Bought a car privately, but....

[SauRoNZA]

I can't believe this. I guess it's my own stupidity and there's a price to pay. In this case the price to pay cost me R28,000 and thtee year's hard work. I trust people far too easily. Thanks anyway to everyone who tried to help. What I'm gonna do is take the car to the closest police station, make a statement of the events and leave it in their capable hands. If i lose the car and money, then so be it. I'm so tired of crooks and dishonest people.

Simply go back to the person you bought it from and either demand your money back or get the ID of the person whose on the paperwork which he/she should have received when they bought it from them.

Don't lay down so easily. Have you gone back to the person at all to tell them you can't register the vehicle in your name without the required documents?

 

[Arthur]

Simply go back to the person you bought it from and either demand your money back or get the ID of the person whose on the paperwork which he/she should have received when they bought it from them.

Don't lay down so easily. Have you gone back to the person at all to tell them you can't register the vehicle in your name without the required documents?

Agreed. Get your money back. Give him seven days then three bricks through the lounge window before reporting him to the SAPS - he fraudulently sold you a car he didn't own.

 

[saturnz]

Agreed. Get your money back. Give him seven days then three bricks through the lounge window before reporting him to the SAPS for fraudulent misrepresentation - he fraudulently sold you a car he didn't own.

You do not know with certainty that he fraudulently sold the car, it could have belonged to him, but he just never bothered registering the car on his name for whatever reason.

Nevertheless the buyer can claim his money back, but he will need a lawyer.

 

[Deanpire]

I'm looking at the "Notification of change of ownership/sale of motor vehicle" form now, and i see all the info of the previous owner (Name, Surmane, Id number, etc). Is printed on the form and it is signed aswell. I just don't have a copy of his ID. Could this by any chance help?

 

[Topdoggdbn]

If the notification form is signed by the last owner you sorted

 

[mikevanin]

I had the VIN number, engine number and registration number checked and they all came back clean.

A lot depends on the that statement you made. How did you have it checked and what evidence were you given to show that "they all came back clean"? If it's a SAPS clearance then you're okay. Lots of honest people are lazy or stupid or simply don't know the procedures for a lot of things. If you have SAPS clearance and the change of ownership papers, then you should be good to go.

 

[saturnz]

If the notification form is signed by the last owner you sorted

he may still need a contract of sale which they generally ask for as well, the change of ownership form is not a contract of sale.

 

[NomNom]

I'll take it off your hands for 25K.

 

[archibald]

What proof is there that the owner of the vehicle has left the country.Surely it is an offence to sell a vehicle
without the correct papers.Get the seller to draw up an affidavit of the true facts at a police station.

 

[saturnz]

What proof is there that the owner of the vehicle has left the country.Surely it is an offence to sell a vehicle
without the correct papers.Get the seller to draw up an affidavit of the true facts at a police station.

No its not an offence to sell a car without correct papers, its an offence to steal a car though.

Race cars are sold all the time without papers. I know of 3 supercars that are not even registered- they can't legally drive on the road but thats besides the point.

 

[airborne]

you going to have to get COR before you register in your name. Aske them they normally know someone who can assist.
Had a vehicle from a deceased estate passed from through several people. The person took my details and log book. paid r400 extra and he returned with the log book in my name.
There are people who do this for a fee.

If you in durban PM me and i will get his number.

Not true, you can do change of ownership without a COR but they won't give you the new license disc, it's still legal to drive around in the car as the new owner until the old license disc expires.

OP you probably bought the car from a guy that buys and sells cars, small time back yard dealer, or perhaps a pawnbroker that took the car as collateral. Why the heck you would hand over all that cash without first making sure the paper work is all in order is beyond me?

What you need now is the yellow form signed by the person that's stated as the owner on the logbook and a certified copy of his ID book and then you are good to go. Or try one of these people that have been recommended that you pay R500 and they stand in the queue at the licensing dept or whatever and make things happen, that's probably your best bet.

 

[MickeyD]

The seller should be responsible for getting the registration papers in his name.
Get hold of the seller and tell them to get the ID copy from the original owner so that you can transfer it into your name.

The next fun thing will be figuring out why he had it for a few months and now wants to sell it.

No... AFAIK the seller (old owner) is responsible to get the car off his own name. The buyer must register it on his own name.

 

[The_Traveller]

If you got the original Natis doc, go to any Indian owned dealership and tell them to assist you. Of course at a price ....

 

[CAPS LOCK]

OP, firstly, how did the seller simultaneously obtain possession of the legal registration papers and vehicle from the owner if the seller is not, according to you and others, acting in good faith?

Secondly, whatever you do, don't lose control over that vehicle just yet - Even if the real owner wants to claim it. There are a remedies available to you, and depending on the facts [missing in your OP] you could exercise rights over that vehicle against the real owner. In spite of the seemingly "lost hope" situation you think you're in, rather deal with the seller first for a return of the money, or for him to locate the owner to sort the paperwork.

 

[skimread]

Don't assume it's illegal.

Lots of international students studying at Cape Town buy a car and sell it later when they leave the country. When they leave they don't want the hassle of standing in queues so just end up selling it on the cheap for cash.

 

[Deanpire]

Thank you so much guys! I appreciate it greatly.