Lost car

[Lizzie L]

Just wondered if anyone else has dealt with this issue. Before my Dad was diagnosed and he was still driving he drove to the local shops and afterwards couldn't find his car. It has been 'lost' ever since. The police and local towing companies have no knowledge of the car.

3 months on the car hasn't turned up and I am wondering what do we do about vehicle insurance and vehicle registration? Dad has since returned his driving licence to the DVLA.

Anyone else had to deal with this?

 

[Katrine]

Have a look at this link: https://www.gov.uk/what-to-do-if-your-vehicle-has-been-stolen

 

[Lizzie L]

We don't know if the car has been stolen or if Dad just forgot where he parked it. That's why we haven't gone down the 'report as stolen' route so far.

 

[Onlyme]

I think if you report it stolen it will go onto the police database and flash up on their dashboard computer if it is seen anywhere.

 

[Kevinl]

If he is the registered keeper for the vehicle then it the tax or the insurance lapse he'll get an automatic fine in the post and some points on his licence too possibly. I'd get onto the police then the DVLC as soon as possible and tell them what's happened that at least would hopefully make him no longer liable for any penalties. Don't wait for a fine to arrive in the post or the police to turn up because it's been involved in a robbery or a hit and run.
If you know where he last had it I'd get a few friends together and search the area within a reasonable walking distance, best to do it when it's quiet rather than a Saturday afternoon when the carparks are fuller.
Once it gets on the police computer then it will start getting picked up by the ANPR system if it's being used. I take it it's not a very valuable car.
K

 

[Lizzie L]

The car was lost mid august when my step-mother was on holiday. Dad went to the bank but didn't get home till 11pm so we are unsure what happened. At this stage his dementia was undiagnosed.

On her return she and my brother searched the local area and all of dad's favourite parking places, the police were informed and she phoned all the towing companies as suggested by the police.

Since then there has been no further information or action. The DVLA advice is to surrender keepership of the vehicle so we are no longer liable for it's tax and insurance. It's worth £1-2k I guess.

 

[Cloverland]

I'd make it official with the police as stolen they will then have to do something, tell the insurance company. How do you know it wasn't and that's why he can't remember or find it. The insurance company might then pay out that too would relieve you from any insurance or tax and future insurance and some pennies in pocket. If vehicle ever showed up it belongs to the insurance company, no longer your responsibility.

 

[Jessbow]

Could you put a post on a local facebook page -

has anyone seen a *Black ford escort parked and not moved since August-

it must be somewhere.

* insert appropriate car make

Meanwhile please check with the police that they know the situation, and the reg number, likewise the insurance company. Do you know when his insurance runs out?


Its an unusual situation but I am sure they will understand, especially as he has surrendered his licence

You might like to run the reg number through a site like this

https://www.gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla

 

[annie h]

I'd strongly recommend reporting it stolen. I had friends to visit from abroad who reported their car stolen but then it was found (by an observant policeman) in the next street to where they parked it. The interesting bit is that the police then omitted to take it off their "stolen" list and when our visitors left here the next morning it took all of a couple of hours before they tripped an ANR device, just like someone earlier in this thread suggested it would, and they were stopped by a blue light motorway police car. If that works then it would probably save lots of people quite a lot of trouble. And after all it is genuinely missing so it doesn't seem a misuse of police time.

 

[WILLIAMR]

I would report the missing car to the police.
Some years ago a gent died and nobody knew where his car was.
After about 2 months it was found at the side of a road.
Somebody let the police know as it had been there so long and it was getting very messy.
Nobody knew why he parked it there. He could have got a bus to where he died but there was no logic as there was plenty of free parking where he died and it was off his route anyway.

William

 

[Lizzie L]

Car Found... but now wish it hadn't

The police have found the car...

I sent the following message to a couple of facebook sites in bristol asking people to share "Have you seen a Black Ford Mondeo parked since August in your road? If so please contact the police on 101. The family are trying to locate the car of a Bristol man who has Alzheimers. The registration number starts with SK56"

Late this morning the police got in touch saying someone had called them to report an abandoned car.

Now I wish we hadn't found it...
My Dad is furious that he's not allowed to drive it. He doesn't remember sending off his driving licence to the DVLA and is accusing his wife of all sorts of conspiracies.

My joy lasted 3 minutes!

No easy solutions as to what we do with the car now either....

 

[Cloverland]

If your dad is still registered keeper of vehicle and he can't drive, sell it either for scrap or privately. If its in good condition and roadworthy this might be a young persons dream of a cheap reliable car. He will forget, just keep telling him vehicle was stolen if that helps him.

Dad hasn't driven for 20 years but according to him he still owns a car

No more insurance, road tax, mot and worry that your dad might still try and drive it one day.

 

[Lizzie L]

Just need to wait for the LPOA to come through so we can sell it. Car being collected later and will be kept somewhere out of his sight.

Not used to this "if it's not one thing, it's another" feeling yet!

 

[Jessbow]

Sell it, I'd be inclined to say it wasn't his ( when you got there)

 

[Cloverland]

I agree with Jessbow, just sell it. The log book doesn't prove ownership.

 

[Kevinl]

Get it off the road, a drive or a garage will do then go to the DVLA website and fill in a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) otherwise the fines for lapsed insurance and road tax will start coming, keeping the car off the road is not enough it has to be declared as off the road otherwise it must be taxed and insured at all time even if it's on private property. When you come to sell cancel the SORN but make sure you follow the instructions on the VRD otherwise (again) he'll still be liable, that's the way the law is now.
As for the car can you tell him he can't use it until the police have fingerprinted it or something or just take a fuse out so it won't start then send it away for repairs, if he's forgotten where it was for months them when it goes again he might just forget, hopefully.
K