Sorrento Green Ltd Edition - G54 Wpb

[Dom9 2]

Hi guys, long time no post in this section of the forum.

 

I received a letter, out of the blue, from the DVLA stating that someone else had applied for the V5C on my Sorrento.

 

There is a bit of a story behind this as I bought the car, left it at a garage for some work, then went to live in America. Came back a couple of years later and the garage had closed/ moved and I couldn't get in touch with them... Hence the car has not been in my possession (though I have kept SORN-ing it while I have been looking, though not that hard, admittedly). It wasn't in great condition and didn't owe me much money, frankly.

 

So, I just spoke with the DVLA and they said that since the car is not in my possession and I have not reported it stolen (I had more 'lost it' than had it stolen, if that makes sense) that they would have to issue a V5C to the guy (or gal) who applied for it.

 

I am in two minds about this... Firstly, it is still my car and I would rather 'give it to someone' than the DVLA issue a V5C really, without my consent. But I don't want to report it stolen and get someone in trouble, as the car is not in my poseession and no one has done anything wrong, IMHO.

 

Is it anyone on here? I would hope so as I would then know it was going to be looked after and I would be happy with that. If not, can you guys keep your eyes peeled for anyone on the web who says they have 'found' a Ltd Ed Sorrento and have applied for the V5C. Maybe (you tell me, I spend no time on the classifieds these days) it is worth something and I should be selling it to someone!?

 

Honestly, I am off to live in Singapore at the end of next month and will likely not be back for another couple of years, so it would give me a warm feeling to know that someone is looking after it, especially if they are restoring it. I would, however, possibly be interested in staying in touch with the person with the new V5C and buying it back.

 

Any info or thoughts are very much appreciated.

 

Cheers,

 

Dom

[hexhamstu 9]

Depending on condition you could probably sell it for £450 - £800 with no tax or MOT. So it depends how much you care i suppose? If they are applying for the V5 then it sounds as if they intend to fix it and either sell it or keep it (or maybe just sell it as is). If they where just going to break it for parts you wouldnt need the V5.

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

If that was my garage to be honest I'd have started charging you storage fees after not being able to get hold of you for some time, to the extent that after 2 years I would certainly consider the car to be mine.

[Dom9 2]

Thnks for the replies guys...

 

Tom, totally understand that point of view, hence why I am a bit 'what will be, will be' about it.

 

Except that the V5C has not been applied for by the guy I left the car with and they, literally, never made contact with me to try and give the car back. I was contactable the whole time.

 

If it was the garage who were definitely applying for the V5C, then I would just let them have it. If it is a random person, then they, sort of, don't 'deserve it', if you know what I mean?!

[denva2682 2 2 Cars]

If that was my garage to be honest I'd have started charging you storage fees after not being able to get hold of you for some time, to the extent that after 2 years I would certainly consider the car to be mine.

 

Harsh as it sounds, this is absolutely correct. A friend of mine had a Saxo VTS left with him a few years back, he did the work but the owner nver turned up to pay or collect the car. He gave up keeping note of the starage costs after several months trying to contact the owner and then classed the motor as his after a year. I'm sure this is like a written thing, ie; a garage is entitled to claim a car as their own after a certain amount of time? I certainly would! I'll have to check with my mate, since there must be a law to protect garages if this kinda thing happens. Then again, if you had a previous arrangement, disappearing with your car was naughty.

 

Whatever the case, I'm sorry to hear that this has happened and I will of course, keep an eye out as part of my daily scanning of fleabay and pistonheads etc for it. Lets hope it is in the hands of an enthusiast...

[Batfink 201]

Why did you never contact the garage and what was your arrangement with them? Why was it left and you never collected or arranged something due to you going to America?

[jackherer 543]

If that was my garage to be honest I'd have started charging you storage fees after not being able to get hold of you for some time, to the extent that after 2 years I would certainly consider the car to be mine.

 

Most garages will have something like that in their terms and conditions, I know someone who bought a very nice 205 from a garage that had been left under similar circumstances for very little cash a few years ago, he had been asking them about it for years until they eventually gave up on the owner and sold it.

[Pug_Power_Dave 0]

One on my friends had some luck with this type of thing on an r33 gtr skyline, the garage had it for a nearly 2 years, without the owner making contact or trying to collect it, so the garage sold it to my friend (for peanuts might I add)(B*stard lol) and he then applied for the logbook which came through a few weeks later. Rather than the garage applying for it and then it having to go back to the dvla for my friend to apply for it. Might explain why the log book isnt in the garage's name if this happened to your pug!

 

Cheers

Dave

[Dom9 2]

Why did you never contact the garage and what was your arrangement with them? Why was it left and you never collected or arranged something due to you going to America?

 

The story is a bit more involved than the above... The garage did no work on it in the end (they were going to trailor it somewhere for me) and the car was going to be looked after by a forum member here and have some work done on it for me to pick up on my return. Honestly (you have to bear in mind this was a number of years ago) I can't remember the exact reasons why it was left, but it doesn't owe me much. They "had plenty of space and it was no problem keeping it there as long as I needed", however, when they said that, I don't think they meant like 4-5 years or whatever it is now... Maybe 5-6 years!?

 

However, I did try contacting them, and have done, somewhat sporadically since to no avail (as they closed/ moved)... The reason being that I was going to give the car to Maxi. So, I really am not unhappy that someone might make a few quid out of it as I wasn't going to sell it anyway, but I do want to make sure it goes to an enthusiast as it is 'mine' and I did pay for it. V5C is not proof of ownership, so I wondered whether (if it is not the garage who has applied or if they haven't sold it, in which case, I don't mind as they had it so long) it was worth me getting it back and actually selling/ giving it to someone on here, so I can keep track of it and know it's gone to a good home.

 

so, nothing ever signed with garage, nor work ever done, so no real contract there... Just didn't intend to be away as long as I was. I was only back in England a matter of weeks after America anyway, as I moved abroad again straight after. I move a lot, hence it is difficult to keep track of everything, as crazy as it sounds. Before Singapore, the Porsche is going into storage! I am pretty sure I won't lose that one as the company who did most of the work will look after it in their secure storage facility!

Edited April 29, 2010 by Dom9

[jackherer 543]

so, nothing ever signed with garage, nor work ever done, so no real contract there...

 

Simply leaving the car with them will constitute agreeing to their terms and conditions.

 

Here is an example I found with google: http://www.rcvservicecentre.com/terms.php

 

It basically says you have agreed to it by default, as any alternative agreement has to have been made in writing.

[Dom9 2]

Interesting... Ah well, it is what it is!

 

Do want a fully restored one at some point and that provided the potential base... But like I said, would have probably given it to someone more in need anyway!

 

Will buy another and look after it properly when/ if we come home!

 

Cheers lads

[hman205 1]

If you do end up with it and fancy giving it to the needy I will happily take it off your hands been hunting for a Green one for so long.....

Edited April 30, 2010 by hman205

[feb 47]

Hi Dom!

I hope you manage to find yours, I know how you feel. I sold and bought mine back but after moving abroad I had to sell it again!

At least I know it is in good hands now and I will hopefully see it sometime soon.

Singapore must be an interesting place to work, well done

Edited April 30, 2010 by feb

[Dom9 2]

Did anyone ever come across 'my' car?

 

Singapore is awesome - Really enjoying it! I miss my Porsche dreadfully, especially since it just had a service and a couple of bits doing before going into storage... Indefinitely

 

Have a slightly metallic gold Toyota Corolla, auto, 1.6, 5 door over here. Company supplied and cost as much as a Porsche 997.1 GT3 2nd hand in the UK! So, I should be grateful... But it's awful! New apartment is amazing though and genuinely not missing the UK much/ at all. Back next week for 6 days anyway!

 

Car tax is mental here, so guess I will be waiting 'til I come home to rebuild the garage in 2-4 years!

[Ant 2]

Word of warning....

 

The DVLA will probably fine you about 5 days after the V5C request is processed... ( ie 5 days after the 14 days you have to notify them that you dont object )

 

its a misleading letter - If informs you that if you have no objection, then a new V5 will be automatically and you dont need to act...

 

Then about a week later you get a £40 fine ( goes upto £80 i think after 2 weeks ) - Because you are responsible for notifying the DVLA if you no longer have the car..

 

Worth at least writing to them prior to the 14 day expiry..

[welshpug 1,657]

Would the DVLA let you know who was applying for the V5C? I'd guess not but no harm in asking I suppose?

[Ant 2]

It doesnt state on the form....

 

The only reason i know this is becuase the DVLA tried to "screw" a guy i brought a car off..

 

Basically he sent off the V5 with my details on..

 

Neither of us had heard anything 4 weeks later so he called.. Typical DVLA response was that there was nothing on the system, but ring back next week as there was a backlog..

 

He called the DVLA again a week later and they were less than helpful - basically they implied he hadnt even sent it etc, and even mentioned paying for a replacement !

 

Rather than mess about any more, i said i'd send in the new keeper part and fill in the form ( V68 or something like that )

 

Bacially they managed to lose that too ( but luckily i copied it before sending ) but thats another story

 

Eventually they processed the V5C new keeper request part.. He got a letter saying "somebody" had requested a V5 in their name, and to do nothing if he had no objection.. It siad the new V5 would be issued in 14 days...

 

And it was - i got a V5 16 days later....

 

2 days later - He got a £40 fine for not informing the DVLA he had sold the car.

 

fortunetly he made notes of the people he had spoken to, times etc and after 3 stroppy letter they dropped the fine..

 

But they are a bunch of monkeys, and will probably issue a fine to Dom

[Dom9 2]

This is a while ago now and I was still in the country... I can't remember the exact details but the DVLA were trying to charge me something for something (I know this isn't very helpful) but the DVLA woman on the phone was kind enough to tell me that it wasn't actually a legal requirement that I paid whatever they were asking for, it was just a 'request' from them. In other words, she just changed the system to say it was no longer my car and we went about our business.

 

Moral of the story, try and talk to a woman and smooth talk her!

 

Be polite kids