Now I understand what you folk are always on about with not leaving a V5 lying about. So much different from the US system of the ownership (title) papers being separate from the vehicle registration papers. When I looked over the V5 I was gobsmacked that the owner of a car need not sign the paper saying they had sold the car and to whom. I could just put my name on the back as the new keeper and it's done. Scary :-o
V5 document
- Thread starter bigdog
- Start date
Yep. That just makes you the registered keeper. To prove ownership you need a bill of sale, or a receipt, invoice etc.
Sim_Simma said:
In America yes. The title is an ownership document. There is a section on the back for annotating a sale/ transfer of ownership. The owner signs indicating that the property was in fact sold and to whom. When you take this signed title to the registration office they will then do the same on the data base and issue a reg document for the car showing whom owns it and also print a new ownership document (title) which is kept in a safe place. It works quite well. Thus when a car is stolen it's impossible to then get ownership transferred to the would be thief from the reg document in the car. Even if the ownership paper were in a stolen car in the US it would be unsigned and the reg office will then do a thorough search on the VIN number.
Stuart Truman said:
Of course.
But here's the thing that happened today. I went to the German reg office at our military base to get temp plates for the seven. The invoice didn't have the VIN/chassis number, So they told me to get a new one from the UK. The German guy said Oh! A copy would be fine. He didn't even want an original. I could have gone home and forged one as he hasn't a signature from the prior keeper to compare to the signature on the invoice. It just seemed way to easy. As this was an honest deal it's fine. But one can see how easy it would be to get one over on them.
How old is the V5, more onus is put on the seller now to furnish the DVLA with the new owners details. Another reason so that you can ensure the new owner get the speeding fines/tickets.
If it's an old V5 then its different, but as far as I'm aware these have all been replaced now.
If it's an old V5 then its different, but as far as I'm aware these have all been replaced now.
I suppose it doesn't matter now as the Caterham's in Germany. It will have German/US Armed Forces Europe registration papers soon and in 18 months Washington state papers. As it's an historic car I guess having an historic V5 makes sense. I'll keep the V5 and the other UK paperwork on file as a memento/curiosity. I imagine that my fine British motorcar will never again be registered in the British Isles. It might venture there on holiday though.