Rights of Ownership
Turbo Mini Forums

My father-in-law bought an allotment plot about twenty years ago. On the plot is a shed and in the shed is an early MG Midget more or less complete but steadily disintegrating.

My brother-in-law, an MG enthusiast, was going to restore it it for his kids when they grew up, but they have now lost interest.

Now the real Axel wants us to do it, and I'm quite keen.

The original owner lives in a croft somewhere in scotland and can't be contacted.

The car has been sat in the shed for about 25 years, so long that there is a tree stopping the doors from opening. The owner has never paid any rent for the use of the shed.

The question is, who does the car belong to? Will the DVLA consider possession sufficient? Am I correct in thinking that as we are the keepers, we can readily become the "registered keeper".

Thoughts appreciated.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

I think after so many years the property/vehicle defaults to the land owner or the claimer? My mum looked into it a while ago as there is a old house where i live

Finders Keepers Eh

The thing you have to remember is, what if the car was deemed hazardous and needed moving? Who would the car belong to then eh?

Edited by MikeRace on 6th Apr, 2007.

1/4 Mile 14.3secs 96Mph Terminal 10psi of boost.


Fibreglass Parts? - http://www.tdkracing.co.uk/
Split Rims? - http://www.force-racing.co.uk/

I think I have read some where on a log book or another form dvla has sent me, "the registered keeper, may not be the owner" or somthion on that lines?
Shane.

claim it!!!!!!!!!! the dvla might be able to get in touch with him, they might attempt and when they hear nothing give it to you

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

Ok, this is actually a really simple one to answer.

You need to go to the post office and get the form for requesting a new V5c document (sorry can not remember the number of the top of my head).
Fill that form in as if your claiming ownership. If the correspondence address is not the same as the one the DVLA has on file, as per your case, they will send a letter to the address they have asking if onwership has been transfered.
If they get no reply after 6 weeks they will then consider the car to be 'free of ownership'.
As they need to have a keeper for each vehicle, mainly so they can get the tax n, they will contact you and ask if you still wish to be listed as the registered keeper.
At this point you say yes please and fill in the form they send you and return it to them. From that point onwards the vehicle will be listed with you as it's keeper.

Now here is the fun bit.

You need to return the part of the V5c to them as if you'd just purchased the car, no change in details etc. but that action will then lift your status from keeper to owner and keeper.

If your going to put the vehicle in a workshop this is the time to change the keepers address.


Now, you officially own the car in the DVLA's eyes and any further dispute will need to be backed up with evidence they own the car ..... which since you have the V5c and at best they will have the now worthless V5 it is going to go down to them producing photographic or legally documented evidence they still own the vehicle .... this almost always fails.
I would suggest that if you have any old photos of your family with the car in question then you need to hang on to them to counter the above dispute if it should happen ..... your phots being newer than theirs will be enough to cast doubt on the ownership application.


Does that make sense?????

Every day is a school day ...........

How fast and how expensive ...... the same question...

Thanks lads.

I thought you may have the answer Roger!

I'm off to the post office.

Next job is to get a four leg car lift to get one of the Minis up out of the way!

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

roger not quite right!

legally you need to put a note on the car for 6 months before you send off for the v5, you must state the car is on private land and will be disposed of however you see fit, however proving how long the notes been on is another matter personally i would put the not on take a photo then send off for the v5

i had to do this when someone left there mini here for 18 months

I went to have a look at this car this afternoon, after pressure from Axel and the missus!

No registration number, engine number or chassis number.

We think it is a MkII Midget 1964-66. It has the 1098cc engine with a 12G295 head, although fitted with a single SU carb.

I guess without any numbers this is going to be a lot more difficult to register.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

theres always plenty of midget/mini log books on ebay, not saying anything more

I take it you checked the passengers door pillar for a chassis number as well as the engine bay?

Edited by Rob H on 6th Apr, 2007.

Yep, there is a body number on the door pillar, but it's meaningless at the moment.

It's not the same as the chassis number.

Edited by Paul S on 6th Apr, 2007.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Sounds a really interesting find, I'd love to see some more pictures!

Hi,
Someone's got their work cut out!
Cheers,
Gavin :)

VEMs Authorised Installer / Re-seller. K head kits now available!

WB/EGT gauges. Click here for customers write-up

Visit www.doyouneedabrain.co.uk

My Mini build diary

Just had a look the the Heritage certificate for my Midget and it lists both the chassis number & the body number on it, so at a push British Motor Heritage might be able find the original chassis number, engine number & registration for you.

EDIT: Just looked at there website and they can search on body numbers, but it costs:

http://www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/arc...cate_index.html

Edited by Rob H on 6th Apr, 2007.

Edited by Paul S on 6th Apr, 2007.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

blimmen exciting !!

Medusa + injection = too much torque for the dyno ..https://youtu.be/qg5o0_tJxYM

Wolfie .. your spot on ...... but hasn't the car had a note on it for the last 25 years???? LOL

:)

Heritage wil sort you out no problem. If you struggle for any reason let me know, my cousin works there, and she has never let me down to date!

Every day is a school day ...........

How fast and how expensive ...... the same question...

Any more news on the Midget?

Mine decided to break down last Sunday on the way to it's first ever show :(

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

Nothing serious, electrics deciding to play up, one took a minute to fix once I got hold of the right tools, only problem was that the whole town was grid locked due to the show.

Good luck sorting out the ownership &paper work.

I forgot to ask at Avon if you've got any further with this?

I finally got a dry sunny day yesterday and was able to take mine for a spin to blast out the cobwebs.

No change mate.

Too many Mini projects at the moment.

Rainy day job.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."

you can seize the vehicle as payment for storage costs incurred. apply for the V5 mate its ures good and propper

i would write to the owner on the V5 ? perhaps if not then go with my first suggestion. let me know if the engine is goosed i have first dibs on the rods !!

Richie

______________________________________________________
TRADER HALL OF FAME
BENROSS...MINIMARK..WOLFIE (comic genius).....CARL....MARTPAUL.......AXEL
______________________________________________________
TRADERS OF SHAME
1 user....pm me 4 details

LEGENDS
MikeRace, Mini13

Did you get the MG in the end?

It's still there waiting.

Still too many Mini projects on the go.

I'm investigating making a big doorway in my workshop barn so that we can get cars in. Then we can get it where we can work on it.

Saul Bellow - "A great deal of intelligence can be invested in ignorance when the need for illusion is deep."
Stephen Hawking - "The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge."