asked the Minister for Local Government whether he is aware of the hardship which is being caused to many purchasers of second-hand motor vehicles, which are let out on hire purchase by reason of the fact that the hire purchase agreement is in no way revealed on the registration book of such vehicle thereby causing a situation in which the car may later be repossessed by the hire purchase company concerned, and the purchaser left with a remedy only against the seller, and, if so, whether he proposes to take any steps to remedy this situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Second-Hand Motor Cars.
Registration books for mechanically propelled vehicles are issued to the person keeping the vehicle whether or not he is the legal owner of the vehicle. They are issued solely for identification purposes and it is not proposed to change this position as it would not be feasible to adapt them to the purpose of establishing the legal ownership of the vehicle. However, the books being issued for some time past contain a warning that the person in whose name the vehicle is registered may or may not be the legal owner of the vehicle. The warning is printed in bold print at the foot of the form and could scarcely be overlooked by any person handling the registration book.