Deposit on a Car Not Yet Seen

[Quags]

I'm interested in a car thats a five hour drive away.

I've asked lots of questions, seen pics etc. I'd like to reserve the car (private sale) before it's ready to see and I can get there.

Is there a recommended limit/way to do this for someone I've never met? I would expect the deposit to be refundable if the car wasn't what it's said to be.

I've bought and sold secondhand cars before, but never held one privately before I've seen it.

[Quags]

Sorry, should mention the car is just under £10k.

[Turbojuice]

After travelling far (+2hrs) to look at two cars on separate occasions which in the pictures looked spot on, but on arrival were on sale hidden in the corner of the forecourt and were in a state with paint peeling off them, i'd never do it. I understand why people do it and with those cars i did consider it also as the specs of them were rare but exactly what i wanted, but thanked myself after seeing them in person for not doing it.

What i will say is try to email or call the seller, explain your situation to them and see if they will take some close up shots of common problem areas of that type of car, or issues on that car in particular, and send them to you. Hopefully it will help you decide if the car is worth the trip.

[sunbeam alpine]

I've bought several cars from even further away, without having to give a deposit. The fact that you've asked serious questions of the seller (as opposed to "wots yr best price m8?") should show him you're serious. So long as you're not proposing to head over there in a couple of weeks - I've never had a problem getting someone to keep a car for me for a few days until I could get there.

Apologies that it's not exactly answering the question you've posed.

Is it the seller asking for a deposit?

[Dinoboy]

I would never give a deposit on a private sale if traveling to view a car. The seller should know your serious when traveling so far and hold it for you til you've seen it. As long as your viewing fairly quickly I don't see a problem with that.

[Benbay001]

Just take the chance it sells whilst youre traveling there.

Nothing worse than having the pressure of knowing you need to negotiate your deposit back if you decide you don't like it.

Youre just increasing the chance you buy a lemon.

[sc0tt]

I traveled all the way to York to buy a mint Porsche.

Taxi to the station, 2 trains into central London, 1 train to york, 1 taxi to the sellers house.

The car was immaculate, until it started.

I then had to pay £120 for a return ticket. Don't bother, find something closer.

14 hours I will never get back.

[Rewe]

I'd have no problem sending a couple of hundred pounds deposit on a car I hadn't seen if I am asking the buyer to say no to other firm buyers who could get there before me. It's not a lot to risk in the scheme of things and seems fair to both parties.

[Monkeylegend]

One way of finding out if its a good car and properly priced or not is not to pay a deposit and if it is still for sale in a couple of weeks when you want to go view, don't bother

[anonymous-user]

Quags said:

I'm interested in a car thats a five hour drive away.

I've asked lots of questions, seen pics etc. I'd like to reserve the car (private sale) before it's ready to see and I can get there.

Is there a recommended limit/way to do this for someone I've never met? I would expect the deposit to be refundable if the car wasn't what it's said to be.

I've bought and sold secondhand cars before, but never held one privately before I've seen it.

Checked it's not on Ebay too?

[Wooda80]

A deposit is meaningless if it is refundable

It also places unneccesary obligations on both sides.

If you made arrangements to travel 5 hours to view my car on say Tuesday, then on Monday at close of business I would call you to confirm that the car is either still available or sold, and then if still available reserve the car for you while you are actually travelling in the same way as if you had left money.

If you were coming on Tuesday then I'd be loathe to take a deposit off you today ( Saturday ) as I might get a buyer at full money tomorrow which I could have otherwise accepted without inconveniencing you.

Edited by Wooda80 on Saturday 11th May 19:12

[la5tn1nja]

I bought my current car remotely for around this budget. I paid an independent mechanic about £100 to inspect it / test drive it. It turned out to be a good’un so I paid a small deposit over the phone and picked it up a week later. I also previously paid another mechanic to inspect a car that was about 5 hours away. It turned out to be an absolute shed despite looking great in the pics, and the seller had been lying through his teeth (no warning lights etc). I would have been raging had I made the trip to see it in person.

[Quags]

Thanks for the replies.

No deposit put down, although I did suggest it. The car has been garaged for some time and is having service/MOT this Friday.

But I just can't seem to buy this car, i've offered the asking price subject to seeing it in person, suggested various days etc to visit.

Why advertise a car if you're not going to commit to selling it once offered the asking price. I've shown my enthusiasm and interest, plus history of owning the same model previously.

I'm wondering if he's reconsidering the price, but it's still advertised.

Frustrating as hell as have the cash waiting and it's my ideal spec.

[LarsG]

Third time I've bought a car from video and pictures off the internet. Jennings in South Shields have never let me down. 201 miles away.