Abandoned vehicles

[xmob]

Consider this a hypothetical post for the time being.  

If I, or somebody else, has a vehicle left on their private land for six months, what is the status in terms of abandonment?

It's NOT taxed and hasn't moved.

Some brief Googling failed to turn up some conclusive facts apart from local council involvement, ie removing and disposing of.

What if I (or the land owner) wanted the option of taking possesion of such a vehicle?

It's all hypothetical, but if you've seen some of my recent posts, it's also VERY relavent.   :D   ie Keep your hands off, I spotted it first!

[gords]

I would suggest the only safe option is to ask a solicitor and/or the police - before doing anything. At least, that's what I would do

[ChrisW]

With the relevant info you can apply to the DVLA to become the registered keeper. They then write to the last known keeper and ask if they have any objections etc. If not they send you a nice shiny V5 (this does not necessarily infer that ownership has passed on to you though!)

[Dirty Gertie]

Consider this a hypothetical post for the time being.  

If I, or somebody else, has a vehicle left on their private land for six months, what is the status in terms of abandonment?

It's NOT taxed and hasn't moved.

Some brief Googling failed to turn up some conclusive facts apart from local council involvement, ie removing and disposing of.

What if I (or the land owner) wanted the option of taking possesion of such a vehicle?

It's all hypothetical, but if you've seen some of my recent posts, it's also VERY relavent.   :D   ie Keep your hands off, I spotted it first!

Hypothetically:
Do you know who the owner is??
Was the vehicle left there with the landowners permission?
If so, was there a time scale discussed regarding the removal of the vehicle? Has this been exceeded?

If you know who the owner is, write them a letter of intent of removal of the vehicle, give a time limit for their response.  Point out that  6 months storage will be charged for.
If you receive no response, or if the vehicle was just 'dumped' there, it is the landowners prerogative to remove said vehicle and 'dispose' of it in a manner they see fit.

[xmob]

Neither the land owner, nor me, know who the vehicle belongs to.  It just appeared there and doesn't seem to have been touched.  One thought, is that it's a stolen one that has been dumped, but it is locked and there is no sign of damage.  It just seems strange, 'cos it's too nice a vehicle to be dumped.

The land owner is going to contact the police in the first instance to make sure it's not stolen, then the DVLA.  Local council aren't interested because it is on private land.

It would be a real same to see such a nice vehicle taken away and scrapped.

[Dirty Gertie]

Neither the land owner, nor me, know who the vehicle belongs to.  It just appeared there and doesn't seem to have been touched.  One thought, is that it's a stolen one that has been dumped, but it is locked and there is no sign of damage.  It just seems strange, 'cos it's too nice a vehicle to be dumped.

The land owner is going to contact the police in the first instance to make sure it's not stolen, then the DVLA.  Local council aren't interested because it is on private land.

It would be a real same to see such a nice vehicle taken away and scrapped.

Sounds like the poor thing needs a (hypothetical) good home and some (hypothetical) TLC then!!

[EvilEd]

Surely if you "Find" something that is lost, and that "Found" item is not claimed within 6 months it becomes yours! :)

Best to have a chat with a local copper and ask them if you can do it that way...

[xmob]

Trouble is, I (we) don't want to contact Old Bill, just for them to take said motor away, and then find out I (we) could have done it differently and claimed it.

[Bob696]

Surely if you "Find" something that is lost, and that "Found" item is not claimed within 6 months it becomes yours!  

Best to have a chat with a local copper and ask them if you can do it that way...

A LONG time ago (erm 25 years <gulp>) me and a m8 found a dumped Puch Maxi (obviously stolen as the number plate had been ripped off) being good, honest young lads we informed the police of our find (actualy they caught us playing on it in a field but believed us when we said we found it).

The police said that as they could not identify the owner (no number plate) they would take the details and if anyone came forward with proof of ownership in the next 30 days we would have to give it back other wise it was ours to keep.

I wonder what the situation would be if the number plates were found under a hedge 2 months later?

[clouseau]

Trouble is, I (we) don't want to contact Old Bill, just for them to take said motor away, and then find out I (we) could have done it differently and claimed it.

The police would only remove the vehicle if:

1. It is a stolen vehicle,
2. It poses a hazard to other road users,
3. If there is any other potential danger to public or property.

If it is on public land it is the local councils responsibility to remove vehicle for destruction and unfortunately (or fortunately in this case), if it is on private land then it is the responsibilty of the landowner to dispose of said vehicle.
However if the landowner wishes to claim vehicle then all effort must be made to trace the owner before applying for V5 etc.

Good luck  

[xmob]

1. It is a stolen vehicle,

Dunno

2. It poses a hazard to other road users,

Nope

3. If there is any other potential danger to public or property

Nope

However if the landowner wishes to claim vehicle then all effort must be made to trace the owner before applying for V5 etc.

Hmmm, a letter to the DVLA sounds in order, depending on what the Police have to say.

[Hybrids]

You could write to DVLA using form V888 requesting the registered keepers details, you can download the form off the DVLA site:
DVLA forms

[muky-kid.]

:D  Sounds like a good Salvage operation to me, if the land owner doesnt want it.
Even after 6 months if it was stolen the insurance company would have paid out by now surely.
And the police are to busy these days to be mithered with the recovery of said vehicle... ( i wouldnt bother them ).
D.V.L.A. is the way to go, apply to find owner, owner not found, salvage vehicle. Job done. :D

Put it this way, if it was left in my area ( Manchester ) it wouldnt be there for very long.....  :lol:  :lol:

[xmob]

It's gone!  It's been sat there for 6 months, and as soon as I pay an interest in it, it disappears!   :twisted:  :twisted:

'Spose, I can say what it was now.

Discovery, five door 200tdi, L reg, 73k miles, metallic blue, 300tdi front end.  Was in really good nick.


Arrggghhhh!!!!  

[gords]

Even after 6 months if it was stolen the insurance company would have paid out by now surely.

Which would make it the property of the insurance company, I would have thought!

[SPIKEY]

Bob696 - It was you that nicked my moped.

If it was around the Blackheath area - it was mine.

I miss my pedals on the old Puch !!

Cheers,

Spike.

( Still catching the 140 bus 'cause my rides been nicked :shock: )

p.s - not really - Ive bought a Fizzer  :lol:

[muky-kid.]

Even after 6 months if it was stolen the insurance company would have paid out by now surely.

Which would make it the property of the insurance company, I would have thought!

Yeah ide thought of that after ide written it, doh!.

Sods law init, shes gone. Sounded like a good motor as well. IT WASNT ME HONEST. :(

[Bob696]

If it was around the Blackheath area - it was mine.

 :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

We FOUND it  :!:  :!:  :!:  :!:  :!:  :!:  :!:

besides it was the back of the zoo :)

[TechnoTurkey]

Back to the Disco, sorry about the late reply but I have checked with a copper mate of mine and the situation seems to be as follows:

"I believe the council can nick it after serving a seven day notice.

You can also write to the DVLA and they will contact the owner and if they get no reply you can be the registered keeper but you wouldn’t legally have title to it."

I then asked if this applied on private land as well:

"Yeah Refuse Disposal Amenities Act 1979 – my mate had a caravan parked up in a council caravan storage place and some how it was moved to another parking bay inside the warehouse, the council claimed they couldn’t contact him  and they crushed it."

So it may well have been the council that took it of your land, you never know...