Log book question

pajero12

Hi guys,
Don't think this post is suitable for the buying forum but mods feel free to move it if so

I'm going to look at a car privately that I'm pretty sure I'll buy,

The only issue I have is the seller took the car as a trade in against another car, and so the log book isn't in his name,

I'll be doing a car tell check and checking the cars vin against the log book, but is there anything else I can do about this? Or am I best to walk away?
Thanks
Joe

biko

Is seller an official dealer?
You say privately so I assume not.

Then seller should have gone through regular process and logbook be in his name.

FishOnABike

Whoever the current seller bought the car from should have transferred the ownership to the current seller at the time. It should only take a week or so between sending the change of ownership particulars to shannon and the current seller getting a new vehicle registration certificate.

I would be wary of 'private' car dealers who flip cars so quickly. Similarly the fact that the current seller is not the registered owner would make me wary. How will the current seller legally transfer ownership if they are not the registered owner?

I wouldn't touch it unless I was dealing directly with the person named on the vehicle registration certificate and I would only make any payment to the registered owner in a traceable manner e.g electronic funds transfer to their bank account or a draft bought and handed over to them in a bank at the same time the change of ownership form is completed and witnessed being posted.

The current seller's story just raises too many concerns. What 'private' seller accepts a trade in ?

smash

A quick call to the Gardai with the car's reg will sort it out. They can contact the previous owner to see if the car is marked as stolen. If they guy took it as a trade in against a car he was selling and he was planning on flipping it then it's understandable that he wouldn't want another owner on the book. But as a matter of interest, how long has he had it? If it's been a length of time then he should have transferred it so the previous owner isn't liable for tolls and tax and NCT.

Atlantic Dawn

The risk too is some idiot who leaves their logbook in their car and its stolen, easy for someone to sell on the car so someone who does no checks.

biko

Tbh OP, all you know there is some guy with a car and a logbook with someone else's name on it.
I'd stay clear of sellers like this. What else is this fella up to?

PrettyBoy

Sounds like the seller is a dealer. Tell him to be honest with you and own up if he is. If you're still interested then have a look at the logbook and see the last recorded date for change of ownership - see how long the previous owner had it for. Ask to see some form of identification before handing over any cash. Walk away if you don't feel that the seller is being totally honest with you.

biko

Aye, possibly it's a real dealer acting as private to sell trade-ins.
Even then it's a bad thing since you don't get your legislated dealer "fit for purpose" warranty etc.
A dealer that would try a stunt like that with me would get no money/sympathy.

Brian?

pajero12 wrote: »

Hi guys,
Don't think this post is suitable for the buying forum but mods feel free to move it if so

I'm going to look at a car privately that I'm pretty sure I'll buy,

The only issue I have is the seller took the car as a trade in against another car, and so the log book isn't in his name,

I'll be doing a car tell check and checking the cars vin against the log book, but is there anything else I can do about this? Or am I best to walk away?
Thanks
Joe

I wouldn't worry about the log book alone. I've a mate who changed cars like the wind and often takes trade ins, to move cars along.

If the car is straight it's not an issue. It's no different than any private sale.

ironclaw

smash wrote: »

A quick call to the Gardai with the car's reg will sort it out. They can contact the previous owner to see if the car is marked as stolen. If they guy took it as a trade in against a car he was selling and he was planning on flipping it then it's understandable that he wouldn't want another owner on the book. But as a matter of interest, how long has he had it? If it's been a length of time then he should have transferred it so the previous owner isn't liable for tolls and tax and NCT.

Garda won't give you this info or even entertain it. Sad but true.

@OP, walk away. Plenty of straight sellers out there. Its a deal breaker for me if the car isn't in the sellers name. Just absolutely screams dodgy as there is no legitimate reason, in my opinion, not to have a car in your name. For starters, you can't even insure the thing. Its generally a tactic of people flipping cars to avoid any sort of trail for Revenue and reduces the amount of owners on the log book. Neither are 'good' reasons. Granted you have the exception of someone who took a trade against their car, but I'd be looking for substantial proof and contact details of the listed owner. Remember, if the log book isn't in their name, the car legally isn't theirs in lieu of supporting documents to the contrary.

There is nothing wrong with flipping cars, and plenty of honest people do it, but there are means and ways of doing it honestly. In the sub €10k private market, its just too risky without plenty of positive signals from the seller.

Proceed with caution and only on professional advice if you do decide to purchase.