The Lotus Grand Tourers

Hi All, I've recently become the new owner of a lovely light blue Excel. B125OSB. If anyone could help me track down the previous owner it'd be greatly appreciated.

Is it not on the V5?

Not any more .
Data protection nonsense. You are only allowed to find out who owns, or has owned a car if you have a valid reason - Such as "I own a dodgy parking business and I need to know so I can rob some money off the owner"

And no, I haven't been caught by one - at least not to have to pay the fine. Usually go away when you challenge.

Tony

Yes, I was quite surprised when I discovered that the DVLA will sell a vehicle keeper's details to pretty much anyone. They don't do any proper checking that the person or company buying the details is legit. There have been instances where details have been sold to criminals.

I think all of us naively assume when we give our personal details to a government office they wil be used for official government purposes. I remember an MP tried to tackle the matter a few years ago but he got nowhere.

Arran1977 wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 03, 2021 15:40

Hi All, I've recently become the new owner of a lovely light blue Excel. B125OSB. If anyone could help me track down the previous owner it'd be greatly appreciated.

Welcome to the Forum. If you can post a picture that would be great. I may have come across your car at a show or something but can't remember too many light blue ones. Is that Ice blue?

I told the DVLA I was researching the history of my vehicle, paid £15 (IIRC) and about 3 weeks later photocopies of all the previous owners V5's arrived. Quite interesting to find it was first owned by a company 5 miles away from my house.

Did you do that via email ?
Bash

Jason.goad wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 11, 2021 12:23

I told the DVLA I was researching the history of my vehicle, paid £15 (IIRC) and about 3 weeks later photocopies of all the previous owners V5's arrived. Quite interesting to find it was first owned by a company 5 miles away from my house.

How long ago did you do that as I’m sure they won’t do that anymore.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... record.pdf basically says you have to have a legitimate need, but a Google search seems to indicate a history file for a classic car isn't such a thing. If it was that you'd received a demand for money and needed to show who owned the car at the time that might be reasonable grounds.

This thread seems to date the change in stance around Sept 2017
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/top ... &t=1700543

Sept 17 for the change of policy seems about right. There's a resto thread on TLF for an early Elite where the owner got some great info when he approached DVLA (around 2016 /17 I think) and he managed to reach several PO's who were delighted to here the car still existed. Owning a Lotus is not quite the same as buying a mini or Ford as an A to B car and interest stays with most people.
I sent my enquiry off in 2018 IIRC, and was reasonably politely told to take a hike.
Tony

Sorry for the late reply. Just had a look at the previous owner list.
I contacted the DVLA in 2014 (thought it was more recent than that...old age etc). I'm sure I filled some sort of form out, but as already mentioned, I thought it was only about 3 years ago so it could be anything.