Barn finds, V5s and (who does own it) ownership

[byke95]

Hi all,

I’m considering buying a bike that was found when a property was sold to a new owner. There is no other history. Said new owner sold the bike to another fella who, as far as I can tell, buys and sells bikes as a bit of an extra earner. He has the (or at least applied for a new) V5.

As the V5 isn’t proof of ownership, if I were to buy the bike, is there a risk of the original owner tracking the bike down and making a claim to it? Is there anything else I should be thinking about?

Big thanks!
Byke

[Ste]

Stick the registration into https://www.isitnicked.com/ to see if it's reported as stolen.

Stick the registration into https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/ to see when was the last time anyone cared enough about the bike to get it MOT'ed.

Does the new owner some type of receipt or anything from the person they bought it from?

I suppose that there is the risk of the original owner tracking it down and laying claim to it and I'm not sure how you could completely remove that risk.

[Polarbear]

How would they prove it, short of having the original shop receipt.

I know the V5 has 'No proof of ownership' plastered over it but it's surly as valid as a hand written receipt?

If it isn't, just write your own receipt.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[MCN]

[chickenstrip]

Barn find? Shut up and take my money...and my house, car, bike and life! Barn find?! My life for you!
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[Pete.]

If you bought something and paid a reasonable amount for and got a receipt from the seller who has a v5 in their name then you're at very little risk. To gain a v5 he must have applied and a letter will have been sent to the previous registered owner, who didn't respond.

The only way a PO could find out you now own it is to spot that it's back in use and apply for the keeper details. Even then, the bike was bought along with a property contents so they'd have little claim to the title.

If it was a bike I fancied owning, I'd probably take the chance.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[yen_powell]

In the past if someone applied for a V5 on a vehicle they didn't own, the DVLA write to the last known owner asking if it is okay. Not sure what happens if they get no response because the owner is dead or long gone to another address.
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Blackmail is a nasty word........but not as nasty as phlegm!
XT1200Z and a DR350 in bits

[steve the grease]

My mate rang me and said , "They're clearing an old ladies house just up the road, theres a moped , if you don't want it , its going in the skip". So of course I had it, an address, but no owner name or V5 or anything other than a reg plate. A polite letter to the DVLA and twenty quid resulted in a log book.

I bought a tractor , been used for launching a boat on a private beach for 25 years ( so no tax insurance etc) owned by Mr A stored at Mr B's house. Mr A moves away and gives Mr B the tractor. 10 years on, Mr B is 80, no more boat, I buy the tractor. I think there is a manual in the filing cabinet. Oh look a V5 has just fallen out of the manual , in Mr A's name. No one knows where he lives , or even if he is still alive. Yet again, a polite letter to the DVLA and twenny Squids , generates a V5.

There is another one , but you get the idea.

As far as I know if a V5 is applied for , they contact the last known owner at the registered address, if nothing is heard back ( this is to stop cloning) then a V5 is issued in the new applicants name and address.
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All the above is my personal opinion, you can see my lips move, but I'm talking out of my arse.
I've been riding, and fixing , bikes for 50 years, in that time the more I learn, the less I am absolutely sure of.....

[Shaft]

[MCN]

The V5 ONLY states the Registered KEEPERS.
The keeper is not necessarily the owner.

It maybe doesn't follow common logic but legally that is all that it states.

Ownership is not as simple to determine and there are many cases that show this.

But normally people won't challenge sound evidence.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[UncleFester]

All the DVLA care about is who they can send the road tax invoice to - that's it. Unless someone actually reports it stolen.

If you do get the V5 either tax it or immediately SORN it.

DVLA are theives.
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2017 Z1000SX

[Easy-X]

A sells house to B, forgotten is a scooter in the garage (along with loads of other junk)

B has to clear the garage at their own expense and C receives the scooter from the clearance.

C then sells scooter to D

A remembers the scooter in the pub 10 years later and is pissed off.

A would have to prove that the original sale of house and contents explicitly didn't include the scooter and that B knew that. And that B had informed C it was a bad faith sale and that C passed that information onto D.

I wouldn't worry.
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[MCN]

[byke95]

Thanks for all the thoughtful and helpful replies BCFers. I dont get to come on here much these days, but you all never fail to be helpful

Legally, it sounds like there is a very small risk the orignial owner could seek out the bike, and even smaller risk to me even if he/she did.

I'd normally only buy from a private seller, who had owned and used the bike they're selling. I like to get a feel for an owner just as much as the bike. Still, the bike has caught my eye, and I keep on looking at the pictures of it. So much so, my wife thinks I must be looking at something more explicit.

Thanks again

[Suntan Sid]

The "risk" is surely linked with the type of bike it is.
If your "barn find" is a six month old MV, or a mint "classic" worth tens of thousands, the chances of you losing out are high.
If your "barn find" is a 20 year old run of the mill bike with added rust your risk of losing out is low.
As Ste says check it's not stolen, because the chances of you losing everything, if it is stolen, are extremely high!
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"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[Polarbear]

[MCN]

This article clears away any doubt.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1979/54/part/III/crossheading/transfer-of-property-as-between-seller-and-buyer
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.