Sharing of V5 number

Matt Berry

Matt Berry

Club Member
After some advice on V5 reference number request when selling.

My Z had “sold” and arrangements were made for it to be collected the first weekend in January.

I asked for a deposit and the buyer sent over £500 via PayPal.

Didn’t hear anything from the buyer over the festive period which is fair enough.

A couple of days before it was due to be picked up I had requests for the VIN number, the exact location of the vehicle and the V5 reference number.

I thought it was a bit odd but sent a picture of the number on the door tag and firewall to prove it matched.

I said I wouldn’t send the V5 reference number due to the V5 scams and the fact it clearly says on the form not to send it.

After 3/4 attempts of getting the V5 number and me saying no the buyer started getting a bit agitated and angry.

Was that the correct thing to do, or has anyone experienced this type of thing before?

Not sure if I was being too paranoid or not!
 
Robotsan

Robotsan

Club Member
I think you're exactly right. Why on earth should they need the V5 number at that point? Unless its a common request by car transporters.. maybe someone with more knowledge can chime in here, but I certainly wouldn't hand it over until the money is in my account.
 
Z

Zedman

Well-Known Forum User
A v5 reference number can be used for all sorts I think. I’d never share it until the full payment had been received.
 
Z

Zedman

Well-Known Forum User
AliK said:
They may require it for an HPI check to be valid. However, with all that information, they can request a new V5 in their name and become the new “legal” owner.
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I think that you can do the check without, but for the “insurance” the checks offer to kick in you can add those details post-purchase..?
 
Paul_S

Paul_S

Club Member
On a similar subject, I know of someone who sold his car to someone via eBay and made the fatal mistake of taking them up on the offer of filling in the V5 and sending it off. They took the document away with them and never sent it off.

Now he's getting regular fines for them driving it in the ULEZ zone. It's a real mess.
 
AliK

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Zedman said:
I think that you can do the check without, but for the “insurance” the checks offer to kick in you can add those details post-purchase..?
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Yes you can indeed!

@Matt Berry - did he ever give the reason as to why he feels he needs it?

Paul_S said:
On a similar subject, I know of someone who sold his car to someone via eBay and made the fatal mistake of taking them up on the offer of filling in the V5 and sending it off. They took the document away with them and never sent it off.

Now he's getting regular fines for them driving it in the ULEZ zone. It's a real mess.
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Happens all the time! Obviously it’s the legal responsibility of the seller to do this but many people just don’t realise the dangers of not doing it themselves.

A buddy of mine sold his car privately for about £8k and the exceedingly pleasant buyer wrote a cheque. So he put it in and agreed to release the car when it cleared. The next day and the day after the buyer was HOUNDING him saying how he is being unfair and he has his money in his account which he can see, why is he not letting him have the keys etc. he was being really very aggressive and persistent.

My very worldly wise buddy even started to waver and question himself, but held onto his guns (and keys).

When the cheque bounced, the buyer was nowhere to be seen and unreachable!

Many shady characters out there - despite how much we want the sale to go through, if there is the slightest doubt, it’s always a lucky escape to walk away from it!
 
Matt Berry

Matt Berry

Club Member
AliK said:
Yes you can indeed!

@Matt Berry - did he ever give the reason as to why he feels he needs it?


Happens all the time! Obviously it’s the legal responsibility of the seller to do this but many people just don’t realise the dangers of not doing it themselves.

A buddy of mine sold his car privately for about £8k and the exceedingly pleasant buyer wrote a cheque. So he put it in and agreed to release the car when it cleared. The next day and the day after the buyer was HOUNDING him saying how he is being unfair and he has his money in his account which he can see, why is he not letting him have the keys etc. he was being really very aggressive and persistent.

My very worldly wise buddy even started to waver and question himself, but held onto his guns (and keys).

When the cheque bounced, the buyer was nowhere to be seen and unreachable!

Many shady characters out there - despite how much we want the sale to go through, if there is the slightest doubt, it’s always a lucky escape to walk away from it!
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I asked several times what did he want to check and there was no straight answer. Best I got was “it’s to check to document itself” which makes no sense to me
 
G

Geoff-R

Club Member
Never share V5C ref number, they can do a lot with it and would leave you wide open. You've done the right thing not disclosing it. If they are serious about it and you have been upfront with them they can see the V5 when they come to view but there should be no reason for them to have that number, after all they would have their own reference number once a new V5 is issued in their name upon completion of sale.
 
Paul_S

Paul_S

Club Member
AliK said:
Yes you can indeed!

@Matt Berry - did he ever give the reason as to why he feels he needs it?


Happens all the time! Obviously it’s the legal responsibility of the seller to do this but many people just don’t realise the dangers of not doing it themselves.

A buddy of mine sold his car privately for about £8k and the exceedingly pleasant buyer wrote a cheque. So he put it in and agreed to release the car when it cleared. The next day and the day after the buyer was HOUNDING him saying how he is being unfair and he has his money in his account which he can see, why is he not letting him have the keys etc. he was being really very aggressive and persistent.

My very worldly wise buddy even started to waver and question himself, but held onto his guns (and keys).

When the cheque bounced, the buyer was nowhere to be seen and unreachable!

Many shady characters out there - despite how much we want the sale to go through, if there is the slightest doubt, it’s always a lucky escape to walk away from it!
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I think your mate did well there. I guess he was still down on a bank fee for a bounced cheque, but could have been a heck of a lot worse.

I can't think of a way out of the mess for the person I know. One option would be to report the car stolen (I think the fines now exceed the cost of the car so it is 'sort of' stolen). But it sounds dodgy to effectively be lying to the Police.
 
Mr.G

Mr.G

Club Member
Sounds like you did the right thing, the world has become a very complicated place with scams left right and centre and you need your wits about you more than ever.

Good luck with the sale.
 
Rob Gaskin

Rob Gaskin

Treasurer
Staff member
Site Administrator
Do you guys ever write a receipt and get signatures and copies. I do, At least then you can prove that someone else owns the car - if they complete the details correctly that is.
 
Robotsan

Robotsan

Club Member
Rob Gaskin said:
Do you guys ever write a receipt and get signatures and copies. I do, At least then you can prove that someone else owns the car - if they complete the details correctly that is.
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Yeah I always do this. When I sold the M3 the buyer wanted to pay 21k in cash. So printed out 2 receipts for us both to sign, saying he was paying cash, then I took him to my bank so he could pay the cash directly into my account. There was no way I was going to handle that amount of money myself, let alone count it! Turned out he was £20 short too 😂
 
Z

Zedman

Well-Known Forum User
I do the v5 transfer online at time of car collection. Then it’s time logged and immediate vs post and any tickets etc can be disputed and directed to the new owner.

I always also write a receipt with transaction amount, reg plate and warranty statement (that there isn’t one) - have a template I use now so super easy to print and fill in.
 
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