previous owners

[Avocet]

It's true that the V5C is not proof of ownership. It's also true that DVLA will do everything to distance themselves from getting involved in a dispute of that nature. However, they should at least, be able to give you the date on which it changed registered keeper. As Harry Bllomfield says, they are obliged to respond to a reasonable request, but I would suggest that it would need to come from a lawyer on their letterhead. They need to ask for "a copy of the vehicle record". That should basically get them everything the DVLA holds on the car. Depending on how old it is, some of it may be on microfilm, and DVLA's response times are awful at present.

I take it you've been on the gov.uk website to check that it is taxed and MOTd currently?

Get vehicle information from DVLA

Check a vehicle's details, tax and SORN status and expiry dates on the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency (DVLA) database - online and telephone enquiries

www.gov.uk

Also check if it is insured:

askMID

www.askmid.com

This won't give you the answers you were looking for, but a few more bits of the jigsaw, maybe?

 

[motorbiking]

No need to waste money getting a lawyer to draft. You set out your legal interest as executor of the estate trying to track down a vehicle that appears to have been sold without lawful authority.

 

[foxhole]

Would you not simply report it was stolen by fraud to the police and let them find it.

 

[Avocet]

No need to waste money getting a lawyer to draft. You set out your legal interest as executor of the estate trying to track down a vehicle that appears to have been sold without lawful authority.

Aye, maybe, but from DVLA's point of view, they've only got your word for that. Depending on what the value of the car was, £100 for a legal letter might pay dividends in terms of response time.

 

[motorbiking]

They don’t seem to have a problem with giving registered keeper details to parking cowboys. A solicitor letter adds no value. They have to give the information if you can satisfy them your need is legitimate.

 

[motorbiking]

Would you not simply report it was stolen by fraud to the police and let them find it.

You would place yourself in danger of making a false statement. They would ask the obvious question of ownership.

 

[foxhole]

You would place yourself in danger of making a false statement. They would ask the obvious question of ownership.

If you believe a crimes being committed then you can’t be accused of making false statement.