Looking for advice.

The story is this. At March '03, I purchased a car from a dealer with a new
registration plate as the previous owner had retained the cherished private
plate which was previously on it. The car was supplied at time of
collection, to me as agreed, with 6 months road tax. I received a V5/2 and
V5/3 parts of the V5 form and asked if I had anything else to do but I was
told I didn't have anything else to sign, send off, etc.

The road tax is up at the end of September and I didn't have the reminder in
as yet so I contacted DVLA re. it and was shocked to find that whilst they
had a record of the new registration plate I was not the vehicles registered
keeper. So shocked I was that I forgot to ask who it was registered to. The
guy at DVLA said I would be unable to get road tax unless I had the
registration form (which I obviously don't) or fill in a V62 (I think he
called it) and await 6 weeks for the registration form to be amended.

I phoned the dealer, supplied him with the details and who seemed clueless
as to why I didn't have the registration form sent from DVLA - after all
they were able to road tax it!! He could only suggest that he contacts the
previous owner to see if it was sent there and for me to phone back tomorrow
morning. At this stage in the day I seem a little stuck on what to do and
will need to wait but the practicalities are that I may be unable to road
tax the car for another 6 weeks at the earliest.

A little background info. Bear in mind that I require the car to get me to
my work and back each day and I have a 50 miles one way trip and need to
start at 7am so the car is important for me to get to my work for that time.

The questions I would like help on are:

Is the car legally mine even although I am not the registered keeper..I have
receipts showing payment of car.

How will my insurance be affected if any..I have declared that I am the
registered keeper to them (in good faith).

If I am without the use of the car for 6 weeks minimum, does the dealer have
any legal liability to provide me with loss of car use and inconvenience
and has he broken any trading laws (just in case he gets stroppy). I realise
these are legal type questions but others may have experienced a similar
situation or be involved with it.

The car itself is fine and no real problem there but I trusted what I was
told on the basis I don't buy a car very often and the procedures I am not
at all aware of. What else can I do? The loss of the car until I can get it
taxed is pretty damned serious.

Cheers to all.

Chris