I bought a car from a leading auction house on Friday. When I got home I noticed that the registration number on the MoT does not match the registration number of the car. It looks as though the car previously held a cherished plate and it is this number on the MoT.
Have I any recourse against the auction house given that the car does not have actually have a valid MoT as stated on the auction house windscreen ticket and on my invoice.
Greatly appreciate any advice re: whether I can return the car for a refund under their indemnity scheme or if I am able to claim compensation.
Many thanks in advance.
|
|
The MoT is still valid if it was the previous reg from the car - you'll need to get it changed that's all, LVLO might be able to help if you have one nearby - does the VIN match up ?
|
|
|
|
1 in 3 used cars has a hidden/dodgy history. www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/4457850/Drive-away-the...l
Edited by L'escargot on 06/12/2009 at 13:36
|
We've changed our plate between cars loads of times over the years and every single time the DVLA has stamped the MOT to show this.
Hope it's a genuine mistake but don't go doing anything that involves spending money on the car in case it ends up going back under the auction indemnity scheme. I'd be onto the auction house like a shot about this on Monday.
Edited by M.M on 06/12/2009 at 14:35
|
Shouldn't be a problem if the VIN is the same on the car and the MOT.
I once MOT'd a bike I had imported on it's VIN only...no problem with tester.
Local DVLA office issued me with a new MOT there and then when I put our Pratplate on the Note. Just had to sit and wait for a few minutes..very friendly and helpful.
Ted
|
Many thanks for the replies. I was just checking the MoT again to visit the VRO tomorrow and I see that an 8 is showing as a B on the V5. The correct VIN is an 8 on the car, in the front of the service book and on the MoT but the V5 has wrongly been printed with a B!
No wonder the previous owner didn't get it stamped! This is the 2nd car out of 2 I've bought at this particular large auction with an issue!
Basically I guess I need to get the log book corrected at the DVLA before I can tax the car now.
Surely the auction should have checked these details though - do you think I should approach them with this information? I bet they will try to fob me off (sold as seen, no comeback at auction etc etc) but the bottom line is I've paid an indemnity for a car with a wrong logbook and an MoT I cannot use.
Do you think I am better off trying for a refund or some form of compensation as I can't use the car until this is sorted and it could take weeks for the DVLA to sort the V5 and in fairness surely the auction should have checked the details before offering the car for sale.
Many thanks again.
|
Might be worth using the online MOT history check...
www.motinfo.gov.uk/internet/jsp/ECHID-Internet-His...p
Put in the reg number and the V5 document number to see if it throws up any issues on the validity of the V5. Even if that's OK sometimes the MOT history makes interesting reading.
|
I emailed the auction all the details first thing this morning and predictably, haven't received any reply. I will call them later but in a nutshell I now need to apply for a new logbook with the right VIN which could take weeks!
I would have thought I should be able to return the car but I bet they try and pass the buck. This will be the last car I buy at that particular auction.
|
I have finally managed to get an answer from the auction and despite several long emails and a phone call they put it down to a DVLA error which isn't their fault so they won't take the car back or offer any form of compensation.
I can't say I'm too impressed to put it mildly. When you buy a car at auction you cannot inspect the V5 and MoT in advance so you naturally assume they are all in order. I shall be seeking legal advice now but I was originally hoping that the auction would help.
I am sure if I tried to put the car in an auction myself I wouldn't be allowed to until the V5 and MoT were correct.
Fortunately I have relatives in the legal profession so I can get their perspective free of charge but any opinions/advice would be greatly appreciated.
In a nutshell though, buying at auction seems to give you absolutely no comeback at all.
|
snip - see site policy on name and shame - PU Mod frankly. They're bad enough when you buy hundreds from them per year (although if they know you it is surprising what can be done) but they really don't care about an individual who might buy one car every 4 years from them. They are a large duopoly and behave accordingly.
Your only argument is that the car was advertised with a V5 and hasn't technically got one.
You have to remember that auctions are wholesale places and most times something like this happens it will be with a trader who has bought 10 other cars on the day so will just put the one which hasn't got a V5 to the back of the queue to be processed for sale. The auctions and the auction house staff are really not used to dealing in any sort of "retail" environment with the general public.
As far as legal advice is concerned you need to be sure that whoever you take advice from is familiar with auction law as it is different to any sort of other point of sale law.
Personally, I'd put it down to experience however annoying it is. You might be technically correct but the auction house will have a bigger legal department and a much larger budget than you so you'd need to be damn sure of winning if it got into a legal case.
Edited by Pugugly on 08/12/2009 at 16:00
|
|
|
|
