jonahnaylor Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Hi I am thinking of buying a land rover that seems to check out. In that it has a V5 and an MOT and the vin numbers all match and chassis numbers etc. The only problem is the previous owner said he bought a rolling chassis from a friend, and used that chassis to rebuild the land rover - so his friend kept his chassis numbers which he cut out when he sold the chassis, then the new owner welded his chassis numbers into the used chassis so everything now matches as it should. However how do I check this is all legit and legal and not a stolen vehicle or such? Some forums and info seems to say that second hand chassis' can't be used, while others say you need a Q plate registration with an IVA test?? Is there a way to ensure I can buy the land rover without getting into to trouble later or losing my money? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miketomcat Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Don't touch it. There is no way to prove it isn't stolen and even if it isn't you will end up in a whole world of hurt with the authority's. Whilst it may or may not need an IVA I will certainly require re registering and probably end up on a Q plate. Using a second hand chassis is perfectly legal but it does need re registering. However cutting a chassis number out and welding it into another chassis is almost certainly illegal. Mike 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Exactly. Walk away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazzar Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Or re chassis with a new chassis. With a receipt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 I'm with the others, leave it & walk away or buy a new galv chassis & rebuild on to that, cut the existing VIN part out & keep it indoors in a safe place, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 Drop it like it's red hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonahnaylor Posted February 23, 2020 Author Share Posted February 23, 2020 Ok thanks for the advice. The seller has sent photos of pretty much everything. The V5, chassis welded in VINs, engine number, gearbox number, VINs under bonnet and in windscreen etc. Is there a way I can get it made legit by him before buying and is a comprehensive HPI check not enough then? It also has a full MOT so the test station must of thought the chassis was ok?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
western Posted February 23, 2020 Share Posted February 23, 2020 I think the only way he can get it checked is through a rebuilt vehicle check/IVA which could cost him much more. https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-registration/rebuilt-vehicles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 There is no way to make it legit without a Q plate. Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonahnaylor Posted February 24, 2020 Author Share Posted February 24, 2020 Ok thanks for the advice, I'll ask the seller if he can register it on Q plate and get it legally verified. Otherwise it sounds like I'll have to leave it unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigj66 Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 The issue you have is that you have no way of validating whether the original rolling chassis that the seller obtained from his friend was not stolen in the first place. The documented traceability only seems to go back as far as the current owner, unless you know otherwise? If I understand the rules correctly, you can only rechassis a vehicle with a like for like replacement which is new rather than used and it’s this difference that avoids incurring points under the IVA scheme. I certainly wouldn’t rely on the knowledge of an MOT inspector as your potential defence. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Correct. And an MOT test is a basic safety check and does not guarantee legality or roadworthiness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo Murphy Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 The long and the short of it is - don't touch it with a barge pole ! Mo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanuki Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 3 hours ago, Mo Murphy said: The long and the short of it is - don't touch it with a barge pole ! Mo Agreed! I wouldn't even touch it with someone else's barge-pole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Litch Posted February 24, 2020 Share Posted February 24, 2020 Definitely a no no. Your new vehicle (when you actually get one) will give you plenty to do with regards to maintenance, modifications & repairs but there is no point adding to them with something so downright iffy as a rogue chassis. If you end up with a Q-plate it will de-value the vehicle and make it more difficult to sell on. At worst, oneday, someone, somewhere may find a way of tracing the origins of the chassis and it could be taken from you with no recompense. There are lots of perfectly legit vehicles out there, take your time and choose wisely. 20-Years ago my wife and I were scammed by the seller of her MGB GT (a seemingly legit MG specialist who had been trading for many years but was getting ready to retire to his farm in deepest France and scamming as many people as he could in the last few months of trading) and we lost almost every penny,. Your seller may be trustworthy and a really nice person but something is wrong with the vehicle so don't even think of going there as believe me...…. it hurts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy50 Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 (edited) As everyone says , walk away , the work the owner has carried out is 100% illegal , you cannot weld an existing chassis number onto another second hand chassis ,there are plenty of honest motors out there so save yourself the hassle , say thanks but no thanks and walk ! Edited February 29, 2020 by Ozzy50 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballcock Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 There was on Facebook marketplace a few weeks ago a nicely rebuilt 110 for sale in South Wales. I had seen the truck around and had spoken to the then owner. Reading the add he had put up for it, it clearly was stating it had been rebuilt onto a 2011 puma chassis and running gear. Passing his place of work the following day I thought I would pop in and recommend he removed the add and advised him to check the DVLA website to confirm what I was telling him. The add stayed up and it appears it was sold a few weeks later. Some people just don't learn or take advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 40 minutes ago, ballcock said: Some people just don't learn or take advice. More to the point, some people just don't care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballcock Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 4 hours ago, Bowie69 said: More to the point, some people just don't care. Too true, It's the poor fool who buys them and then finds out at a later date they have a ringer. This Gent just didn't believe he was doing anything wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy _1 Posted February 29, 2020 Share Posted February 29, 2020 (edited) Well I think if this seller was trying to scam you he would have never had told you about the number welded in. I think he did this try to appease the dvla masters and by his thinking trying to stay legal. His first mistake was telling anyone unteen landrover will have had this area rusted with plates welded in , he should have just left it blank. If the engine number ties up ect it's fine. When they do ringers the engine number is cold chiseled out and the axel numbers The same chilsled out this is to stop the police because they do a acid test to reveal the engine number but if chiseled it send shock wave through the block and destroys the number deep down. Check all the plastics and seat belts they have a date on the if the plastics /seat belts if it's near the date for the reg and the engine numbers fine its ok . If it was a ringer it would be like on a g reg but having a puma 2.4 engine and dash ect Edited February 29, 2020 by andy _1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy50 Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 10 hours ago, andy _1 said: Well I think if this seller was trying to scam you he would have never had told you about the number welded in. I think he did this try to appease the dvla masters and by his thinking trying to stay legal. His first mistake was telling anyone unteen landrover will have had this area rusted with plates welded in , he should have just left it blank. If the engine number ties up ect it's fine. When they do ringers the engine number is cold chiseled out and the axel numbers The same chilsled out this is to stop the police because they do a acid test to reveal the engine number but if chiseled it send shock wave through the block and destroys the number deep down. Check all the plastics and seat belts they have a date on the if the plastics /seat belts if it's near the date for the reg and the engine numbers fine its ok . If it was a ringer it would be like on a g reg but having a puma 2.4 engine and dash ect It’s still illegal , no one is saying the seller is trying to create a ringer , only he knows if that’s what he’s doing but the fact remains it is illegal to cut a chassis number off and replace it with another , the chassis number is the vehicle ID and is tied to the reg and the V5 . The seller needs to have the vehicle inspected and IF he has all the receipts and proof of the chassis AND the rest of the vehicle he MIGHT get away with , most likely will end up with a Q reg , might even lose it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy50 Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 I just hope the OP has taken everybody’s advice ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy _1 Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 It illegal to drive over 30mph in a 30 as well. I am not a fan of the government and their stupid rules. Its replacing a chassis if you replace with a new galvanized one no problem. Technically it is illegal but I am not analrententive. If you that worried about it bud just walk away and get another . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy50 Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 That’s not the point , it’s when someone buys it and however far down the line , say for example they have a crash , doesn’t have to be their fault , and the ILLEGAL chassis alteration is found , what happens then ? Insurance don’t pay out , possible criminal charges , fines ? Rules like this are in place to try and prevent criminals from ripping people off and bodgers from killing people on the roads with unsafe vehicles. It has nothing to do with stupid rules ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutley Posted March 1, 2020 Share Posted March 1, 2020 2 hours ago, andy _1 said: It illegal to drive over 30mph in a 30 as well. And they too will pay a penalty when caught as will the owner of a vehicle with an illegal chassis! IGNORANCE is NO defense in the eyes of the law! The OP original asked for advice on the matter, the overall advice is DON'T touch it!!! What he does with that advice is his and everybody else's choice! If he or anybody else chooses to ignore it then don't come back with a woe is me story if things go south!?! Plus it is a matter of conscience, you drive the said vehicle with no issues, you sell it and it is involved in a fatal accident! And YOU knowingly sold a motor that IS illegal and should NOT be on the road, maybe you sold it to a friend!?! I accept that the third party could still be fatally injured in a legal vehicle but at least the relatives have some come back for their loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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