How do I scrap a car while not being the owner ?

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ComfortableWinter549@reddit

What are the laws on abandoned property in England? It may be your car already.

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MrReadilyUnready@reddit

Get some mates and a dolly. Move the vehicle onto the road. Report it as abandoned.

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Cow_Launcher@reddit

While that would probably do it, the BiL (who is presumably the registered keeper) will be responsible for the fines and costs: untaxed, uninsured, no MOT, plus towing and storage.

He would know that OP is to blame, and he knows where OP lives. I would be concerned about possible retaliation.

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TellMeManyStories@reddit

And the thief dumped it right outside my house!

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ci_newman@reddit

Request a V5 from DVLA, then scrap / sell it. Use the V62 form I think?

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Saw_Boss@reddit

Registered keeper is not the same as owner. You can't sell other people's property.

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ci_newman@reddit

The alternative is to push it into the road and let the council deal with it.

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Commercial-Name2093@reddit

Put it on the public road and report as abandoned.

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Superspark76@reddit

Have a tow company drop the car at the BILs property. It may cost a couple of hundred but it gets it away from you.

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Herak@reddit

If you don't want to get in contact directly get someone maybe a solicitor to act as an intermediary. Everything in writing and use recorded/signed for delivery.

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jambo_1983@reddit

You should ask this on r/legaladviceuk

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NedGGGG@reddit

I'd start by writting to you brother giving him 14 days to remove the car.

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TipsyPhippsy@reddit

Writing is still getting in contact...

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sihasihasi@reddit

This isn't getting sorted without some form of contact.

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audigex@reddit

Well, it's not getting sorted without either some form of contact, or OP committing a crime

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audigex@reddit

Sure, but the simple fact is that "without getting in contact with them" is just not a realistic or reasonable stipulation giving the circumstances

OP is an involuntary bailee and there are legal processes required in order to dispose of the property OP is in possession of. It is not legally possible to do that without getting in contact with the owner of the property (or making reasonable attempts to do so). See: [Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977, section 12](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1977/32/section/12). Disposing of someone else's property without following this procedure, is theft/criminal damage/some other criminal offence depending on exactly how you dispose of the item

The only possible routes we can take with the advice here are:

Get in contact and do it properly
Break the law and risk going to prison

Most people won't recommend breaking the law and risking a criminal conviction, so the only sensible advice we can give is to get in contact

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SweetMaam@reddit

Yes, but OP needs to grow a pair and notify the owner. Tow.

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NedGGGG@reddit

I realise that, the trouble is the car is still the property of the OP's brother in law. While it's most likely worthless there is a potential for a future dispute if the OP disposes of it without giving the BOL an opportunity to remove it.

If the OP really doesn't want to make contact they're best course of action would be to get someone to do this on their behalf.

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TheNinjaPixie@reddit

with a bill for storage

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MrReadilyUnready@reddit

OP can't retroactively impose a storage bill.

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Important-Welder76@reddit

Push the car out onto the road, it will get spotted as not taxed/MOTd and get recovered/seized.

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Royal-Instruction273@reddit

You can apply for a v5 by filling in V62 the DVLA will write to the registered keeper and if there is no response the will issue you a v5 so you can scrap if however this will not make you the owner of the car so Do some research on what an involuntary Bailee is and your responsibilities before you scrap a car that doesn’t belong to you

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DivePotato@reddit

Is this an option?

Take it out of the garage and pop it on a public road then complain.

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cdh79@reddit

Have you got the keys?......

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ImmediatePiano6690@reddit

A reputable scrapyard will take it and sort it out, my partners brother dumped his shit heap at his mums for years and one day she got a knock on the door from a scrap man asking if she wanted him to take it, which he did.

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_tym@reddit

Reputable scrapyards don’t knock door to door asking for scrap 😂😂

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ImmediatePiano6690@reddit

Because you have experience with this.

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wheresyourgodnoweh@reddit

A reputable scrap yard will not take a vehicle without being shown the logbook.

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geeered@reddit

Well, probably a not so reputable one.

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ARobertNotABob@reddit

I'm in a similar spot, but the vehicle is in the name of my son, who lives with me (I own the property freehold), but he won't get rid because "can fix it"....but he keeps procrastinating doing so (5 years).

TBF, if he did fix it, it would actually make him some money being low mileage (2012 Astra) ...

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SweetMaam@reddit

On your property you can have it towed, but you should make a best effort to notify the owner. Hey, having your car towed Saturday.

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Willeth@reddit

The legal phrase you are looking for is "involuntary bailee" - however the legal framework here will require you to ensure you contact him for removal as he still owns it, and you only get to dispose of it yourself if he fails to meet his obligation to retrieve it.

You may want to go through an intermediary to avoid contacting him yourself.

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theModge@reddit

Yep, I was going to send op to r/LegalAdviceUK to be told this, but this is 100% what they will say.

It's fundamentally not OPs car to get rid of, even if logically speaking it's junk taking up space.

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Paulstan67@reddit

!answer .

You HAVE to contact him (or at least have evidence that you tried).

A letter basically saying he has X number of days to arrange the removal or you will dispose of the car yourself.

If/when the deadline passes you can then dispose of the car.

You can use the scrap/sale proceeds to fund the removal if needed.

I appreciate that you are not wanting any contact so don't put your phone number in the letter only the address, or you could ask a friend/neighbour to act as an intermediary.

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Dredd209@reddit

We didn't have the paperwork for a car in our garage, but we contacted the local fire station and they took it away to practice using their cutting tools / whatever else they use them for. Not a bad option if you're not looking to make money and want to help your local fire service.

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ArtAccomplished1651@reddit

tear the plates off and ask the scrapyard to come collect it, if its your garage and you have the keys they likely wont care.

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Future_Direction5174@reddit

Find someone to help you move it to the roadside. You can use trolley jacks to lift it off the ground then push it.

Report it as an “abandoned car” to the appropriate authority (DVLC, Police, Council?). They will contact the registered owner and ask them to move it. Eventually they will act on it according to the law in your area.

UK has more than one legal system and without knowing whether you are in England, Scotland or Northern Ireland, I can’t know which is the best way to get an abandoned car removed from roadside parking.

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kipha01@reddit

Sorry but you have to contact him, you need to give him fair chance to remove the car. If after the agreed time has passed he had done nothing, you will need to provide notice of removal, if he still does nothing, then you have covered all bases so long as you return to him the value of scrappage or sale minus reasonable costs you have incurred from first contact. You won't be able to charge storage fees retrospectively because that was not agreed.

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Pedantichrist@reddit

You have to contact him. It is his car.

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LooperActual@reddit

Google "scrap my 2007 corsa" and see the offers. Just let them take it away and let don't tell your brother. If he complains tell him to sue you.

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DiligentCockroach700@reddit

Apply to the DVLA for a V5 in your name. The DVLA will then contact the previous owner at their last known address. He can either reply and say it's ok or not, or not reply in which case you get the V5 by default. Then it will be much easier to get rid of the car.

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kalendral_42@reddit

Because you don’t own it you have to give the owner, presumsbly still b-I-l, the chance to claim it. Send a recorded delivery letter giving him x weeks to collect it, & stating that if it isn’t collected by x date you will scrap it/get it towed.

Obviously if he arranges to pick it up it’s no longer your problem but if he doesn’t you’ve got a couple of options. 1. Drag it out to roadside parking & report it to 111 as an abandoned vehicle for them to deal with 2. Contact DVLA & advise a car has been abandoned on your property, you’ve made an attempt for the owner to collect (proof of recorded letter), but he hasn’t & you now need it removed but it’s not under your title. They’ll advise you of what to do next regarding the title, etc 3. Just ring a man with a van/scrap merchant place & get them to take it away (not all places will without a clear title), & keep the proof of recorded letter just in case b-I-l comes back & tries to cause an issue

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Belterhaze31@reddit

Go on Facebook and type in scrap collection on market place and fire some messages, most people won’t care one one bit although they should

If you don’t mind me asking, what car is it?

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AdonisCarbonado@reddit

What car is it please? This sounds like the scorned wife who sells the Porsche for £5 & gives the new buyer a BJ type pettiness.

Do the right thing & either sell it to one of us or get back in touch with him - if you have to. Don't be a Mitch & throw other folks stuff away without their consent. The logbook request will go to the previous owners address to confirm the aquistion as someone has already mentioned.

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TheRiddlerTHFC@reddit

A couple of years ago, he asked to park it there, its been there for 8 years...

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geeered@reddit

You can apply for the V5 with form V62.

They will try and contact the previous owner.

However, as I understand it, he can't stop you getting the V5, though he could request the car back.

As the V5 says, it's not proof of ownership. You are the 'keeper' of the car, so you should have the V5 in your name.

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660trail@reddit

I'm not sure where you stand legally with this. I understand it from your point of view, but he may be able to claim against you if you don't give him notice of your intent to dispose of the car and give him a chance to remove it.

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kylehyde84@reddit

What car is it? Might be worth something if it's old/rare?

Apply for v5 in your name

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