Another note of caution.

Let's assume you go to the County Court and get judgement. What happens next?

You need to be sure there's a reasonable chance of him paying up. If he's on his uppers, in othetr debts or only just making ends meet you might struggle to enforce. You may get nothing or only a petty weekly or monthly installment.

The old phrase about a man of straw still applies.

Whilst I don't wish to dash anyone's hopes of getting back what sounds like it was rightly theirs, I'm not entirely convinced the police would go very far with this. I'm pretty sure there have been cases in the past where somebody, by whatever means, has gained access to a vehicle and it's logbook, illegitimately transferred their name onto the V5 as the keeper, and sold the vehicle on. This has then been reported to the police, who have played their favourite 'civil matter' card, citing lack of evidence or whatever.

If you go to Plod and say he's nicked it, he will likely respond by saying the vehicle was gifted/given to him at some stage, hence the logbook being in his name. The police are unlikely, I would imagine, to be able to progress that any further, since there would be no actual evidence - save for you and your daughter's statements - that he sold the vehicle illegally. Indeed, the police may even consider your admission that the vehicle was transferred to him on the V5 as 'evidence' in his favour. That you have proof of originally purchasing the vehicle is of no relevance if you are admitting that you subsequently transferred it into his name; that is likely to be the more important point. In view of the circumstances surrounding the allegation, i.e. that a clearly difficult breakup has happened, it is very likely to be deemed impossible to establish who is being truthful, and such a small matter is very unlkely to be deemed worthy of a court's time to get it settled I would imagine.

Sorry to be a doom monger, I hope you do find some success!

Edited by happy polo on 27/02/2013 at 20:15

Only the Daughter can be the complainant to the Police or Claimant in court, and as the car was not in her name on the V5, it may be difficult to prove she had anything to do with it.

You would need some paperwork before going to court such as a thank you letter or photos. I hope you can 'find' some.