Buying a second hand car without being physically present
Discussion
I have only ever bought cars having been physically present. Inspection, test drive, bought on the spot or deposit left to return later with the balance.
However, circumstances and location mean this is not possible for me right now.
I know of many who have bought cars from afar but wondered how this worked in practice. What happens re the completion of the V5? How does one trust a seller? Send a transporter for them to collect car and documentation/keys to then phone and allow you to release funds to the seller electronically? All seems a bit of a maze but must happen all the time? Can anyone talk me through the process?
However, circumstances and location mean this is not possible for me right now.
I know of many who have bought cars from afar but wondered how this worked in practice. What happens re the completion of the V5? How does one trust a seller? Send a transporter for them to collect car and documentation/keys to then phone and allow you to release funds to the seller electronically? All seems a bit of a maze but must happen all the time? Can anyone talk me through the process?
Whatever you do run it through vcar check! I was booked to look at a car tomorrow, ran a check last night and uncovered some interesting info that I would not have even spotted physically viewing the car and paperwork.
It’s the best £9.99 you’ll spend...
It’s the best £9.99 you’ll spend...
Edited by England87 on Friday 11th September 10:14
How much are you spending OP?
We bought a 60k miles family Honda FR-V in 2012. Prices local to me in Berkshire we around £5k. I found one at an indy dealer in Edinburgh for £4k. We were looking to trade my wife’s near death trap Nissan Micra, which was shagged and I was brutally honest about its condition.
I did all the negotiations over phone/email, dealer seemed an honest bloke and wasn’t unaccustomed to doing such long distance deals. We agreed a part ex value and a small delivery fee and the dealer had a retired chap drive the Honda down for us within a week, taking the Micra the other way - I was amazed it made the trip! The car we were buying was HPI’d by the dealer and had main dealer service history and 12 months MOT. I didn’t see what benefit I would gain by flying to Scotland to kick its tyres. We had test driven another one locally which sold before we’d made our mind up so knew what it was like to drive.
I paid a deposit to cover the delivery costs on agreeing the deal, then the balance of funds were transferred over the internet at point of handover in my wife’s office car park, paperwork completed by the delivery driver, easiest car purchase ever. I hadn’t seen the car physically until I arrived home that night.
The Honda now has 122,337 miles on it and has only needed a new clutch, exhaust back box, discs, pads and tyres in that time. I’d do it again, if the car and dealer felt right, and it wasn’t an absolute shedload of money.
Would only consider this when buying from a dealer in case it went pear shaped.
We bought a 60k miles family Honda FR-V in 2012. Prices local to me in Berkshire we around £5k. I found one at an indy dealer in Edinburgh for £4k. We were looking to trade my wife’s near death trap Nissan Micra, which was shagged and I was brutally honest about its condition.
I did all the negotiations over phone/email, dealer seemed an honest bloke and wasn’t unaccustomed to doing such long distance deals. We agreed a part ex value and a small delivery fee and the dealer had a retired chap drive the Honda down for us within a week, taking the Micra the other way - I was amazed it made the trip! The car we were buying was HPI’d by the dealer and had main dealer service history and 12 months MOT. I didn’t see what benefit I would gain by flying to Scotland to kick its tyres. We had test driven another one locally which sold before we’d made our mind up so knew what it was like to drive.
I paid a deposit to cover the delivery costs on agreeing the deal, then the balance of funds were transferred over the internet at point of handover in my wife’s office car park, paperwork completed by the delivery driver, easiest car purchase ever. I hadn’t seen the car physically until I arrived home that night.
The Honda now has 122,337 miles on it and has only needed a new clutch, exhaust back box, discs, pads and tyres in that time. I’d do it again, if the car and dealer felt right, and it wasn’t an absolute shedload of money.
Would only consider this when buying from a dealer in case it went pear shaped.
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Saturday 12th September 11:08
PurpleTurtle said:
How much are you spending OP?
We bought a 60k miles family Honda FR-V in 2012. Prices local to me in Berkshire we around £5k. I found one at an indy dealer in Edinburgh for £4k. We were looking to trade my wife’s near death trap Nissan Micra, which was shagged and I was brutally honest about its condition.
I did all the negotiations over phone/email, dealer seemed an honest bloke and wasn’t unaccustomed to doing such long distance deals. We agreed a part ex value and a small delivery fee and the dealer had a retired chap drive the Honda down for us within a week, taking the Micra the other way - I was amazed it made the trip! The car we were buying was HPI’d by the dealer and had main dealer service history and 12 months MOT. I didn’t see what benefit I would gain by flying to Scotland to kick its tyres. We had test driven another one locally which sold before we’d made our mind up so knew what it was like to drive.
I paid a deposit to cover the delivery costs on agreeing the deal, then the balance of funds were transferred over the internet at point of handover in my wife’s office car park, paperwork completed by the delivery driver, easiest car purchase ever. I hadn’t seen the car physically until I arrived home that night.
The Honda now has 122,337 miles on it and has only needed a new clutch, exhaust back box, discs, pads and tyres in that time. I’d do it again, if the car and dealer felt right, and it wasn’t an absolute shedload of money.
Would only consider this when buying from a dealer in case it went pear shaped.
Thanks Purple Turtle. Sounds like via a dealer it’s not the most difficult task, albeit living abroad I suspect a dealer would want payment before a transporter were to collect it and drive it off into the sunset. We bought a 60k miles family Honda FR-V in 2012. Prices local to me in Berkshire we around £5k. I found one at an indy dealer in Edinburgh for £4k. We were looking to trade my wife’s near death trap Nissan Micra, which was shagged and I was brutally honest about its condition.
I did all the negotiations over phone/email, dealer seemed an honest bloke and wasn’t unaccustomed to doing such long distance deals. We agreed a part ex value and a small delivery fee and the dealer had a retired chap drive the Honda down for us within a week, taking the Micra the other way - I was amazed it made the trip! The car we were buying was HPI’d by the dealer and had main dealer service history and 12 months MOT. I didn’t see what benefit I would gain by flying to Scotland to kick its tyres. We had test driven another one locally which sold before we’d made our mind up so knew what it was like to drive.
I paid a deposit to cover the delivery costs on agreeing the deal, then the balance of funds were transferred over the internet at point of handover in my wife’s office car park, paperwork completed by the delivery driver, easiest car purchase ever. I hadn’t seen the car physically until I arrived home that night.
The Honda now has 122,337 miles on it and has only needed a new clutch, exhaust back box, discs, pads and tyres in that time. I’d do it again, if the car and dealer felt right, and it wasn’t an absolute shedload of money.
Would only consider this when buying from a dealer in case it went pear shaped.
Edited by PurpleTurtle on Saturday 12th September 11:08
Looking at a few vehicles from £5k to £40k. The issue is whether the V5 can just be left in the car or whether a third party can complete this for me if I cannot be there in person.
I bought two cars when I was living in Florida in preparation for my return to the UK. (Bought in August, returned to blighty in the October).
Simply put I got an AA inspection done on both, got the dealers to fix the main issues that had been picked up.
Paid for delivery and my Bro-in-Law went to my house to receive them both. Had no issues and both cars were great, a Merc C320CDi (MY2009) for me and an SLK200 (MY2011) for her.
Paid a deposit and paid the balance the day of delivery electronically.
Now I'm back in the UK though I'd make the time to travel to see the car, I recently changed the Merc for a Cayman that was 130 miles away.
Simply put I got an AA inspection done on both, got the dealers to fix the main issues that had been picked up.
Paid for delivery and my Bro-in-Law went to my house to receive them both. Had no issues and both cars were great, a Merc C320CDi (MY2009) for me and an SLK200 (MY2011) for her.
Paid a deposit and paid the balance the day of delivery electronically.
Now I'm back in the UK though I'd make the time to travel to see the car, I recently changed the Merc for a Cayman that was 130 miles away.
Ash_ said:
I bought two cars when I was living in Florida in preparation for my return to the UK. (Bought in August, returned to blighty in the October).
Simply put I got an AA inspection done on both, got the dealers to fix the main issues that had been picked up.
Paid for delivery and my Bro-in-Law went to my house to receive them both. Had no issues and both cars were great, a Merc C320CDi (MY2009) for me and an SLK200 (MY2011) for her.
Paid a deposit and paid the balance the day of delivery electronically.
Now I'm back in the UK though I'd make the time to travel to see the car, I recently changed the Merc for a Cayman that was 130 miles away.
Thanks Ash - and what did you do regarding the V5 change of ownership? Simply put I got an AA inspection done on both, got the dealers to fix the main issues that had been picked up.
Paid for delivery and my Bro-in-Law went to my house to receive them both. Had no issues and both cars were great, a Merc C320CDi (MY2009) for me and an SLK200 (MY2011) for her.
Paid a deposit and paid the balance the day of delivery electronically.
Now I'm back in the UK though I'd make the time to travel to see the car, I recently changed the Merc for a Cayman that was 130 miles away.
In terms of the money side, I assume you transferred the cash? If a private purchase I am thinking to do so when the vehicle is handed to a delivery driver.
Shnozz said:
Ash_ said:
I bought two cars when I was living in Florida in preparation for my return to the UK. (Bought in August, returned to blighty in the October).
Simply put I got an AA inspection done on both, got the dealers to fix the main issues that had been picked up.
Paid for delivery and my Bro-in-Law went to my house to receive them both. Had no issues and both cars were great, a Merc C320CDi (MY2009) for me and an SLK200 (MY2011) for her.
Paid a deposit and paid the balance the day of delivery electronically.
Now I'm back in the UK though I'd make the time to travel to see the car, I recently changed the Merc for a Cayman that was 130 miles away.
Thanks Ash - and what did you do regarding the V5 change of ownership? Simply put I got an AA inspection done on both, got the dealers to fix the main issues that had been picked up.
Paid for delivery and my Bro-in-Law went to my house to receive them both. Had no issues and both cars were great, a Merc C320CDi (MY2009) for me and an SLK200 (MY2011) for her.
Paid a deposit and paid the balance the day of delivery electronically.
Now I'm back in the UK though I'd make the time to travel to see the car, I recently changed the Merc for a Cayman that was 130 miles away.
In terms of the money side, I assume you transferred the cash? If a private purchase I am thinking to do so when the vehicle is handed to a delivery driver.
What are you looking at, what's the price and how far away from you is it?
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff