16 replies to this topic

[Perrylawrence96]

Always wondered what the law actually is on Barn Finds.

 

You come across a Derelict building, that has been abandoned for years and years, and you open a barn to come across your dream car.. is it rightfully yours?

 

Hmmmmmm

[b_sdaddy]

Sorry but it's not that easy.

 

The land will ultimately belong to someone. If you have indeed stumbled upon a derelict building, first go to your local Town Hall office or land registry and ask about who actually owns the land/building. 

 

If you're lucky, they'll be happy to part with your dream car, but if astute, will obviously do a little research themselves, and it'll probably end up in an auction at Bonhams!

[Perrylawrence96]

Sorry but it's not that easy.

 

The land will ultimately belong to someone. If you have indeed stumbled upon a derelict building, first go to your local Town Hall office or land registry and ask about who actually owns the land/building. 

 

If you're lucky, they'll be happy to part with your dream car, but if astute, will obviously do a little research themselves, and it'll probably end up in an auction at Bonhams!

 

 

didn't think it would be as easy as that! its just a thought that came across my head, because ive never actually read up on where these Barn Finds actually end up going ? hahaha! cheers buddy

[Richard19]

I think to actually find a real 'Barn Find' is pretty remote. You see lots of adverts today with this title but in reality

it's nothing more than an old rusty heap of metal which someone thinks will be worth more if they put the words Barn Find'...Oh yes & don't forget to include that all important word... RARE!!  As to who legally owns the car I guess whoever it is registered to.

[Perrylawrence96]

I know and read off a few people who have fount barn finds in the rural countryside off the U.K, which the back up to the argument on legally if they can take the car is if the v5 is in their name if im right? the only other way if the car isn't registered in the U.K at all? then you have fount a very unique Vehicle

[Ethel]

Owning the land doesn't make them the owner of the car, though it will if the owner can't be found. You could start with the dvla.

[ibrooks]

The "registered keeper" (the name on the V5) is not necessarily the legal owner. A car is like any other piece of property and ownership is just the same set of rules. The registered keeper records held by DVLA just give a bit more of a record with a car than any other item as in the vast majority of cases the keeper and owner are one and the same and if not then at least the keeper is likely to be able to say who the owner is.

 

Barn finds just mean a vehicle which few or no people knew about has been brought to light. Often it's a result of bereavement where an elderly relative had a car squirreled away as a future project or investment and when they die or become incapacitated the family find it when sorting through their stuff. There are many other reasons for a car to have been locked away in a building for some time so there's no single rule as to what it is or who owns it.

 

 

In your case of "coming across a derelict building" - it would come down to why/how did you "come across" it?

 

Maybe you could have bought the land/building and therefore did the contract of sale include the contents? did the seller have the legal title to the contents? If so then the vehicle is yours.

 

Maybe it's a building you drive past regularly and were just curious - you were trespassing. If you want that car then you need to track down the owner and make an offer.

 

Or any one of a hundred and odd other possible combinations. Barn find is a very generic term and can cover a huge range of circumstances.

 

Iain

[Ethel]

It can be an interesting area. You aren't necessarily trespassing, and it's usually  no big deal if you are. Be concerned if you break anything to gain entry to the old "barn" though. I wonder how many of us actually have proof of ownership for our cars. As Iain says a V5 isn't the same, but we often accept it as such when buying & selling.

 

Compulsory land registration is still relatively new, it could be your barn find belongs to the crown if the land is as neglected and forgotten as the car.

[b_sdaddy]

http://www.bbc.com/n...europe-31143638

[Dan]

I know and read off a few people who have fount barn finds in the rural countryside off the U.K, which the back up to the argument on legally if they can take the car is if the v5 is in their name if im right? the only other way if the car isn't registered in the U.K at all? then you have fount a very unique Vehicle

Then it's called 'Theft by Finding'. A car is not a naturally occurring thing, it must be owned by someone.

[Perrylawrence96]

Yeah I suppose, but if the owner has passed.. has no family etc etc. who's car is it?

[firstforward]

It would be considered part of the deceased persons estate. As a result the next of kin would inherit the car. If there is no next of kin it would pass to the good old government.

Edited by firstforward, 05 February 2015 - 03:09 PM.

[Perrylawrence96]

It would be considered part of the deceased persons estate. As a result the next of kin would inherit the car. If there is no next of kin it would pass to the good old government.

 

 

In a way the government having it is wrong/right I suppose.. but more money for them to make.. specially if the car is worth a lot of £££

[mk3 Cooper S]

Cars are tucked a suirelled away all over the place. Owners die, forget and move on but you cannot just legally adopt the ownership.

[Boycie]

Also worth noting- 99% of 'barn finds' advertised on places like ebay, have never seen a barn in their life. It's one of my pet hates when browsing the listings!