Can I claim an abandoned car?

Bandito909

Hi lads,

Any idea if I can claim an abandoned car that's been sitting on private property for a few months? The car has been left where my brother works and has had stickers put on it after a few days. Nobody has made claim to it, there are no reg plates on the car, I was only told about it today. His company will be getting the council to remove it next week.

I have a genuine interest in this machine, and would hate to see it being scrapped.is there anything I can do?

Cheers

physioman

Bandito909 wrote: »

Hi lads,

Any idea if I can claim an abandoned car that's been sitting on private property for a few months? The car has been left where my brother works and has had stickers put on it after a few days. Nobody has made claim to it, there are no reg plates on the car, I was only told about it today. His company will be getting the council to remove it next week.

I have a genuine interest in this machine, and would hate to see it being scrapped.is there anything I can do?

Cheers

Not sure but curious to know the model of the car

Atlantic Dawn

Is there tax/insurance/nct discs to get the reg from?

Bandito909

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Is there tax/insurance/nct discs to get the reg from?

I can only get the chassis number. It looks like the car has had a full resto, and the owner either left it into a garage and didn't pay, or left the country, could have died for all I know.

The car is a 1970s Toyota Celica, not exactly sure of the year. But I know my cars.

It appears to have had a full respray, a proper job too as there is no interior in the car barring seats and dash...

Is there anything we can do ?? 😩😩

biko

I don't think so, it's not your car and you have no right to it.

Even if the council took it away, the actual owner could turn up and want the car back.
They are not going to say "yeah, we took it away and gave it to this guy..."

Bandito909

biko wrote: »

I don't think so, it's not your car and you have no right to it.

Even if the council took it away, the actual owner could turn up and want the car back.
They are not going to say "yeah, we took it away and gave it to this guy..."

You can claim an abandoned car in the UK. Just wanted to check my options here in Ireland. Might try track down the owner.

Mooooo

Afaik if it is abandoned for 12 months and a day you can claim it but it would have to be on your property., not someone elses

biko

Linking to sources helps guys, otherwise it's just guesses.

the_syco

Bandito909 wrote: »

The car has been left where my brother works and has had stickers put on it after a few days. Nobody has made claim to it, there are no reg plates on the car, I was only told about it today. His company will be getting the council to remove it next week.

Does your brother work in a garage? Some garages have a policy to charge storage fees if not collected after a certain date, and if still not collected after X amount of time, the car will get sold to offset said bill.

Bandito909

the_syco wrote: »

Does your brother work in a garage? Some garages have a policy to charge storage fees if not collected after a certain date, and if still not collected after X amount of time, the car will get sold to offset said bill.

Hi Syco,

Turns out the car was owned by a foreign guy who left the car with a bodywork lad to get it painted. When the car was done, he had no interest in paying for the work and it has sat in the garage for two years at least. The bodywork guy has since moved out of the unit, and said unit's new Tennant's pulled the car out and left it where it is. Can't find owner, can't find panel beater! The lads in the unit needed the space.

The saga continues!

Ubbquittious

<Post about fraud removed>

the_syco

Bandito909 wrote: »

Turns out the car was owned by a foreign guy who left the car with a bodywork lad to get it painted.

Hrm. Perhaps get the VIN, and see if the likes of MotorCheck can find the reg from it, and if it's listed as stolen, or money owed aganist it? Also, bring the reg to the council, and offer to buy it. If the foreign guy is english, I think he can still be chased down to pay the fine for the removal of the car.

TBH, contact the council with the reg plate (if you get it from the above suggestion), and ask about buying it.

Isambard

will the Council really get involved? It's on private property.

antix80

biko wrote: »

I don't think so, it's not your car and you have no right to it.

biko wrote: »

Linking to sources helps guys, otherwise it's just guesses.

:rolleyes:

corks finest

Bandito909 wrote:

Any idea if I can claim an abandoned car that's been sitting on private property for a few months? The car has been left where my brother works and has had stickers put on it after a few days. Nobody has made claim to it, there are no reg plates on the car, I was only told about it today. His company will be getting the council to remove it next week.

Tell them Indi sent you

Car99

Contact your local authority and discuss your options with them . The link below will give you guidance on the laws with abandoned cars.

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1996/act/10/section/71/enacted/en/html

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1996/act/10/section/71/enacted/en/html

phill106

https://www.justanswer.com/ireland-law/5n4vj-time-pass-abandoned-car-or.html

mickdw

In a genuine case where car has been abandoned and you are clear that the owner has left the country for good with no heed on the car, I wouldn't see any crime in claiming it by whatever means.

mgbgt1978

^^^^ As above. Seeing as the only alternative is having a decent 70's Celica sent to the Crusher, I'd be claiming it as mine for now and sorting out the new ownership details via the relevant Forms and Authorities ASAP.
There is only an issue if the currently named Owner replies to a letter sent to the Address given on the VLC at present.

Hard to see that happening here.

Isambard

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

^^^^ As above. Seeing as the only alternative is having a decent 70's Celica sent to the Crusher, I'd be claiming it as mine for now and sorting out the new ownership details via the relevant Forms and Authorities ASAP.
There is only an issue if the currently named Owner replies to a letter sent to the Address given on the VLC at present.

Hard to see that happening here.

yes, I can't see a problem with taking it into protective custody, it sounds like no one local will miss it.

Bandito909

Thanks for all the comments and helpful advice.

I had a good nose about the car today and found some of the previous owner details, even got an email address. I have sent him pics of the car, and its current state and location. I am awaiting a response.

I'd truely love to rescue it. It's getting quite a bit of interest from the wrong type at the moment...

Car99

You could use it as donor car. You're going to need to buy another anyways to get the missing parts.

Hard to see a car repair guy leave a car behind which has some value and he is owed money for working on. It would be easy move one of those on as a parts car even.

Del2005

Car99 wrote: »

You could use it as donor car. You're going to need to buy another anyways to get the missing parts.

Hard to see a car repair guy leave a car behind which has some value and he is owed money for working on. It would be easy move one of those on as a parts car even.

It's theft if you take it even for parts, someone still owns it even though they have abandoned it. There's no way to claim abandoned vehicles in Ireland.

listermint

I can only see the owner taking it back if the garage lad is gone and the works been done


Might have to make him an offer

Markcheese

I think I'd remove the car at your brothers firms request (get a letter or something) , and keep track of bill for storage... If you have the owners details, inform him of the charges , and make a reasonable offer, he might take it..

Del2005

Markcheese wrote: »

I think I'd remove the car at your brothers firms request (get a letter or something) , and keep track of bill for storage... If you have the owners details, inform him of the charges , and make a reasonable offer, he might take it..

So you want the OP to steal the car and then charge storage?

The process of removing abandoned vehicles on private property is a lot more complex than getting a letter off someone who doesn't even own the unit where it was worked on/stored, we've had a few cars abandoned in my apartment complex and I've seen the work our MC has to do to get them removed.

kev1.3s

https://passionford.com/forum/general-car-related-discussion/62326-the-escort-cosworth-that-cost-me-450-a.html
You cant claim outright ownership in the uk either, you can apply to become the registered keeper which is not the same.

biko

antix80 wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Is it not common knowledge you cannot take things that are not yours?
Do you really need a link to a source for that info?

Isambard

biko wrote: »

Is it not common knowledge you cannot take things that are not yours?
Do you really need a link to a source for that info?

but is it theft? To place the car in a safe place whilst trying to locate the owner doesn't seem like the act of a guilty mind to me.

Bandito909

Owner found, offer made, fingers crossed ...

milltown

Bandito909 wrote: »

Owner found, offer made, fingers crossed ...

Result!

Keep us informed.

sligojoek

Bandito909 wrote: »

Owner found, offer made, fingers crossed ...

Fair play. Best of luck. Any chance of a few pics?

jim salter

Would love a '75 Celica myself, for a restomod or electromod project...

zilog_jones

Maybe not as interesting a car, but still a rare one these days: There's an abandoned Citroen AX on Douglas St. in Cork. I suspect it was left by some bold exchange students, as it's LHD and did have French plates on it (which have recently disappeared). I suspect it hasn't moved in months.

Since this one is on a public road, is there any ability for someone to claim it?