How to Claim an Abandoned Car?

Ldarecool on 16/08/2015 - 18:14
Last edited 16/08/2015 - 19:24

Hey guys, there is this car at the parking area in my work place.

It has been sitting there for at least 3 years and I am pretty sure it has never been moved ever since. The car is now very dirty, grass is growing around it and there are cobwebs around the car, ie. Wheels, windscreen, door handle, etc. There is also no shade on the parking area, so it has endured all kind of weather for at least 3 years.

I am thinking of acquiring the car, but not sure what are my options. I have checked around the law in NSW (car is NSW rego) that there are no way for private individual to claim an abandoned car, mostly it becomes the possession of the council if I report it.

  1. How do I check the owner's contact details from rta based on its rego? I'm thinking of offering them some money to legally transferring the title to my name.

  2. After been sitting there for at least 3 years, what sort of damage should I be expecting, so I can budget for repair to restore it to a working condition?

  3. Where can I get it repaired? It is an old mercedes.

Thanks guys.

Automotive

Comments

  • Randxyz123 on 16/08/2015 - 19:18
    +2

    How do I check the owner's contact details from rta based on its rego? I'm thinking of offering them some money to legally transferring the title to my name.

    You can't you'd need to contact the RTA and ask. However I doubt the rego would be current, and I'm gonna guess it was stolen 3 years ago.

    After been sitting there for at least 3 years, what sort of damage should I be expecting, so I can budget for repair to restore it to a working condition?

    Depends on about 1,000,000 things… Did it have fuel in it, is there existing damage to the engine, people don't just dump a car in a car park. I'd say restoring it could be as simple as a good service, new brakes and tyres, a very good clean and detail job and maybe a paint job to completely restoring and rebuilding the engine and all the electrics.

    At the very least it will probably need new tyres, all the fluid drained, probably a new windscreen, maybe all new windows as well. It could cost you $2000 or $10,000 but it is impossible to tell without a mechanic looking at it.

    Where can I get it repaired? It is an old mercedes.

    What model and year? They are pretty cheap on carsales so you might be better off buying one that definitely runs and making it your project car.

    Can I ask why do you want it?

    Have you asked your boss if they know who owns it? I'm kinda surprised it is still there after 3 years. If it were my work place car park and it wasn't gone within 2 days I'd have had it towed.

    • darecool on 16/08/2015 - 19:36

      Yeah, I guess I will have to call RTA to find out. Rego has already expired. Not sure if it is stolen.

      I'm thinking if the repair cost is not huge, it may be worth to repair it (maybe not $10,000) so I can use it.

      But I don't think I can legally ask a mechanic to have a look at the car that does not belong to me yet. It will look like we are trying to strip the car!

      My boss doesn't know who owns it as the car park is shared between other people in the area. It just appeared one day and nobody ever comes to pick it up.

      The parking area is a little secluded.

      • [Deactivated] on 16/08/2015 - 20:21

        If the car is stolen the original owner can take it back at any time, likewise if it is "abandoned".

        Registered owner is different from legal ownership.

      • Randxyz123 on 16/08/2015 - 22:15

        Alright contact your local police station and the RTA. Explain to the police that it has been there for a while. They might be able to contact the last known owner according to the rego… If they can contact them they might be able to give them your details.

        Perhaps some person will get a call saying their old car has been found haha

        Once again What model is it? There are plenty on car sales

      • Kkuba on 01/09/2015 - 17:01
        +1

        If you are looking at purchasing a vehicle, it is possible to have it inspected by a mechanic before you own it.

        But they might look at you weird if you say you don't have the keys…

        Also, you can check if it's been reported stolen, if you can find the VIN (sometimes can be found on rego sticker, or othwerise imprinted on the chassis, at the bottom of the windscreen). Run a PPSR check on it: https://www.ppsr.gov.au/ costs about AU$3-4 per VIN. (use the .gov website, not any other!)

        If it hasn't been reported by this point, it's unlikely that it will ever be claimed.

  • boonanza on 16/08/2015 - 20:21

    Your kidding aren't you?

    • [Deactivated] on 24/08/2015 - 15:13

      Ozbargain

      If its free, its for me :)

  • pjetson on 16/08/2015 - 20:26

    I can't see any basis by which you have any right to obtain the owner's details - you have no interest in the car, and it's not on your property.

    However, if you go to a police station and explain the situation to them truthfully (that is, that there is a car in the car park where you work that's been there for at least three years and you'd like to offer to buy it from the owner), it's possible that the police might give you the registered owner's details. You'll never know if you don't ask.

    Of course, if the car has been abandoned for three years, the owner may not still live at the address on record.

  • rambutann on 16/08/2015 - 20:50

    "its an old Mercedes" that has been sitting there for 3 years hahahaha yeah have fun

  • lgacb08 on 16/08/2015 - 21:10
    +1

    if it were me I'd just take bit and piece from it and post it on eBay :P

    • darecool on 16/08/2015 - 21:40
      +1

      I'm pretty sure some parts have got serial number on it and it can be traced to this car. So it will be stealing for just a couple of bucks :/

      • lgacb08 on 16/08/2015 - 21:52

        just avoid any part that has the vin number on it, other serial number are pretty much very difficult to trace (at least the tyres, lol), especially if the car is old. But hey in common sense, there won't be much difference between what you want to do and my suggestion.

  • SeekerNZ on 16/08/2015 - 22:52
    +1

    Police are not going to give you details of the owner. They may look into it, try and trace the owner, but car abandoned for 3 years < just about anything involving current crime in ther inbox.

    I would ask around the other offices etc that use the car park and see what turns up.
    Hitting merc forums will turn up too much unwelcome interest…
    only other option IMO is to get it towed by council, who will most likely auction it, and take your chances on no one at auction wanting to buy a merc that looks in poor condition.

    • Randxyz123 on 16/08/2015 - 23:03

      Council will likely scrap it if it's value is <1000.

      So you could offer them $800 to take it yourself (pay for towing etc etc) but you need to talk to the police to find out what the legalities are with claiming ownership.

      I'd put a note on the window saying "Hey if you know who's car this is contact me" with your email (make a new gmail or something so you don't have someone sign you up for anything). Either that or put the main office number but NOT your mobile.

      Of course check with your boss before putting the office number on the car.

  • GnarlyKnuckles on 16/08/2015 - 23:11

    It seems most likely that the car was nicked 3 years ago, so assuming that it was insured against theft at the time (which being a merc it probably was), it belongs to the insurance company that paid out on the insurance claim. Tell the cops to check into that for you, then negotiate wit the insurance company to buy it from them. They will likely sell it to you for whatever the wreckers would give them for it; but seriously dude, don't go there… it is likely to be completed effed in various different ways. Just buy a cheap old merc that hasn't been neglected for 3 years. You'll be way better off, and they're cheap anyways.

  • Scorpiogirl on 17/08/2015 - 05:31
    +3

    Why in the 3 years it has sat there, hasn't anyone reported it to the police or council? It has obviously been abandoned there. I mean, if it was on the street one would do something before it was 3 years later i'm sure. Sounds dodgy to me.

  • ramshead on 17/08/2015 - 09:31
    +2

    Any funny smells 3 years ago. Could be a body under the bonut.

    • Scorpiogirl on 17/08/2015 - 10:11

      Exactly. I would hope if that was my car someone would report it being a little 'obviously' suspicious if this is a true scenario. I would be staying well clear of the car, not wanting it. Alarm bells ringing.

  • shadowarrior on 17/08/2015 - 12:30

    Not worth it. Report the car…find something on Gumtree or Carsales for cheaper. Unless it's a 1960's classic, and you have the money pit to restore it to original…don't lose your sleep over this.

  • w3b3d1g1 on 10/03/2016 - 17:11

    Take it to a farm and sell as a paddock basher

  • tonyjzx on 10/03/2016 - 17:52

    Unless it a 300SL gullwing its not worth it… what you would do is drag the car out into the streets. Then call the council to have it towed. When the council auctions it off, go bid.

  • TheOneWhoKnocks on 11/03/2016 - 19:07
    -1

    Any updates?

    EDIT:

    Last Login:
    14/11/2015

    Never mind. Lol

  • TheMoDz on 14/03/2016 - 21:17

    Check the boot, OP got taken inside a different dimension in the boot of teh old mercedes, just like the owner.

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