I've bought a stolen car - how can I get my money back? | Ask Honest John

I've bought a stolen car - how can I get my money back?

I bought a car that cost me £3450 last week and have now found out that it is a stolen car. The police want to take the car and give it back to the rightful owner. As the car had been stolen and then cloned with another car, all the checks I did on the car came back ok. What can I do to get my money back? I bought it from a private seller.

Asked on 22 August 2010 by veritylouise

Answered by Honest John

The only person you can take action against is the person who sold you the car. You cannot keep the car because it belongs to someone else. If you carried out a proper HPI check then that is guaranteed, but HPI checks bought via third parties are not. HJ.

You also need to follow a very rigorous procedure to ensure the HPI check cover comes into play, including verifying the identity of the car and the seller. If you failed to make the necessary checks then the HPI insurance policy will not indemnify you. LBC.

Tags: stolen cars car crime legal advice

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