Has anyone heard of this? THe DVLA phones up to tell us that they want my mum to take her car to a police station about 45 mins away from here next week at 8.30am because they have discoverd that there are 2 cars of exactly the same make with the same number plate and chassis number registered to different owners? THe car was bought from a very reputable garage whom we have known for years and years and all the paperwork is correct. The car is 4 years old. Has anyone heard of this? What are they likely to do?

Mmm my first thought on reading this is are you sure its not a wind-up? I would check with the police station she is supposed to be taking it to. Sorry, just never heard of anything like this before.

I'd check this info out ....it seems a bit fishy to me.

Give the D.V.L.A in swansea a ring on Monday and question it :-)

I hope it's not a Vauxhall bought in Manchester!!  My next door neighbour had this done to her better not go into it further but she lost her car and could get nothing back for it.  It was the dealers son who was a bad boy!

Or ring the police station. I'm a suspicious person to and would worry that someone wants me out of the house !!!

Could, of course, be quite genuine.

Daisy

The DVLA would not ring you up, the police would..................

However this sort of thing happens quite  a lot and many people have bought cars that have been stolen and then had to relinquish them to the rightful owner etc

Its a citroen picasso. SHe tried to ring up the number she was given for the police to query it, and yes it was the police station. I questioned it at first too, but mum was adament that it was real and is terrified that she is going to lose her car. How will they be able to tell which car is the incorrect one and which one is genuine?
I lost a car a few years ago that had a hire purchase agreement that hadn't been paid from the owner who had it originally. THe car had been sold on 3 times after that and a hire purchase check showed it was clear, but the bayliffs had to take the car anyway. Iy was horrible. If mum goes to the station are they likely to take her car there and then? Mums terrified she will be left without a car, and as she has a disabled daughter it would be a total nightmare!

The first thing I would do is look at the log book or whatever it's called now and check the chassis number on the log book matches the chassis number on the car itself.  I haven't a clue where the chassis number is but a garage would be able to tell you.  If they are the same this would at least tell you the car hasn't been stolen at some point and the plates changed.

Cars get cloned and I think what happens is that a stolen car has the same model and reg plates of a genuine car.  Swines aren't they?

when she phoned the station did she check with them if she was actually supposed to take it in? I would ring the DVLA from the number on their site and double check its all genuine, and ask them what is likely to happen.

The chassis number or VIN number at least on my car is on the right hand side of the car when looking at it head on if you look on the windscreen just above the bonet its printed there - i think it can be on the engine too - check that with the V5. And of course if you got your car from a very reputable garage it could be the other one thats at fault!

It could be a serious cock up from citroen in which case they will be in a lot of trouble

A neighbour lost his car this way. His was the clone so lost the car and didnt get his money back for it. The vin number should be on the car in at least 2 places check that this number is the same in both places and also on your V5c log book. Check the engine number match's the log book and you could also get an hpi check done, the other car might be on finance?? Get your local police phone number from the phone book and phone again saying that your double checking as the number given might be false (unless youve checked its the same) I would double check everything but thats just me i would want to make sure i had all the facts.

When you find the VIN number check that it does not look aas if it has been tampered with, either by changing the letters/numbers themsleves or by replacing the plate. A lot of cars also have this engraved on the glass so double check there as well.

It is awful that this sort of thing happens and some how it always appears to be the decent law abiding citizens that loose out :(