20 year old Starlet.

nick1984

Carson10 wrote: »

You should perhaps get the address of the house and go to the local council office and see who is the registered owner of the property and set about contacting them in person.

The house & car may be abandoned. But you can be sure someone wouldn't be long turning up if you started to touch anything.

The best and safest option for you is to contact the owner of the property.

that's what someone else told me to do,, I would find out who owned the house would be a start on tracking down the next of kin

listermint wrote: »

Sometimes this forum is hilarious. OP I hope you find the next of kin try looking for executors of the will. If you do write them a letter explaining everything I wish you best of luck in your endeavours.

Ignore the rest of the idiots here. A lot just looking for stuff to get their back up about

I do find some of the previous comment's funny but you have to deal with allsorts so part and parcel ,,im going to see about finding out the owner of the property and try trance a family member who might be still in the vicinity

djimi wrote: »

Shannon wont be able to give you any info; it would go against data protection laws.

your right Shannon will not give any info out about anyone else's vehicle or address

heffoo wrote: »

If you ring Shannon they should be able to advise you sbout what to do iv found them very helpful with missing log books and stuff in the past

I don't think Shannon will help to be honest I rang them before about a vehicle I bought and never received the tax book they told me that I should have the vehicle seized by the gaurds as its not technically my vehicle and they would return t to its owner.

ardmacha wrote: »

Shannon should not help you with someone else's car on private property. Hopefully not anyway.

they wont its different if its parked on the public road or highway as that's there jurisdiction

swarlb wrote: »

Why not claim ownership of the house ? Far better deal than a 20 year old Starlet.

I don't think that would be possible as for one I'd have to claim squatters rights be there for at least ten years I don't think there neighbours would like that very much as its in an estate with elderly couples living in the house's

winnie the schtink

why dont you mind your own buisness,chasing someone up for their dead fathers ****ty starlet unbelievable.COP ON

goz83

winnie the schtink wrote: »

why dont you mind your own buisness,chasing someone up for their dead fathers ****ty starlet unbelievable.COP ON

Im thinking after 4+ years, the rightful owners wouldn't mind being offered a few bob for what they may see as a piece of garbage in a driveway they may never return to. If given permission to take, the op may be able to get the car put into his name.

visual

A lot of times houses are left like this is because there is a issue with the will or estate. Be it that deads arent correct or someone challenge the will or there is no will and his relations are seeking legal resolution to the estate Including car.

If it was parked on the road it might get impounded for no tax or being abandoned. From the impound it would be scrapped if not claimed and fees paid by legal owner.
Even one of the deceased heirs would have to jump through hoops to have the car transfered into their name.

There is no mechanism for a opportunist to swoop down like a vulture and pick at the remains of the (car) body.

nick1984

winnie the schtink wrote: »

why dont you mind your own buisness,chasing someone up for their dead fathers ****ty starlet unbelievable.COP ON

I'd like to know why you presume it belonged to there father could have been there mothers or such,, what gave you this inclination this leads me to believe you know of the car,,

oh and in future stay out of my threads,, If you haven't anything helpful to say or suggest I'd suggest you keep your nose out of other peoples threads

visual wrote: »

A lot of times houses are left like this is because there is a issue with the will or estate. Be it that deads arent correct or someone challenge the will or there is no will and his relations are seeking legal resolution to the estate Including car.

If it was parked on the road it might get impounded for no tax or being abandoned. From the impound it would be scrapped if not claimed and fees paid by legal owner.
Even one of the deceased heirs would have to jump through hoops to have the car transfered into their name.

There is no mechanism for a opportunist to swoop down like a vulture and pick at the remains of the (car) body.

I understand this that's is why im now trying to locate a next of kin.
I can see a lot of people thinking im a a vulture trying to claim this car but im mearly someone who likes these cars and collect's them by no means am I trying to steal the car just give a good home im sure if I offered a reasonable cash sum the car could be bought

goz83 wrote: »

Im thinking after 4+ years, the rightful owners wouldn't mind being offered a few bob for what they may see as a piece of garbage in a driveway they may never return to. If given permission to take, the op may be able to get the car put into his name.

This is what im planning on doing at least it would be better than seeing it on a scrap pile,, im sure the next of kin would be happy to see the vehicle been looked after and in good hands and still going strong

Peter T

Peoples replies are pretty funny to this. Anyway OP id imagine there is some kind of feud / technicality with the property as basically its very seldom a house lies like that in Ireland before being put on market. Really finding the son to contact him is your only real option

nick1984

Peter T wrote: »

Peoples replies are pretty funny to this. Anyway OP id imagine there is some kind of feud / technicality with the property as basically its very seldom a house lies like that in Ireland before being put on market. Really finding the son to contact him is your only real option

they are fairly funny I agree with you on that and Theresa few bitter people with nothing better to do,,
I'd imagine that there's is something along them lines going on with the property i'll bide my time and see how it goes

Red Kev

Two ways you can try to get in touch with the owner;

1. Put a letter in the letterbox stating that you wish to buy the car etc.

2. Find out from the electoral register or postman who the previous (deceased) resident was. Send them a letter, it's possible the PO have a forwarding address in the UK and will pass it on to the new owner. Or just ask the postman if he knows what the story is.

You can't take the car just because you want it. It's theft. if it's been sitting up for that length of time it will probably need work done on it. You may be better off getting a running and NCT'd one of donedeal or elsewhere.

Del2005

Do a search on RIP.ie for the estate or townland for the last 5, or more, years. Should be able to find out who lived there.