Lexus CT 200h - Bought a car with stolen engine

Honest John Back Room » Legal matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Sun 28 Jul 2024 19:53
Lexus CT 200h - Bought a car with stolen engine - Mk96
I bought a car from a private seller last year in December 2023. I paid for all the HPI reports, and everything came back clear. Since it was my first time buying a car, I didn’t pay attention to the fact that the car had only one MOT done in November 2023. I applied for the logbook online, but then I got a letter from the DVLA saying they couldn’t verify the car’s identity and needed photos of the chassis number, etc. I sent those in, but after four months, they told me they needed the police to inspect the car.

I called the police over 50 times, but they kept saying they don’t do car inspections anymore and that I needed to talk to the DVLA. The DVLA kept telling me to wait for the police. Eventually, I took the car to a nearby police station. A kind officer inspected it and confirmed the chassis was fine, but the engine was stolen from another car in November 2023, worth to mention that the car that the engine was stolen from is a 2014 model and mine is 2016, also that car is no longer taxed and on the road since November 23, so I’m not sure if only the engine was stolen or the whole car and given new chassis etc and it’s now with me, the police says it’s only the engine.

The police reopened the case of the stolen car with my car’s engine. I’ve been waiting to hear back from them since June 2024, but no luck. It’s been nearly nine months, and my insurance company is threatening to cancel my insurance unless I provide a logbook in my name. The guy I bought the car from isn’t answering my texts or calls.

Any ideas on what to do? Has anyone else been in a similar situation?

Thanks a lot!
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 28 Jul 2024 21:12
Lexus CT 200h - Bought a car with stolen engine - Brit_in_Germany

Sounds a very complicated situation. The chances of getting your money back from the seller look remote if they have chosen to vanish. You may be able to buy the engine off the insurers of the other car for not much money putting it back on a, relatively, even keel.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 29 Jul 2024 16:10
Lexus CT 200h - Bought a car with stolen engine - Mk96
The thing is I can’t reach them, I have no idea who the insurance company is and all I’ve been told is just to wait. I’ve been waiting since Dec23.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 29 Jul 2024 14:48
Lexus CT 200h - Bought a car with stolen engine - SLO76
Out of curiosity, how much did you pay for this 2016 Lexus CT and how many miles is on it?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 29 Jul 2024 16:11
Lexus CT 200h - Bought a car with stolen engine - Mk96
£8,000 via bank transfer. It had 65k miles.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 29 Jul 2024 20:02
Lexus CT 200h - Bought a car with stolen engine - Palcouk

Contact your local MP state that the DVLA will not issue a logbook in your name untill the Police have inspected, and that the Police say its not a Police matter and to contact the DVLA.

And that your insureres have said theyu will cancel your policy untill you produce the logbook.

Do not pad it out with any thing else

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Mon 29 Jul 2024 23:05
Lexus CT 200h - Bought a car with stolen engine - Adampr

Assuming you supplied the VIN as required, phone HPI and tell them you would like to make a claim. I doubt they will cough up, but they could do, and they will certainly give you some pointers on what to do nezt.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

We give you the low down on how to save on insurance, little-known tricks and tips, what insurance groups mean and how to use insurance aggregators to beat insurers.

Insurance group finder and how to save on insurance