DVLA Warns: No Proper Transfer, No Legal Car Ownership—Buyers & Sellers at Risk!
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has warned drivers that many of them may be driving cars that they don’t legally own because the transfer-of-ownership process isn’t finished, even if they have the keys and logbook. Stephen Attuh, the DVLA’s Director of Corporate Affairs, said that the person listed in the Authority’s central database still has legal title until an official transfer is made. This could put both buyers and sellers at risk of legal problems if they get into trouble with the law, are involved in a criminal investigation, or file an insurance claim. As part of its changes, the DVLA now gives vehicle titles directly to people when they first register a new or unregistered vehicle that has been imported. Buyers of used cars, on the other hand, must make sure that the transfer is done correctly in order to get legal ownership. The Authority stressed that sellers could be held responsible for accidents involving the vehicle if the transfer wasn’t finished, and buyers could be at risk of having their vehicle impounded or having ownership disputes. The reforms were meant to make ownership more accountable, easier to trace, and legally defensible.
