Buying privately, miles away and wondering best way to pay?
Discussion
Looking at buying a £25k used car from a private seller, problem is he's 400 miles away and with work and family a real pain (plus loss of earnings) to take a day or 2 off to collect in person.
I've never bought a car without seeing it in person and having a test drive, but its a good a deal and can't ignore it. I have spoken at length to the seller, confirmed all documentation through emailed scans, driven a couple of the same year/same model examples, had thorough inspection done and talked to mechanic about fine details and all is good.
If I can get him to meet half way then no issue, I'll pay a small deposit via bank transfer and then take the laptop to settle balance once I've looked it over and signed documentation.
However if not possible has anyone got a car collected and paid remotely, if so how would you go about it? My area of concern are more on the payment side and ensuring V5 documentation signed across
I've never bought a car without seeing it in person and having a test drive, but its a good a deal and can't ignore it. I have spoken at length to the seller, confirmed all documentation through emailed scans, driven a couple of the same year/same model examples, had thorough inspection done and talked to mechanic about fine details and all is good.
If I can get him to meet half way then no issue, I'll pay a small deposit via bank transfer and then take the laptop to settle balance once I've looked it over and signed documentation.
However if not possible has anyone got a car collected and paid remotely, if so how would you go about it? My area of concern are more on the payment side and ensuring V5 documentation signed across
I buy cars from all over the country, I have a delivery service who check the car over to begin with and give me a call, he deals with all the docs and delivers me the car. I only make payment online once he has seen the car and confirmed that it is good.
Message me if you want details.
Message me if you want details.
A guy from Ireland bought my V8S sight unseen, all communication done over the phone. He paid a holding deposit then sent a lorry to collect.
He paid by electronic transfer when the lorry arrived , I waited until the money was in my account, we loaded the car in the lorry and of it went.
I got a phone call the next evening saying the car had arrived and he was very happy with it.
He paid by electronic transfer when the lorry arrived , I waited until the money was in my account, we loaded the car in the lorry and of it went.
I got a phone call the next evening saying the car had arrived and he was very happy with it.
Done this twice, albeit from main dealers. Agreed in writing that if they were not as described they would go back.
Clearly I didnt learn the first time ......
Both of them went back.
I personally would go and view, I would also do a search on here about people that have done the same.
Just my 2p's worth !
Phib
Clearly I didnt learn the first time ......
Both of them went back.
I personally would go and view, I would also do a search on here about people that have done the same.
Just my 2p's worth !
Phib
RSC said:
Looking at buying a £25k used car from a private seller, problem is he's 400 miles away and with work and family a real pain (plus loss of earnings) to take a day or 2 off to collect in person.
I've never bought a car without seeing it in person and having a test drive, but its a good a deal and can't ignore it. I have spoken at length to the seller, confirmed all documentation through emailed scans, driven a couple of the same year/same model examples, had thorough inspection done and talked to mechanic about fine details and all is good.
If I can get him to meet half way then no issue, I'll pay a small deposit via bank transfer and then take the laptop to settle balance once I've looked it over and signed documentation.
However if not possible has anyone got a car collected and paid remotely, if so how would you go about it? My area of concern are more on the payment side and ensuring V5 documentation signed across
1. Don't do it.I've never bought a car without seeing it in person and having a test drive, but its a good a deal and can't ignore it. I have spoken at length to the seller, confirmed all documentation through emailed scans, driven a couple of the same year/same model examples, had thorough inspection done and talked to mechanic about fine details and all is good.
If I can get him to meet half way then no issue, I'll pay a small deposit via bank transfer and then take the laptop to settle balance once I've looked it over and signed documentation.
However if not possible has anyone got a car collected and paid remotely, if so how would you go about it? My area of concern are more on the payment side and ensuring V5 documentation signed across
2. If you really must do it, the second post in this thread makes the most sense.
3. Why can't you buy a car that's nearer?
RSC said:
Looking at buying a £25k used car from a private seller, problem is he's 400 miles away and with work and family a real pain (plus loss of earnings) to take a day or 2 off to collect in person.
I've never bought a car without seeing it in person and having a test drive, but its a good a deal and can't ignore it. I have spoken at length to the seller, confirmed all documentation through emailed scans, driven a couple of the same year/same model examples, had thorough inspection done and talked to mechanic about fine details and all is good.
If I can get him to meet half way then no issue, I'll pay a small deposit via bank transfer and then take the laptop to settle balance once I've looked it over and signed documentation.
However if not possible has anyone got a car collected and paid remotely, if so how would you go about it? My area of concern are more on the payment side and ensuring V5 documentation signed across
Have to say I'd just get the train there and drive it back. All doable in a day. Depends how much money £25k is to you. I've never bought a car without seeing it in person and having a test drive, but its a good a deal and can't ignore it. I have spoken at length to the seller, confirmed all documentation through emailed scans, driven a couple of the same year/same model examples, had thorough inspection done and talked to mechanic about fine details and all is good.
If I can get him to meet half way then no issue, I'll pay a small deposit via bank transfer and then take the laptop to settle balance once I've looked it over and signed documentation.
However if not possible has anyone got a car collected and paid remotely, if so how would you go about it? My area of concern are more on the payment side and ensuring V5 documentation signed across
OscarIndia said:
I buy cars from all over the country, I have a delivery service who check the car over to begin with and give me a call, he deals with all the docs and delivers me the car. I only make payment online once he has seen the car and confirmed that it is good.
Message me if you want details.
This.Message me if you want details.
Get an expert involved.
Could be the best "few quid" you've ever invested.
ZX10R NIN said:
call your bank before hand to inform them of the intended transfer as this means it gets cleared more quickly.
I did this with HSBC for £21k transfer, then had a missed call at 8:55 on the friday night - googled it to discover it was a HSBC number by the time i phoned back (i was on the tube) at 9:05pm i was told that the fraud team had blocked the payment, frozen all of my accounts (including credit cards) and now gone home until monday morning 
Dannbodge said:
400 miles?
Fly there, get seller to pick you up from airport.
Buy car
Drive home
Done and done
I did this from Aberdeen to Bedford with my Lotus. I had a massive amount of fun driving it home. Fly there, get seller to pick you up from airport.
Buy car
Drive home
Done and done
Flew Easyjet from Luton to Aberdeen.
Seller collected me from the airport.
Looked at car and transferred the cash electronically.
Drove home through the Northumbria national park with big smile on my face.
Edited by Composite Guru on Friday 1st February 12:45
I couldn't buy a car unseen from someone who isn't known to me. I simply don't trust my fellow humans enough.
I'd travel significant distances, and have done in the past.
West coast of Scotland to -
That said, I came VERY close to getting a car delivered from Cornwall, from a PH'er, but it fell through for other reasons. However, the *only* reason I even considered it, was because the guy is a well known & prolific PH'er, known well within the particular marque's circles.
I'd travel significant distances, and have done in the past.
West coast of Scotland to -
- Burgess hill
- Birmingham
- Stansted
That said, I came VERY close to getting a car delivered from Cornwall, from a PH'er, but it fell through for other reasons. However, the *only* reason I even considered it, was because the guy is a well known & prolific PH'er, known well within the particular marque's circles.
The last three cars I’ve bought have been hundreds of miles away from me, albeit dealers rather than private sellers.
Definitely try to get there early, even if it means setting off at silly o’clock - if there are any issues much easier to sort (one car had a blown headlight bulb, not great with darkness setting in and a 300 mile drive home!).
Definitely try to get there early, even if it means setting off at silly o’clock - if there are any issues much easier to sort (one car had a blown headlight bulb, not great with darkness setting in and a 300 mile drive home!).
If the seller lives close to are can meet you at an airport then it's an easy day trip.
Check with your bank. Mine offers up to £20k online transfer per day per person so I could for example do one payment of £20k to the seller and £5k to his/her spouse. Call up in advance to make sure the payment will go through at the time you are doing it - I know people who have been caught out by this.
Another option is to do an in-branch electronic transfer although this will be more expensive and obviously needs to happen during banking hours.
The third option is cash.
Check with your bank. Mine offers up to £20k online transfer per day per person so I could for example do one payment of £20k to the seller and £5k to his/her spouse. Call up in advance to make sure the payment will go through at the time you are doing it - I know people who have been caught out by this.
Another option is to do an in-branch electronic transfer although this will be more expensive and obviously needs to happen during banking hours.
The third option is cash.
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