Abandoned Landrover?

[ilesmark]

Hi all

Hope this is in the right part of the forum.

For over 3 weeks now there has been a Landrover parked at the end of my road, which I have been keeping an eye on. It hasn't moved in that time. It's M reg and looks to be in reasonable condition, with a couple of nice accessories like a snorkel, bull bar, full length roofrack etc etc, plus a number of Wolf storage boxes inside.

It doesn't have a tax disc and a couple of weeks ago I wrote a note along the lines of 'if you don't want this vehicle any more can we have a chat - here's my phone number?' and put it under the windscreen wiper - interestingly the note has stayed there untouched ever since.

I am beginning to wish this vehicle was mine!

I believe there is some kind of rule that allows anyone to apply to DVLA to get a logbook of an apparently abandoned vehicle transferred into their name, but DVLA will not get involved in any subsequent disputes if the original owner resurfaces.

My question - anyone have any experience of doing this?

Thanks

[Tony P]

Mark, Hi.

I think the legal situation depends in whether the vehicle is 'abandoned' on private land or a public road.

If it is on a public road it is at risk of being clamped/removed for no tax - so get a move on!

You can obtain the Registered Keeper details from DVLA for 2 or 3 pounds.

[ilesmark]

Hello Tony - good to hear from you.

It's definitely a public road.

Will DVLA give out that sort of info - I didn't think they would. Data protection and all that

[goodwoodweirdo]

Have you tried the police, explain the situation, maybe its stolen !!.... they might be happy you contact the owner before the troubles start....

The DVLA have helped me in the past, I had a part share in a car which didnt work out well, with just a letter they sent a new log book in a new name...

Let us know the out come ... sounds like cheap motoring to North Africa

[silver G]

Originally Posted by ilesmark

- I didn't think they would. Data protection and all that

DVLA don't care about data protection - they readily give out your details to the local councils who issue parking tickets yet it's against the Data Protection Act.

I would have thought trying to contact the owner and talking to your local police would be a good start. I can't imagine someone would just abandon it though, more likely stolen.
Good luck with your find.

[goodwoodweirdo]

Just to add, some years ago nice chap turned up at the parents door, his car had broken down, could he park it in front of the house for a few days while he arranges the repairs with a mate, 10 days pass and Dads a little worried and finally contacts the Police, another couple of days pass and they turn up... yep you guess it, stolen ....

Dad wad horrified to think he had a stolen car parked outside his house ...

Go to the police ....

[ChrisC]

Fairly certain that you can get the info from DVLA, try them or carefully ask the Police

[Tony P]

Originally Posted by silver G

DVLA don't care about data protection - they readily give out your details to the local councils who issue parking tickets yet it's against the Data Protection Act.

Correct, DVLA don't care about DPA. However DPA restrictions do nor include supplying data to Police and Local Authorities.
The DVLA are definitely in default with Private Parking Contractors as they abdicated their responsibilities of control to the BPA who have proved to have used this power incorrectly for their own member's vested interests and not administering/controlling that trust properly. But DVLA again don't care as long as the cash rolls in.


If interested here is a recent comprehensive submission to the Parliamentary Transport Committee. Note Clauses 37 onwards www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmtran/writev/dda/dda09.htm

Sadly, the Politicians fluffed it when persuing this as the DVLA wriggled with a certain amount of 'economy' with their responses. Here is the Parliamentary Committee's session with DVLA which considered the matter. Player



Mark,
To the query in hand - DVLA will give RK details to anyone who has 'reasonable cause' to know and pays £2.50.
They are pretty elastic in their interpretation of 'reasonable cause' being only interested in getting their paws on your money to shore up their own budget.
Wanting to offer to buy it could be included as a reasonable cause. Causing an obstruction also.
But don't give its location, otherwise they will pretty quickly send their own local DVLA clamp team round to clamp/remove it to try to get 'out of Court penalties' for themselves, if they realise it is untaxed on a public road and know where it is.

[pbekkerh]

I don't know about UK but it could be the same as here in Denmark, where everything without an owner, is "lost property" and belongs pr definition to the state and handling or keeping it, will amount to the same charge as "handling stolen goods", so be cautious.