What’s the deal with eBay private vs trade?

[Mr Whippy]

This seller is ‘private’ but is clearly trade.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175746798777

Also asked on another red one on eBay and the seller looks tradey but is apparently private, despite the V5 being for the previous owner (clear by seller location)… so obviously not got a new V5, but apparently bought it for themselves but not used it much… and managed to get an MOT without any road tax I think.


Clearly lots of dodgy weird goings on.


Surely if they’re trade they’ll be trade and declare as such.

If they’re private then the V5 should be in their name, car at their address, etc etc.



I can only assume eBay and regulators turn a blind eye to this, or consumers run all sorts of gauntlets if there are problems?!



It’s a shame as there are some (possibly) nice cars ending up in these sellers hands, but I’m weary of going near with a barge pole after reading about the BMW 1M chap ending up buying a nicked/cloned car.


Am I being paranoid or can you safely buy such cars and have rights/protections sufficient to have legal recourse if needed?

[PeteCB]

If the V5 is not in seller’s name then it’s clearly a trader trying it on.
I think that car is priced about right IF it would come with all dealer protection. Without this it’s few grand too expensive.

[KungFuPanda]

It’s possible to get an MOT without any road tax.

[Fore Left]

Doesn't matter how they're registered on eBay. It's a classified ad so you're not buying through them but direct from the seller.

Assume they're a business and do the same due diligence you would buying from a driveway trader on Auto Trader.

[Jamescrs]

It's set up as a private eBay account which is maybe a bit naughty/ against ebay rules but eBay are so lax on it that it's fairly common now.

I'd assume given the sellers user name he is a business seller and there's nothing I've seen in the description which suggests he's trying to pass it off as a private sale.

[Mr Whippy]

I was curious also because of no test drives, a sign they likely don’t have trade insurance/plates?!

Also if the seller has the old V5 and they don’t have a new V5, they’ve likely duped the old owner into not doing anything wrt V5, and you’d be buying it from an ‘undocumented’ owner wrt V5 data at least.


Surely a proper trader will have no issue with the car being transferred into the trade?

[911Spanker]

Do private sellers write in capitals? It seems to be the style of the usual thick as st trader.