car registration documents scam?

[x332race]

I am selling my CLK500 Convertible. I have been contacted by a prospective purchaser based in Paris (France) via an advert on ebay. She has only concluded 2 transactions a while ago. She rang me and discussed the car and discussed coming to see it in 10 days time (obviously I am not going to hold the car for them and will sell to the first person who who makes me a reasonable offer, but it is quite a specialist car so might take a while to sell).

Anyway, she has now contacted me asking if I can send a copy of the registration document so she can arrange insurance if she buys. I am dubious about releasing such information until she has seen the car. Am I right to be?

 

[The _Don]

Yes.

 

[NW_Merc]

She doesnt need the registration documents as I'm sure the insurance company can check the details of the car via databases.

I'd politely tell her that if she wants the registration documents then she has to buy the car. Tell her you will give her the registration number (i.e. plate) and the VIN to check but nothing else unless she is committed to buy and you get a deposit.

 

[LESTAYLOR]

Yesyou are right to be worried. I think you should sell it to the first buyer who comes along. If she is serious and turns up she can arrange cover over the phone. You should not have to be worried about selling your car. It should be a simple process. Don't let the car out of your site until the funds are safely in your bank.
good luck with the sale.

 

[x332race]

Thanks for above comments. Really reinforced what I was thinking. At the moment, I have not even given out the registration number and I am wary about giving out VIN to a stranger.

PS. Seem to be attracting Scams at the moment.....had a prospective "buyer" from Ireland who seemed ok then started asking me to send copies of my electricity or other utility bills so he could verify my address.....needless to say that was the end of the discourse!

 

[markjay]

As others said... not sure how insurance works in France, but in the UK I have never ever been asked by the insurer to produce a copy of the logbook. I guess it is not impossible that she wanted to make sure she has the correct details, rather than insuring the car using the wrong VIN or VRM by mistake, but even so on balance I wouldn't send anyone a copy of the car's logbook...

 

[BTB 500]

Apart from anything else the registration document has your full name & address details = potential identity theft.

 

[x332race]

Apart from anything else the registration document has your full name & address details = potential identity theft.

I am going to have to give her my name and address so she is able to come and see the car....

 

[John]

She wants a copy of the V5 'if' she buys it.

Nope.

I can't see how giving your name and address out will be an issue (as you say - it will be needed for her to see the car) although you don't necessarily need to give your full name at this stage i.e. not your surname.

I can't remember ever giving out my full name in relation to selling a car - nor have I ever given copies of V5s. Genuine buyers will see all that when they turn up to view.

She can do a vehicle check with the number plate and chassis number.

 

[The _Don]

You can meet her at say the local train staton etc then if she wants the car take her home.

 

[grober]

MERCEDES OWNER= someone with a lucrative identity to exploit/steal.

ps lovely car you are selling don't give it away. A big v8 engined CLK CABRIOLET in good nick will hold its value like no other. -- However you are selling at the wrong time of year mate.

 

[Merc Owner 2B]

If you do sell to your French lady then make sure you have a signed, dated and timed receipt as well as retaining the portion of the V5 regarding Permanent export (Return to DVLA with covering letter and copy of receipt). Give main part of V5 to buyer as they will need it in france for re-registration. They can drive for 6 months before having to re-register.

I would also want to see a passport (record the number) and proof of her address in France. And then there's the issue of how you are paid!

Remember that you can return your tax disc for refund on any unused cover (form from post office).

You can see why "WE BUY ANY CAR" are so popular!

 

[jaymanek]

Giving her the registration number is fine, many people need this to sort out insurance etc.

Many also ask for the document reference number in order to check the cars MOT history.

VIN: hmm, well again they would only be being prudent by doing an HPI check for which they will want the VIN.. you could ask them to do this once they have seen the car.

I would not hand the V5 or any copy of it until she has paid though.

 

[GRAV888]

Don't let the car out of your site until the funds are safely in your bank.

And cleared.

 

[nurple]

Youve got to ask yourself why she wants to buy a RHD car if shes in France? (assuming yours is RHD of course).
I wouldnt give anything like that to anybody until ive seen the colour of their money.

100% scam!

 

[x332race]

Youve got to ask yourself why she wants to buy a RHD car if shes in France? (assuming yours is RHD of course).
I wouldnt give anything like that to anybody until ive seen the colour of their money.

100% scam!

I have been wary of her from the start....all seemed a bit odd from the outset when she rang me. We shall see.

Needless to say, I will be very careful if this proceeds further.

 

[kth286]

I would want the VIN as well to do a car spec check.

the VIN is public anyway in the windscreen.

Look at it from the other side - they want to feel they are dealing with a bona fida seller that has the legal right to sell that car.

I believe that UK cars are very good value to EU residents at present.

 

[Scott_F]

I have been wary of her from the start....all seemed a bit odd from the outset when she rang me. We shall see.

Needless to say, I will be very careful if this proceeds further.

Ask her for her landline number and gauge her reaction.

 

[tode]

I recently insured a car in France that I was going to pick up in UK, and all they need is the reg no, model and VIN.

That said, I would be willing to bet you a good bottle that it's a scam, though not necessarily a question of faking the car's identity.

 

[nurple]

I was selling a car once and had a guy who reckoned he was in Spain and wanted to send a truck to collect the vehicle.

He wanted to give me a cheque for more then £2000 over what the car cost to buy, and I was to give the truck driver a cheque back deducting the delivery cost from the £2000! Jesus! he must have thought I was born yesterday.

I decided to have a little fun with the guy and I gave him the address of a disused factory in Inverness as the place to collect the vehicle from....needless to say I never heard from him again!

I often wonder if he did try and collect!