Buying my lease car back from BCA

[jimmyfol]

I have an XC90 that i've had for 4 years. Volvo won't allow me to buy it from them, insisting it will go to auction at BCA. I've therefore set up an account at BCA pretending to be a trader (I'm not). Obviously I know the car, so I don't have any of the usual problems of buying at auction in terms of unknown mechanical problems. My questions are:

1. Am I legally allowed to do this
2. Will BCA stop me doing this once they see who has won the bid and who owned the car previously
3. What sort of fee's can I expect to pay ontop of the winning bid (I've got a silver account and the price will be around £35k).

I have no experience of this but am just trying to save a few thousand pound on purchasing a 2nd hand car.

[Edible Roadkill]

Do they not ask you to prove that you are in the motor trade before they allow you to set up an account ?

[jimmyfol]

I completed the application as a sole trader just starting out. Mentioned I'd be buying x number of cars a year.

[MattyD803]

With both of my leases via VWFS, I (more accurately, a 'friend or relative') was provided an option to purchase the vehicle. In both cases, the offer price was silly (more than a main dealer equivalent) and hence I didn't bother. My dad however, had a Kia Sportage on PCH for 3 years via LEX, who (again via BCA) offered him (or indeed via my mum in this case) the option to purchase at the end and he got it for a great price (£1k less than main dealer prices).

In both mine and his case, the entire process of offering the car for purchase, providing a quotation and indeed the 'purchase' process for my dad was dealt with by BCA.

Can you not talk to BCA instead about this, as I suspect they would much rather they didn't have to collect the vehicle, transport it to auction and then pay auction fee's if they can help it? Chances are you won't get it for auction price, and you'll have to "purchase" it through your wife or relative to get around the contract hire tax issue/implication which otherwise prevents sale directly to the lessee, but might be worth asking.

Edited by MattyD803 on Thursday 28th November 16:25

[paul_c123]

1. No, but its only contract law and I think you'd be fine if you have set up an account and gotten this far.
2. So long as there's no hiccups and the transaction goes through smoothly, I can't see BCA noticing or cancelling the sale. You'll certainly not have any consumer rights like a private buyer would enjoy, but then its a trade (or near) price you're buying at.
3. You'd need to "contact customer services" for a car over £25k, but I imagine £1500-2000 buyer's fee, £52.50 assured report, £10.80 essential check report, £21.67 V5 handling fee. All +VAT. I am assuming you'd pay within 24 hrs and collect within 3 days, if so you'd not be liable for any late payment or storage fees.

[tobinen]

You'll be fine. If you're the highest bidder and pay the money, it's yours.

[PoorCarCollector]

Yep, I recon you'll have no issues

Budget £2500 all in as a worst case and you should see a saving on that

I've bought a couple of cars the same way, ie I'm not a dealer

Edited by PoorCarCollector on Thursday 28th November 19:43

[quinny100]

You would be better finding an "auction buyer" service or asking a local dealer to buy it for you. Regular traders get a much reduced buyers premium - so even after you've paid them a commission you're still better off.

BCA also do buy it now pricing for regular traders, so the car may never actually come through the auction anyway.

[MadCaptainJack]

MattyD803 said:

... you'll have to "purchase" it through your wife or relative to get around the contract hire tax issue/implication which otherwise prevents sale directly to the lessee...

What's this?

[essayer]

Would BCA possibly retail it themselves through Cinch?

[Auto810graphy]

quinny100 said:

BCA also do buy it now pricing for regular traders, so the car may never actually come through the auction anyway.

Have you got genuine first hand experience of this?

[bennno]

essayer said:

Would BCA possibly retail it themselves through Cinch?

Possibly, we did similar buying back a vw up we’d had from new a few years back - saved us about a grand after fees compared to what the finance co wanted.

Just be careful to check condition as they might have a few extra bumps and scratches or bits missing……

[jonwm]

As long as BCA get there money then they aren't bothered.

Could go down another route though, sometimes they have closed dealer auctions so may never appear on general sale through the site, especially if a nice clean example.

[jimmyfol]

Thanks for all your replies. Really useful. I'll let you know how I get on.

[bennno]

You need to be able to speak BCA. Bit like fast show.

https://youtube.com/shorts/7qC4kxkEyXM?si=oLHotsEe...

[123DWA]

bennno said:

You need to be able to speak BCA. Bit like fast show.

https://youtube.com/shorts/7qC4kxkEyXM?si=oLHotsEe...

I can tell i've been using BCA for too long as I had no trouble understanding that

OP, it may end up in a closed sale which is only open to Volvo dealers.

[Harry you Potter]

What a brilliant idea. I’m sick of traders overpricing cars and I hate them making money off me. I’ll sign up too and bid on my next car.

Thank you for exposing this loophole

[bennno]

Harry you Potter said:

What a brilliant idea. I’m sick of traders overpricing cars and I hate them making money off me. I’ll sign up too and bid on my next car.

Thank you for exposing this loophole

Its not a loophole, was always open to the public, its now more open than it has been.

Be fully (EYES WIDE OPEN) aware many cars can be brought for less privately, including with a test drive and an opportunity to eyeball the vendor.

My son is a mechanic, all cars beyond economic repair or with major issues get pushed in to auction, so there are a healthy number of problem cars in the auction with zero comeback. Similarly WBAC will chip you for any body marks but dont drive any cars they put through auction.

Buyer beware is the key phase here. Combined with reading the inspection reports and only ever buying ex lease company or ex manufacturer stock, or at a push big reputable dealer chains selling stock thats outside of franchise.

Know the fees, know what a dealer car is priced at with a warranty and set a bidding limit in advance....

[GeniusOfLove]

tobinen said:

You'll be fine. If you're the highest bidder and pay the money, it's yours.

This. Fees can be spicy until you get "gold" status.

[quinny100]

Auto810graphy said:

quinny100 said:

BCA also do buy it now pricing for regular traders, so the car may never actually come through the auction anyway.

Have you got genuine first hand experience of this?

I can see BCA Buy Now stock when I log in to BCA, though I’ve never bought via this method personally.