Buying from someone selling for a friend

[Sukhy558]

Hello all,

I've saw a car that I like with a good mileage on it. All's well car wise apart from the fact the gentleman selling it is selling for his friend, a Dr who's working in Singapore. He's selling the car from his address which is about 40 miles from where the car is originally registered. The friend was the first owner for the car. He's promised to start a facetime with the friend at the time of the sale and said he'll give me the contact details of both his friends and his own should I have any problems. Is there anything I should be aware of before parting with my cash? I genuinely like the car, haven't met him yet as it's about 400 miles from me but he has all the papers, v5, two keys and old mot's.

Thanks.

[Sukhy558]

Car comes back as HPI clear, it's got a full dealership service history and records match what the dealership has told me when I enquired about the car.

[Sukhy558]

That's a very good point, I'm not sure how he's planning on getting a signature for the V5. I'm guessing him signing the V5 isn't the brightest of ideas, or is it illegal?

Edit: The registered keeper is still the Dr, they've owned it since new.

Edited by Sukhy558 on Saturday 13th February 18:32

[Sukhy558]

V8RX7 said:

Despite the naysayers I always used to sell my mates cars for them.

However I used to offer to take them to meet the mate at the address on the V5 if they wanted - no one ever did.

Firstly are we talking a £1k or £100k car ?

It's a £9000 motor, it's got every extra added from the factory added to it so quite rare as no one ever specs these cars to high standard. The car was bought from the same dealership as it's been serviced at for the past 3 services.

[Sukhy558]

HustleRussell said:

Don't know if it's 'illegal', but how are you going to legitimise your ownership of the car If the registered keeper does not sign the V5C or a receipt of some kind? What's to stop the current registered keeper attempting to claim ownership of the car in future if the only signature you have is somebody else's?

Probably won't happen and it'd be almost impossible for them to repossess the car legally but again, another risk factor.

Of course the V5C could go to Singapore and back within a week and we could be worrying about nothing...

I've just had a look at the photo the owner sent me earlier of the V5C and it appears it's already been signed but not dated so I'm guessing the owner has signed the document before leaving.

Edit: This is section 8 I'm talking about as it's the only part I can see in the photo.

Edited by Sukhy558 on Saturday 13th February 18:41

[Sukhy558]

Not yet, I haven't.

[Sukhy558]

Monkeylegend said:

Hopefully you plan to before you hand any money over, along with an HPi check, you can't be too careful nowadays.

Oh yes, definitely. I'm considering sending over an RAC inspection before I even think about booking train tickets anyway, I've done an HPI check and it's given the all clear. The mileage on records is matching up to what he said and what the dealership where it was bought and serviced from is telling me.

[Sukhy558]

daemon said:

Have you googled the guys phone number?

Googling isn't bringing up much so I'm guessing it's his first sale on this number.

[Sukhy558]

Sheepshanks said:

Can all be done online now anyway, but only Mon-Sat 8-6 : https://www.gov.uk/sold-bought-vehicle

I'm sure 99% of sales for friends go OK - most people breeze through life in blissful ignorance of the potential pitfalls.

The only time it's happened to me the seller didn't tell me until I turned up and had nothing to confirm he had authority to sell the car, and he got arsy when I asked for it.

He's sounding genuine to me so far, haven't really asked him about how he's planning on specifically conducting the sale as I've been more interested in finding out about the actual car today. When I phoned him, it was the first thing he told me about and said he was happy for me to put the phone down if I didn't like the idea of him selling for a friend, he said he wanted to get it out the way before we went on to talk about the car which I thought was fairly decent of him.

[Sukhy558]

The car's only four years old and it's matching up with the MOT, no advisories, all it's saying is the vehicle is below average miles (24k).

[Sukhy558]

swisstoni said:

Have you googled this Dr to see if anything comes up, preferably Singapore related?

I haven't found out their name as of yet, will probably try and ask him tomorrow.

[Sukhy558]

bomma220 said:

SpeckledJim said:

'Selling for a friend' is more likely to be an under-the-radar trader who needs a reason why the V5 isn't in his name.

And the 'friend' being in Singapore is, well, convenient.

For £9k, buying from a person who isn't on the V5, isn't at the address on the V5, and presumably (?) can't show you the bill of sale to the current owner or put you in touch with them, I would be very careful indeed.

Yes I agree entirely. I once bought a 'selling for a friend' which was a 2.8 Capri owned by an RAF chap serving in Cyprus, car was in the UK & after a few phone calls etc the deal was all nice & tidy.

However, a 'Doctor working in Singapore' who can't be verified would certainly ring alarm bells...

The man selling it claims he isn't very technical with cars, he's sent me a few videos of the car on the outside through iMessage and the photos he's taken aren't exactly professional. Don't know if this could be a cover-up or something, I'm not too bothered to be honest as long as the car is genuine and sound. The seller is seemingly more than happy to put me in contact with the real owner, he's offered to facetime her, also offered to give her mobile number and of-course the address is on the V5. I'll definitely make sure I get the Dr's name so I can enquire further though.

[Sukhy558]

Quick update:

Got in contact with the seller and he's saying that she signed the V5C before she left. He's gave me her first initial and surname, he said it's same as on the V5C and he has a copy of her driving license (which he's not giving me just yet for obvious reasons). I can't find anything on the interwebs just yet, maybe a bit more digging might find something. He said he can either put the car in his name and then sell it on to me at the same time if I'm not comfortable buying from someone who's not there or I can sign the V5C and we go to the post office together.

[Sukhy558]

bomma220 said:

Sukhy I really would be careful with this one, I'm wondering why somebody would entrust the sale of their car to

someone who's 'not very technical' with cars ? Surely a better option would be to put it in the hands of a reputable

dealer who would sell it on the buyer's behalf? Enough of them around...

Do be wary mate

Yeah, I know what you're saying bomma. I've said to him that I'd really only be interested if I get to personally talk to the woman in Singapore so that she can confirm that she's gave him permission to sell her vehicle. If not, then I guess, if I put him as a owner and buy it off him then it gives me a bit more security so that I can say that I bought it off him and not someone who wasn't even there. He keeps telling me that it would show up on Police and HPI checks if he had cloned or stolen the car and he wouldn't have all the paperwork along with two keys for over 8 months now. I love the motor, it's a shame there's this bummer of a situation in-between. It's not even really cheap either, it's about £1000 cheaper than the rest but has all the extras that I would want in a car.

[Sukhy558]

He seems convincing so far. Sent me a text just there to make sure that I do a full proper HPI check and not just any 'mickey mouse' one. Also said I'm more than welcome to get one of the AA/RAC etc firms to check over the car.

[Sukhy558]

bomma220 said:

Sukhy558 said:

bomma220 said:

Sukhy I really would be careful with this one, I'm wondering why somebody would entrust the sale of their car to

someone who's 'not very technical' with cars ? Surely a better option would be to put it in the hands of a reputable

dealer who would sell it on the buyer's behalf? Enough of them around...

Do be wary mate

Yeah, I know what you're saying bomma. I've said to him that I'd really only be interested if I get to personally talk to the woman in Singapore so that she can confirm that she's gave him permission to sell her vehicle. If not, then I guess, if I put him as a owner and buy it off him then it gives me a bit more security so that I can say that I bought it off him and not someone who wasn't even there. He keeps telling me that it would show up on Police and HPI checks if he had cloned or stolen the car and he wouldn't have all the paperwork along with two keys for over 8 months now. I love the motor, it's a shame there's this bummer of a situation in-between. It's not even really cheap either, it's about £1000 cheaper than the rest but has all the extras that I would want in a car.

Sukhy the vendor's comments 'show up on Police & HPI checks' & 'cloned or stolen' do not equate with someone who has little knowledge of cars or indeed the motor trade in general.
Why has the vendor had the keys for 8 months & not sold it yet if it's a genuinely good deal?
Sorry mate, I may sound cynical but I really would walk away...

You do have a point Bomma, I'm not so sure now. Perhaps walking away is the best option, it's not a small amount of money either to be risking. Already been stung with my current car when I had to put in a new clutch and gearbox rebuild after buying a car for 10k within two months.

[Sukhy558]

Bomma you still think it's dodgy if he offers to put the car in his own name, then sell it on to me, with a signed receipt?