Selling a "cloned" car

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Fri 8 Jun 2012 10:34
Selling a "cloned" car - SameGame101

Thanks to all who replied to my recent post. I now have a very different issue.

I am convinced I have purchased a cloned car. This has come to light when the DVLA sent through a logbook which had a different previous owner than the one who i bought the car from. The person who i bought the car from has gone AWOL. I googled my number plate and subsequently found a similar car of the same number plate in a garage in cardiff. I called him up and he said he had bought the car in part exchange from the person who was the previous registered keeper as per my logbook. Both of us have logbooks for the car both of which match up with the car VIN numbers etc... Both the previous registered keeper and the car are in cardiff. There are a few suspicions because my seller has gone AWOL, and on top of this he lied to me on numerous occasions saying that he bought the car from new (clearly not the case). The transaction was made in cash.

I have since informed the DVLA and Police who tell me the car is legally mine, I have nothing to worry about, enjoy the car, do what I want with it. I do not see how everything is fine given there is another car on the road with the same number plate and identity. Although I believe I have a cloned car, no-one has confirmed this and it is only based on a number of suspicions that i have had and the information detailed above.

Now I feel like I want to get rid of the car due to all the hassle it has brought. DVLA and the police say the car is fine so i feel within my right to do so, even with all these suspicions. I was going to sell to an online site such as we buy any car as I do not want to "pass the buck" to another private buyer. Am I in my right to do this? I have read the terms and condition and they do not appear to affect me in anyway as a result of my scenario. I am very unsure what to do and some advice is needed. Holding on to the car puts me at risk of the 9k I paid for it, however I am unsure if selling the car would put me at even more risk?

Thanks

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Fri 8 Jun 2012 11:17
Selling a "cloned" car - bathtub tom

Have you checked the VIN on all its locations? It will appear in numerous places.

You guess the car is cloned, but want to sell it. Won't that make you the same sort of person as the one who sold you the car?

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Fri 8 Jun 2012 11:28
Selling a "cloned" car - SameGame101

I have checked the VIN in all its locations and it matches up totally.

I understand what you are saying - however from my point of view the car was bought purely in the intention of selling on a few months down the line, I have done extensive research on the car and reported all my findings via the relevant avenues (Police and DVLA) and they are all saying everything is legit and overboard. I do have my suspicions but does that mean I cannot sell the car ever? What are the correct processes to go through to get rid of this car as I feel that I have gone through all of them.

I dont believe I am of the same calibre as the person who sold me the car as I believe he sold it to me knowing there is an issue and went AWOL. I will sell my car knowing there is suspicion of something but without knowing for sure, and having gone through all the various routes to verify my information and coming up with the police telling me i am making a mountain over a molehill and to enjoy my car knowing full well there is another car with the same plates out there. On top, I will sell the car from my registered address and with a legit phone number and have no intention to hide if anyone needs to speak to me about anything. The real question is if I am liable given that all authorities believe I am in the clear. And if I do stand to be liable, then how can I legitimately get rid of the car (for cash or not)?

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Fri 8 Jun 2012 11:56
Selling a "cloned" car - thunderbird

Look at the facts, there are 2 cars out there with the same reg and VIN, a crime has been committed.

Before you sell the car the facts need clearing up, one of the cars is a clone.

Cannot believe the Police are not interested, they should be impounding both cars and sorting out which is legal and which is not.

If you sell a car that you are in any way suspiciuous of you are as bad as the person you bought it from, the fact that he has gone AWOL after lying should tell you something is wrong.

Better to sort it now while you are innocent rather than selling it and risk committing a crime, your suspicion would make you guilty in my opinion.

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Fri 8 Jun 2012 11:58
Selling a "cloned" car - SameGame101

I totally agree with what you are saying. However, how can I sort it out? Police are happy and the DVLA are happy. I have voiced all my concerns innocently and not hidden anything from either of them. I have no idea how to further pursue this.

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Fri 8 Jun 2012 12:38
Selling a "cloned" car - Collos25

I do not believe the DVLA and Police are happy they cannot be with two cars with the same registration and VIN.I would contact the firm that is selling the other car the DVLA and the police in that area make an appointment and all four parties meet with the two cars. If you try and sell the car and it is cloned you are commiting an offence but perhaps the other car is cloned and yours is ok.

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Fri 8 Jun 2012 12:54
Selling a "cloned" car - SameGame101

Being totally honest, given the responses recieved so far, I think there is close to zero likelihood of being able to arrange a meeting with the police, dvla and garage, no1 wants to know anything. I feel like there is a strong chance that I am holding a cloned car - and noone wants to know and everyone seems to think its fine and I should go about my business as normal. I have contacted the police and the DVLA 3 times each and they keep telling me the same thing. It is blindingly obvious a crime has been committed, but no crime has been reported to the police, no car has been registered as stolen to the DVLA that can be traced to my vehicle - So noone is taking any responsibility. And I am left with a cloned car in my driveway not knowing what to do with it.

Edited by SameGame101 on 08/06/2012 at 12:59

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Fri 8 Jun 2012 13:05
Selling a "cloned" car - bathtub tom

Perhaps if you took it to a BMW main dealer and expressed your concerns, they may be able to definitively state yours is kosher. Some sort of documentation supporting that should be enough for you to be in the clear if any issues arise at a later date. It may well cost you a bit, but could be worth it?

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Fri 8 Jun 2012 17:29
Selling a "cloned" car - Collos25

I have had a quick word with a cousin who is quite high in the Police force in the UK he said if no action was forcoming by the force in question then they themselves are at fault and should be sacked.One presume the OP is giving all the facts I have my doubts.

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Fri 8 Jun 2012 17:34
Selling a "cloned" car - SameGame101

Thank you for doing this - I have discussed with the police again and they have confirmed that the car is legitimate according to their records and DVLA's and I am free to do what I like with the car and hold no liability as I have done more than would be expected in similar circumstances. I have given all the facts exactly as stated as hard as it is to believe (I am also struggling to believe how this process has turned out.) I feel like a criminal begging to hand myself in but they wont let me.

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Fri 8 Jun 2012 19:52
Selling a "cloned" car - nortones2

Put it in writing. Can't both be kosher!

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Fri 8 Jun 2012 21:46
Selling a "cloned" car - thunderbird

There is something seriously wrong here. There is no way the Police would allow 2 cars on the road with the same reg/vin without further investigation.

I smell a rat, why has the OP changed his name?

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Sat 9 Jun 2012 02:40
Selling a "cloned" car - skittles

You Googled your no plate.

Why would the other cars' no plate be listed on google unless it was a cherished plate or was on somewhere like Crime Watch web site?

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