So firstly I am aware I made a few stupid mistakes and misunderstanding when buying a used car today , firstly I took for granted that the seller was telling me the truth about insurance on policy on the car, being effective on the day until he sells it (being 29th of Feb) . Secondly I did not tax it before driving it, thinking I could do it after a short drive home .. My bad.. Thirdly is perhaps my misunderstanding about insurance, you can be the jury here

I purchased a second hand car privately on the 29th of February ( Vauxhall Corsa- I actually wanted to gift it to my Partner) it had MOT , I checked and previous owner/ last owner had said it was insured and taxed( but wasn't allegedly - more on this below ) .I contacted my insurers previously just to check I could drive another car ( on two other cars ) who said I could drive it , if the seller has insurance for the vehicle , which is what I understood to be the case ( the seller said there was a policy on it at the time of sale ) .

So I decided to buy it, however on the way home the car caught a coppers eye and highway patrol were on me at a junction on the on the A1M close to my destination

Police decided to seize the vehicle said that its insurance was cancelled several days ago . I protested that I purchased in good faith and checked with my insurers that I could drive the car, which they confirmed I could providing the seller had a policy on the car, my documentation also states that I can drive other cars , which they did read . They looked at my documentation for my insurance on other cars, which states that I can drive other cars that I don't legally own . They said this part invalidates my right to drive the new purchased car , because it wasn't someone else's car :s, "Cause you just bought it "

They said its likely I will get 6 points and a fine, probably several hundred pounds or magistrates court if I contest it . A letter would be sent to me for points/ fine within a few months, though the copper reluctantly mentioned that that I maybe able to contest it ( though doubtful ) and they may 'drop the case' if my 'other-owned' car insurers ( Lancaster/ KGM) are willing to write a letter of indemnity for this newly purchased car

Irrespective of the penalty points and fine , I can still recover the car for £200 within 14 days , as long as a certificate of insurance is provided and V5

If nothing else , hope this post saves someone else that made the silly mistakes I made . Though there is some hope my other car insurers are willing to write a letter of indemnity for me using this car, perhaps this hope is misplaced? .

Anyhow this be a warning to fully check the car has a policy at the time of sale .. I think the seller had lied to get a fast sale due to disputes of parking said car

Edited by 90Ninety on 01/03/2024 at 03:01