25 replies to this topic

[TheMiniMaan]

Evening all,

Im aware that GDPR prevents DVLA from releasing information on current keepers. However its been bought to my attention that VVB 681T has been sold on when it should of been scrapped.

Do i as a previous keeper have any responsibilities in regards to this vehicle knowing that this is a dangerous vehicle? Its was a stolen recovered CAT B write off and was in a very bad state of repair. Im unsure of when it last changed hands. I owned the car in 2001 (*correction 1998) and it was given for scrap so it could be anywhere all these years on, was all a bit different with the rules then.

Edited by TheMiniMaan, 22 February 2022 - 09:04 PM.

[mab01uk]

Cat B Body shell has to be crushed, but you can salvage other parts from it......maybe a new Heritage bodyshell available from BMH has been used to rebuild it? DVLA website says it has a current MOT.

Was it sold to an official scrap yard/vehicle dismantler in 2001 or a private individual?

 

[TheMiniMaan]

Cat B Body shell has to be crushed, but you can salvage other parts from it......maybe a new Heritage bodyshell available from BMH has been used to rebuild it? DVLA website says it has a current MOT.
Was it sold to an official scrap yard/vehicle dismantler in 2001 or a private individual?

It had substantial front end damage. It was stolen off of my drive, myself and my wife had quite the shock when we returned from holiday to a empty driveway.
It went to a local scrap yard although back then you could buy complete vehicles out of the yard. I Still have the VIN tag and number-plates as i retained these as a keep sake. There can not be a leggeitamency behind VVB681T being on the road.

My grandson has given me a google phone and has shown me how to search vehicles online. This was the only one of my previous vehicles that came up as on the road.

Could this be returned to the road when i still have the vehicle ID? It probably does not matter all these years on but would be interested to know how my poor Mini returned from the dead.

[TheMiniMaan]

It appears to be missing 16 years on history in regards to MOT. Mileage is vastly reduced from when we owned it, although potentially the vehicle has been around the clock so the mileage may of incorrectly been recorded. I smell a fish

[mab01uk]

The scrap yard would usually take the V5 Log Book which is the vehicle ID. Replacement classic Mini blank VIN tags are available on sale to be re-stamped if the owner has the V5 as proof of numbers and ownership.

This type and age of Mini is not a high value model in the world of classic Minis so unlikely to have been rebuilt to make a large profit, more likely an enthusiast has taken it on as a project and re-shelled it. Worst case the ID has been used on another stolen vehicle some years back. Personally I would not worry too much from your point of view as it was a long time ago and you are no longer the owner so there is no comeback on you. If it has passed an MOT twice it is unlikely to be in a dangerous condition and if it was then the garage who passed it would get any comeback rather than you.

Edited by mab01uk, 22 February 2022 - 08:02 PM.

[TheMiniMaan]

The scrap yard would usually take the V5 Log Book which is the vehicle ID. Replacement classic Mini blank VIN tags are available on sale to be re-stamped if the owner has the V5 as proof of numbers and ownership.
This type and age of Mini is not a high value model in the world of classic Minis so unlikely to have been rebuilt to make a large profit, more likely an enthusiast has taken it on as a project and re-shelled it. Worst case the ID has been used on another stolen vehicle some years back. Personally I would not worry too much from your point of view as it was a long time ago and you are no longer the owner so there is no comeback on you. If it has passed an MOT twice it is unlikely to be in a dangerous condition and if it was then the garage who passed it would get any comeback rather than you.

Would you of thought the vehicle was in some way re-registered as online records are displaying manufacture as Rover?

Edited by TheMiniMaan, 22 February 2022 - 08:14 PM.

[mab01uk]

 MOT check says Rover but I think the garage tester enters some of those details initially and Rover covers all Minis just to keep things simple.

 

Austin-Morris on the DVLA tax check:-

 

✓ Taxed

Tax due: 1 November 2022

✓ MOT

Expires: 12 September 2022

Vehicle make AUSTIN MORRIS

Date of first registration May 1979

Year of manufacture 1979

Cylinder capacity 998 cc

Export marker No

Vehicle status Taxed

Vehicle colour RED

Date of last V5C (logbook) issued 26 November 2021

 

 

Edited by mab01uk, 22 February 2022 - 08:47 PM.

[TheMiniMaan]

My friend sent me this tonight. I have had the date wrong in my mind, it was 1998 and not 2001

WARNING ;This vehicle's VIN may not be unique and some alerts may be incorrectly attributed

WARNING; This Vehicle has previously been reported as stolen

WARNING; Date 08/07/1998
Category B. The body shell should have been crushed, vehicle should not be on the road

WARNING; Information provided by the National Mileage Register indicates there may be a discrepancy with this vehicle's mileage. This cars MOT history shows a mileage discrepancy.

WARNING; Licence plate recorded by an insurance company as a total loss

[mini-mad-mark]

It may have been reshelled, legally or otherwise, but my guess is that plate/logbook is being used with a complete other mini for the purpose of being Tax exempt (how many times have you seen these on Ebay.....!)

[sonscar]

So this car is bought legitimately,the new owner applies for a logbook and is given one.If you had retained the book you would have been informed that a new one had been applied for.The new owner painstakingly repaired the car with the same new parts that countless other owners have used.What is the problem?1998 is not exempt from anything.Why is everybody up to criminal activity?You passed it on with a receipt?Let it be and enjoy life.Steve..

[TheMiniMaan]

So this car is bought legitimately,the new owner applies for a logbook and is given one.If you had retained the book you would have been informed that a new one had been applied for.The new owner painstakingly repaired the car with the same new parts that countless other owners have used.What is the problem?1998 is not exempt from anything.Why is everybody up to criminal activity?You passed it on with a receipt?Let it be and enjoy life.Steve..

The car ( VVB 681T ) is 1979 so is exempt from MOT and TAX.
I do not believe the vehicle is legitimately on the road. The car checks show CAT B “this vehicle should not be on the road” This was recorded during my ownership. The condition of the car did not warrant repair thus CAT B total loss being recorded.

Note with a CAT B
Category B write-offs represent serious damage to a vehicle which could include body or parts damage that is beyond repair and should not re-appear on the roads. ... Even if you want to get your car back on the road, you are faced with the potential block of insurance providers refusing you cover.
CAT B vehicles cannot be repaired and put back on the road. Fortunately, components from the CAT B vehicle can be removed and used in repairs of other vehicles.

I also have the VIN tag from when the vehicle went. This would explain the vehicle checks resulting in short VIN.

I’m more of the believe, as previously suggested that the vehicle ID is being used on a stolen car or similar. I will go through my old correspondence as I’m sure i have some photographs of the damaged vehicle.

It is a curiosity, that is all. I was looking to be advised on if i have any responsibilities, morally or legally knowing what i do as a previous owner of the vehicle. What has happened to it since my ownership is out of my control. Unfortunately some poor sole has probably paid good money for it and is most likely unaware of its shady history. Its been a great surprise realising my former Mini has been resurrected from the dead after seeing it go off for scrap

Edited by TheMiniMaan, 23 February 2022 - 02:08 PM.

[mab01uk]

A used car buyer should always do an HPI type of check which would reveal any past history such as a recorded write-off.

https://hpicheck.com/

 

Edited by mab01uk, 23 February 2022 - 07:17 PM.

[mini-mad-mark]

 

So this car is bought legitimately,the new owner applies for a logbook and is given one.If you had retained the book you would have been informed that a new one had been applied for.The new owner painstakingly repaired the car with the same new parts that countless other owners have used.What is the problem?1998 is not exempt from anything.Why is everybody up to criminal activity?You passed it on with a receipt?Let it be and enjoy life.Steve..

The car ( VVB 681T ) is 1979 so is exempt from MOT and TAX.
I do not believe the vehicle is legitimately on the road. The car checks show CAT B “this vehicle should not be on the road” This was recorded during my ownership. The condition of the car did not warrant repair thus CAT B total loss being recorded.

Note with a CAT B
Category B write-offs represent serious damage to a vehicle which could include body or parts damage that is beyond repair and should not re-appear on the roads. ... Even if you want to get your car back on the road, you are faced with the potential block of insurance providers refusing you cover.
CAT B vehicles cannot be repaired and put back on the road. Fortunately, components from the CAT B vehicle can be removed and used in repairs of other vehicles.

I also have the VIN tag from when the vehicle went. This would explain the vehicle checks resulting in short VIN.

I’m more of the believe, as previously suggested that the vehicle ID is being used on a stolen car or similar. I will go through my old correspondence as I’m sure i have some photographs of the damaged vehicle.

It is a curiosity, that is all. I was looking to be advised on if i have any responsibilities, morally or legally knowing what i do as a previous owner of the vehicle. What has happened to it since my ownership is out of my control. Unfortunately some poor sole has probably paid good money for it and is most likely unaware of its shady history. Its been a great surprise realising my former Mini has been resurrected from the dead after seeing it go off for scrap

 

 

Not so sure its definitely being used on a stolen car (but agree it could be) I would say, although stolen minis is more of a thing now as the price goes up - probably few got stolen in say 1990 due to low price compared to an XR3 (for example)  which was probably nearly as easy to steal and better in most cases (or was it....!) but certainly worth more than a mini back then

 

Re Steve/sonscar - not sure how you got old T reg to be 1998, but I'm not against anyone doing what they want if they want to take the chance - many people break the law and take the chance/risk they'll get away with it

As stated by the OP,  main issue is if they sell it to an unknowing person and then that person runs into any issue with it and loses the car or gets fined or whatever happens

 

I bet there are other cars (not just minis) not running their original reg for this purpose - it may be more prevalent on minis though due to the extended production of minis which was 41 years compared to the 40 year exemption - once 2041 comes this wont be a thing with minis anymore.....(assuming car tax rules don't change but think it will with the electric thing coming)

[mini-mad-mark]

Didnt touch on the MoT exemption but of course someone could be using it to get a rot-box on the road?

 

Not sure I agree with MoT exemption but I guess the DVLA/DVSA/VOSA which/whatever wants a standard set of tests that can't always apply to older cars so easier for them to apply exemption and might as well match it to the tax exemption for ease

[sonscar]

Surely if this had been properly scrapped the dvla would have rescinded the logbook?Someone is probably very happy to own it and may not be any type of criminal.Do not spoil his day.Steve..