Have sold my car and the buyer is coming to collect it tomorrow. Am I correct in thinking that as soon as the buyer signs the registration form s/he is responsible for that vehicle. I obviously want to cancel my insurance with immediate effect and get the reg docs in the post as soon as. I do doubt that the buyer will have arranged any insurance (judging by what a nightmare this whole ebay experience has alreay been) and so s/he will not be covered driving home. Am I right in my belief that I hold no liability after that reg doc has been signed?

that is correct.

How are they paying?

cash..is that cool?

When you sell your motor and they hand over the cash, Count it...dont be embarrassed to do this..its buisness afterall. You would be suprised how easy it is for them to forget the odd £20... ( i used to sell horses and i often got short wads!). Have a reciept ready made for them to sign when you exchange cash and vehicle documents. You should include on this " Sold as Seen " Make sure you put the time on it next to the signatures...get them to sign both copies.................................Then, after they have done that that..thats it. ...If it drops to bits...breaks down...blows up..or they have an accident...get knabbed by a speed camera...you have all the proof you need that it was no longer your vehicle. YOU must retain the section to send to DVLA then you can be sure its been put in thier name...plus you will have thier address...should you need to pass it onto the police etc.

Hmmm this all sounds very paranoid..but believe me you will be glad you did it.:thumbsup:

Originally posted by Babooshka
cash..is that cool?

depends... Do you have anyway to check if it's counterfeit?

Probably just being paranoid though. I was actually thinking of the bankers draft scam that had been posted a month or two ago, good forgeries, liverpudlians pulling the scam.

both parties have to return the slip - for your peice of mind offer to post both counterfoils.
my bro. has just got an £80 fine 'cos the garage he sold it too didn't send in their part of the slip.

Originally posted by cruella
" Sold as Seen "

This will have no bearing in a court of law.

Originally posted by sccsux
This will have no bearing in a court of law.

there is no duty of disclosure when selling something privately and most of the consumer protection laws do not apply. So anything bought or sold privately is effectively "sold as seen".
If they drive to the end of the road and the car blows up and all the doors fall off, it's just tough luck.

Originally posted by willman
both parties have to return the slip - for your peice of mind offer to post both counterfoils.
my bro. has just got an £80 fine 'cos the garage he sold it too didn't send in their part of the slip.


This doesn't sound right at all. The little slip is a sort of 'temporary' V5 until the new registration document arrives. If the original owner keeps both, the new owner has no way of proving that they own the vehicle until the new V5 arrives.

Maybe it's different for the 'sold to dealer' slip, but I've never sent in the little slip after a private sale and never had a problem. IIRC is says on it 'This part to be kept by the new keeper' or words to that effect.

Originally posted by cruella
If it drops to bits...breaks down...blows up..or they have an accident...get knabbed by a speed camera...you have all the proof you need that it was no longer your vehicle. .:thumbsup:

I hope that didn't happen to any of your horses Cruella! lol :D

Originally posted by Cyclone
So anything bought or sold privately is effectively "sold as seen".
If they drive to the end of the road and the car blows up and all the doors fall off, it's just tough luck.


Anything sold, be it privately or from a retailer must be fit for purpose.

Again, I reiterate, "Sold As Seen" has no legal standing

Originally posted by sccsux
Anything sold, be it privately or from a retailer must be fit for purpose.

Again, I reiterate, "Sold As Seen" has no legal standing

do you have a link to the relevant legislation, I don't think it applies to private sales.

just checked, fitness for purpose is from the sales of good acts 1994, and does not apply to private transactions.