Very short checklist for buying a car?

[-Pete-]

I've been a company car driver for a long long time, so I've only bought one car in the last 20 years, for the OH from a VW dealer. Fairly risk-free.

I know it sounds stupid, but I'd like to know how to buy one. I know enough about cars from a mechanical point of view, but I'm not sure what extra protection you get if you buy from a dealer. Do you still need to pay for checks, HPI or whatever? How do you find out if it's Cat C/D? If they say it's HPI checked etc, do I need to ask for proof?

I saw one trade seller saying "No Warranty" but I assume there are different rules regarding sales of goods act etc. What do they have to give, as a minimum? Do most dealers offer extended warranty if you're willing to pay for it? Are these worth anything... could/should I pay for 6 months peace of mind?

So can someone summarize the sensible steps to take when buying either privately or from a dealer? Thanks.

Edited by -Pete- on Monday 5th March 19:33

[redgriff500]

Simple check list.

Trust no one / Check everything - go through ALL the paperwork before paying a penny.

Do your own HPi report

If the seller isn't helpful, friendly and able to fully answer your questions - don't even bother viewing.

[Vocal Minority]

Starting with your own HPI check is essential.

My other points would be things like having all its keys, and a hatful of receipts etc are always a promising sign of being cared for.

Don't let the seller harry you, look round where you want in the time you want.

[valiant1]

Take money.

Buy car.

Is simples!

[Matt UK]

This is my list:

Phone call:
•Do you own the car / is it in your name and registered to the address the car can be viewed at?
•How long have you had the car and why is it for sale? How has it been used / what sort of journeys?
•How many previous owners?
•When's the next service due and / service history / what oil do you use? When Cambelt change due? And the MOT / Tax?
•Describe condition of bodywork and wheels and interior? Are there any faults that you're aware of?
•And have there been any recent repair/replacement bills? How new are the tyres? Is it OK to bring a specialist to inspect the car with me?
•Is the car clear of finance repayments?
•Is all the paperwork available for inspection? V5, Service history receipts and previous MOTs?

If I like the phone call, I book a viewing and run an online HPI check

• Check the car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) at the base of the windscreen, under the bonnet and stamped into the chassis under the carpet beside the driver’s seat for signs of tampering, and make sure they match the VIN recorded in the logbook
• Look for rust, mismatched paint and uneven gaps between body panels
• Make sure all the car’s features work and both sets of keys are with it

Test drive and haggle a price if I like it
• Make sure the buyer writes a receipt for you both including timings
• Complete the new keeper parts of the v5C (logbook) and ensure it’s sent to the DVLA

[-Pete-]

Thanks all and especially Matt for a clear list of what-to-do.

Vocal Minority, you say doing your own HPI is essential. So if a dealer says it's HPI checked, and can show you the results, you still need to run your own?

What about dealer warranties, do they usually offer "x miles or x days" or is this something you pay extra for? If they can do an extended warranty, what should I look out for? I wouldn't mind paying a bit extra for the peace of mind.

And MOT's, I realize 'friendly' garages can show cars a bit of discretion, how wrong would it be to say I'll buy it if it passes an MOT at test station of my choice? Or is that unnecessary?

[-Pete-]

Bumpety bump because I know PH has all the answers.

What about my other questions? If I buy from a dealer, shirley there ust be more protection if the car is not as described, or there are hidden problems?

Do most dealers offer a warranty as standard, or is it usually at additional cost? And how can I tell if it's worth the paper it's written on?

I never worried about this sort of thing when I was younger, but it's been a long time...

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

-Pete- said:

Bumpety bump because I know PH has all the answers.

What about my other questions? If I buy from a dealer, shirley there ust be more protection if the car is not as described, or there are hidden problems?

Do most dealers offer a warranty as standard, or is it usually at additional cost? And how can I tell if it's worth the paper it's written on?

I never worried about this sort of thing when I was younger, but it's been a long time...

Dealers have to provide a 'warranty' by law.

This, at face value, gives a lot of buyers piece of mind and security.

And before I get flamed by the 'good' dealers on PH - yes, the majority would work with you and bend over backwards to sort out issues with a car they'd recently sold you.

However.

The basic warranty dealers have to provide can be very short - term, and frankly not worth the paper the T&C's are written on. For example, the small print discounts many factors from being liable to claim, and even if they do honour a claim, they won't pay for other items damaged by the initial failure.

And a lot of small dealers will wriggle, blag and waste your time for so long, that a lot of people just give up in the end. Yeah, you can take them to court etc...but do you want the time, paperwork and cost of going that far?

I've bought a few cars from dealers, but I treat them as carefully / suspiciously as a private sale. I go through paperwork with a fine toothed comb, and insist on the car being lifted on a ramp so I can give the vehicle my own comprehensive inspection before parting with my hard-earned.

Any decent dealer with confidence in what he is selling will happily indulge you in this - if they don't and get all huffy, then walk away. There are a million dealers and 'there's always another car' in my experience.

The cars i've bought from dealers were all subject to my own rigourous inspection and due diligence, and the dealers were all happy to let me take my own time inspecting the cars at length, and left me alone with the vehicle and their ramp to 'inspect away' at my leisure.

And hence on each occasion, I've been satisfied with the vehicle and subsequently bought them. And I'm pleased to say, each vehicle has been a genuine, super example that has proved to be reliable and all it was cracked up to be.

Also, and maybe call me 'OTT', but despite these dealers showing me a printout of their own HPI reports, I still conduct my own HPI report in addition.

These tips in conjunction with the other tips given by another poster above, have ensured I have never had a bad buying experience from a dealer.

HTH

[-Pete-]

Thanks RLY.

If I buy a car from a dealer, is there a reputable warranty I could pay for which would give me 6 months peace of mind?

[fozzymandeus]

-Pete- said:

Thanks RLY.

If I buy a car from a dealer, is there a reputable warranty I could pay for which would give me 6 months peace of mind?

Honestly, no.

You won't find a warranty that'll actually pay out on anything unless it's a manufacturer's approved one.

[caveat]In my experience, anyway[/caveat]

[Nickyboy]

Is it an MX5?

No?

Walk away!

[-Pete-]

So treat everything as a private sale? Surely traders have some obligation relative to private sales?

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

-Pete- said:

So treat everything as a private sale? Surely traders have some obligation relative to private sales?

As I said, the dealers' obligation is for a very basic warranty that often turns out to be not much use.

Unless buying brand new from a Main Dealer (and even then, I've heard some horror stories) then yes, treat a dealer purchase with the same caution as a private purchase. Well, that's what I do anyway.

With regard to 'purchased' warranties, again, nothing is that great - as far as my experience goes, the only reasonable aftermarket warranties are those offered by Porsche themselves, and I think the BMW one isn't too bad. But you're looking at £1500 pa for those. And I think I am right in saying the Porsche one has been recently revised, and isn't as great as it used to be.

Anecdotally, I have heard that the 'best of the rest' is Warrantywise endorsed by Quentin Willson - http://www.warrantywise.co.uk/

But don't expect miracles.

HTH.

[fozzymandeus]

-Pete- said:

So treat everything as a private sale? Surely traders have some obligation relative to private sales?

As regards title/finance etc, not really. Legally, there's no difference - neither trader nor private individual has the right to sell something they don't have title to. It's just holding a trader to account is usually easier.

As regards mechanicals, this depends entirely on the car. A trader doesnt have much responsibility to sell a car in working order that, many, many years ago cost 000s, but he is selling for £750. Additionally, if the car is sold for significantly below market value, then don't expect comeback when it turns out to be knackered. There is a very real difference in the situation if the car is sold above market value - there is an implication that the car is in some way in superior condition and the trader must back that up.
This applies to the statutory three month conditions a trader has to abide by - meaning that those "trade sales" you see, selling cheap cars with no warranty, are exactly as the trader describes, you really are on your own.

This is fair to both trader and customer, though - the trader has a responsibility to describe the car accurately, and the customer cannot hold the trader to ransom. The upshot of all this, though, is that even trade sales are fundamentally "buyer beware".

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

fozzymandeus said:

The upshot of all this, though, is that even trade sales are fundamentally "buyer beware".

I treat everything as 'buyer beware' no matter where it's coming from.

Has served me well so far!

[redgriff500]

Not all cars nor all dealers are the same.

Are we talking a £30k car from a main dealer or a £300 one from a guy trading from home ?

[henrycrun]

The HPI check should include a guarantee up to £30K should the info turn out to be wrong and the buyer gets stitched up.
However for this to apply, the HPI check must be applied for in the buyers name (and not the sellers)
Hope that makes sense...

[Fastdruid]

There have been tales of "HPI clear" cars from dealers turning up to be not quite so HPI clear when it's come to sell them on again later. One on here just recently IIRC.

[Efbe]

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

Dealers have to provide a 'warranty' by law.

This, at face value, gives a lot of buyers piece of mind and security.

Ray Luxury-Yacht said:

As I said, the dealers' obligation is for a very basic warranty that often turns out to be not much use.
Anecdotally, I have heard that the 'best of the rest' is Warrantywise endorsed by Quentin Willson - http://www.warrantywise.co.uk/

this is wrong.

Traders don't have to provide a warranty. However when you buy from a trader you are covered under the Sale of Goods Act. It's a little bit fuzzy in places over how long you are reasonably covered, there are plenty of threads if you do a search for this though.
Don't expect a trader to pay up though, most will fight tooth and nail not to do any work.

When you buy privately it is Caveat Emptor though, as soon as the car is yours, it's your problem.


edit: read here for more. http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandr...

Edited by Efbe on Wednesday 7th March 23:40

[Dodsy]

I'm in the market for a bottom end of the market snotter (~£500 ish), so my checklist is simple:

Starts. Goes. Stops. No MOT failure items (mainly rust holes). Oil ok, coolant clean,MOT with a bit to run.

Bonus if it has tax and service receipts.

I reckon I can make the decision within 10 mins + a test drive.

I'm also in the market for a Jag S-Type V8-R. My checklist for that will be about 20 pages of A4 and will probably take me 2-3 hours to go through plus the test drive. Basically think of anything the car has or does then check it visually and mechanically.

And always do an MOT history check and HPi check of your own. Never trust anyone who is trying to make money from you.