Scrapping a vehicle without a V5?

[Alex Laidlaw]

I wish to purchase a vehicle for competition use and as such wish to declare it scrapped (not just SORNed because it is never going to go back onto the road).

An HPI check has revealed that it was a Cat C write off in 2003, but has confirmed that it isn't stolen. The snag is the owner has lost the V5. What should I do if I wish to purchase the vehicle and then scrap it immediately?

I am worried that if I apply for a new V5 in my name apart from costing £25 will not let me return the new V5 to declare the car scrapped before I am liable to pay tax or SORN it (runs out in a month).

I wonder if I can just tell the previous owner that I want the vehicle scrapped and then be fairly safe seeing as they are likely to do so as it will only result in liability lying with them if they don't sort it out?