Claiming an abandoned car

eviltimeban

Sorry if this has been posted before. I just wanted to ask if anyone has had experience claiming an abandoned car and getting the ownership transferred?

I ask because there's a car that's been parked just across from my house (in a housing estate) that's sat there for at least two years. It has reg plates but the tax and insurance are out of date. A tyre is flat and it definitely doesn't look like it is going anywhere anytime soon. It's a reasonably decent looking older Merc and with a bit of a clean up could be a good car.

No idea how it runs or if the engine is busted.

I read one step is to find out the registered owner and contact them and say the car will be towed at their expense, which may encourage them to agree to transfer the ownership over to you.

Any advice?

endacl

Save up and buy a car.

dmc17

eviltimeban wrote: »

Sorry if this has been posted before. I just wanted to ask if anyone has had experience claiming an abandoned car and getting the ownership transferred?

I ask because there's a car that's been parked just across from my house (in a housing estate) that's sat there for at least two years. It has reg plates but the tax and insurance are out of date. A tyre is flat and it definitely doesn't look like it is going anywhere anytime soon. It's a reasonably decent looking older Merc and with a bit of a clean up could be a good car.

No idea how it runs or if the engine is busted.

I read one step is to find out the registered owner and contact them and say the car will be towed at their expense, which may encourage them to agree to transfer the ownership over to you.

Any advice?

Don't believe everything you read

Smee_Again

If you’re gonna try and steal a car you’re better off stealing one that runs.

wotzgoingon

I'm surprised there is a car left sitting in front of your house for two years and nobody reported it. I left a car in an estate in Athlone. For one night and guards ended up contacting me. One night.

Many years ago my parents car broke down in the local town and they left it there for a week or two and they were being hassled by town council to move it and they wanted fees or some such. I cannot remember the full details as it was many years ago but they were going to be charged a pretty decent chunk of change if they didn't move the car. Obviously way more than the car was worth.

wonski

wotzgoingon wrote: »

I'm surprised there is a car left sitting in front of your house for two years and nobody reported it. I left a car in an estate in Athlone. For one night and guards ended up contacting me. One night.

Many years ago my parents car broke down in the local town and they left it there for a week or two and they were being hassled by town council to move it and they wanted fees or some such. I cannot remember the full details as it was many years ago but they were going to be charged a pretty decent chunk of change if they didn't move the car. Obviously way more than the car was worth.

How can a car be abandoned and reported in one night. In Athlone?

You parked a car and it was reported after one night? How?

wotzgoingon

wonski wrote: »

How can a car be abandoned and reported in one night. In Athlone?

You parked a car and it was reported after one night? How?

It wasn't abandoned I left it there for a couple of days and the people in the houses reported it to the guards after the first night.

Nosey bastards collared me when I went back to move it a few days later.

timetogo1

I've a car outside my house for over a year now. I contacted Fingal council and they said they'd send a letter to the registered owner and if the owner did nothing there was nothing they could do.

So that was a great help.

eviltimeban

endacl wrote: »

Save up and buy a car.

I have a car.

gipi

timetogo1 wrote: »

I've a car outside my house for over a year now. I contacted Fingal council and they said they'd send a letter to the registered owner and if the owner did nothing there was nothing they could do.

So that was a great help.

If a freak hurricane blew the number plates off, then it becomes an abandoned car and would have to be moved....just sayin'!

flazio

You'd think that the council would want it gone as it would attract anti social behavior.

Isambard

gipi wrote: »

If a freak hurricane blew the number plates off, then it becomes an abandoned car and would have to be moved....just sayin'!

yeah would have to be moved but not by a private individual

punisher5112

wotzgoingon wrote: »

I'm surprised there is a car left sitting in front of your house for two years and nobody reported it. I left a car in an estate in Athlone. For one night and guards ended up contacting me. One night.

Many years ago my parents car broke down in the local town and they left it there for a week or two and they were being hassled by town council to move it and they wanted fees or some such. I cannot remember the full details as it was many years ago but they were going to be charged a pretty decent chunk of change if they didn't move the car. Obviously way more than the car was worth.

Happened my wife, she parked car for a night and day in a public place, no restrictions or pay parking etc....

Gardai actually called to the house to see why the car was abandoned and the house it was parked outside kept ringing them....

I was speechless. This really did happen and reason was she went over to friends, went out and wouldn't drive the car after drinking....

Isambard

punisher5112 wrote: »

Happened my wife, she parked car for a night and day in a public place, no restrictions or pay parking etc....

Gardai actually called to the house to see why the car was abandoned and the house it was parked outside kept ringing them....

I was speechless. This really did happen and reason was she went over to friends, went out and wouldn't drive the car after drinking....

there are many people who think only they should park outside their house.

punisher5112

Isambard wrote: »

there are many people who think only they should park outside their house.

Yes, it's quite bizarre really.

Ive a drive way, there is space between mine and neighbour, it was near always empty, off time we park or visitors or same next door etc, I've no control and don't care one I can clear the drive.

At the moment next door has parked their old car there as got a work van, am I bothered no, it has nothing to do with me but just using as an example.

I've had it over the years where people would be watching you parking or even comment....

I've used the anything happens it I'll know where to be calling in to....

SteM

Isambard wrote: »

there are many people who think only they should park outside their house.

Yeah, but when they ring the Gardai about it they should be politely told to stop wasting police time.

Isambard

SteM wrote: »

Yeah, but when they ring the Gardai about it they should be politely told to stop wasting police time.

absolutely

zg3409

SteM wrote: »

Yeah, but when they ring the Gardai about it they should be politely told to stop wasting police time.

I parked a trailer legally on a road (no car) and within a couple of hours Gardai rang me on my mobile phone to move it as it was causing an obstruction (it was not and dozens of other spaces nearby)

OP if you want a banger Merc then buy one. I reported a fiat parked for years on public road with tax out etc. Gardai did nothing. Owner fixed it up about 2 years later when they needed it again or had the cash. With a reg shown they need to try contact registered owner to give them a fair chance. Sometimes the owners live nearby and think it's no issue.