The owner of the car is the person who bought it (or who the car was gifted to).
The same as any other possession.
Registration with DVLA is for tax and to allow the person with custody and control of the vehicle to be traced by police in case of alleged offences. It also allows anyone with good cause to trace the keeper over civil matters including damage and (controversially for some) parking.
I have seen a scenario where bailiffs visit somebody's home to enforce an unpaid court fine owed by the tenants son. The tenants car is on the drive and the bailiff clamps it as it may be the son's. She can produce the V5 in her name, documents of insurance, notices from the manufacturer about a recall and evidence she claims mileage from her employer in respect of the vehicle. She bought the car as a private deal for cash some years ago so does not have an invoice/receipt.
She seeks help from an advice charity. Bailiff tells adviser that V5 is 'not worth the paper it's written' on and car might belong to son. Clamp stays on until either (a) debt of several hundred is paid or (b) she produced proof of ownership acceptable to him. Adviser read him riot act pointing out that if Mother went to court to contest seizure on what used to be called an interpleader the bench would likely, in absence of evidence of son actually having an interest, find for Mother. V5, while by no means conclusive, would be strong evidence of ownership.
Side argument was that vehicle was of low value and Mother needed it for her work so it was probably exempt from seizure anyway.
Like a lot of these things, advice having been provided, one hears nothing more.
It did though make those of us involved think about question posed as subject of this thread.
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