Buying a £4k car privately, Cash? Transfer?

[Skyedriver]

As the title.
Heading out next week, to probably buy a car for £4000, private sale.

It's around 250 - 300 mile away. I'm on my own so not able to drive it back (and it's due a timing belt).
Will probably leave the car there and arrange for collection by a recovery company unless I can secure a decent trailer.

Would you take the cash or just pay by bank transfer, either using your own lap top linked to their router, a mobile phone app (not on my phone at the moment) or when I returned home.

(I've had the occasional "discussion" with my bank before about withdrawing "large" sums of cash!)

Thanks

[Douglas Quaid]

If I was paying cash I’d want to take the car with me. Can’t you get the train and drive it back?

[Toaster Pilot]

If it’s roadworthy get the train and drive it back

Who cares how you pay, it’s £4k not £40k

[stewjohnst]

Bank transfer in front of the buyer if needs be.

But to be fair, just drive it back, what’s the worst that could happen...(just don’t look at the bit involving my Alfa thread where I picked up a £250 shed and drove it back on blind confidence)

[Integroo]

Either, doesn't matter. Drive it back, have AA onward journey just in case.

[Skyedriver]

Driving back not really an option unless I have a trailer as, it's near 300 mile from home, I'm taking it across country about 150 mile to leave it there then I'd have get back from there 260 mile...
Sounds like I need a trailer which I might not use if I don't buy it.
Why do I never do anything straightforward?

[Gad-Westy]

Skyedriver said:

Driving back not really an option unless I have a trailer as, it's near 300 mile from home, I'm taking it across country about 150 mile to leave it there then I'd have get back from there 260 mile...
Sounds like I need a trailer which I might not use if I don't buy it.
Why do I never do anything straightforward?

Nobody you can drag along that you can add to your insurance?

Edited by Gad-Westy on Monday 26th February 11:32

[Leins]

In similar circumstances I've always brought a mate along, and used cash. Done the same for others too. The advantages are:

1) Safety in numbers
2) They can have a good look around the car whilst you are chatting to the seller
3) Can drive the two cars back

[Jimi.K.]

Toaster Pilot said:

Who cares how you pay, it’s £4k not £40k

Alright moneybags, maybe £4k is pocket change for you but it's a lot of money to most people, and there are a lot of scammers out there.

I'd ask what bank they're with - if its the same as you or part of the same group, online transfers will usually go through immediately so you can do it when you've inspected the car and are happy. Otherwise it could take a couple of hours, so cash might be better in that case, although then they'd probably want to pay it into the bank with you there.

[Shakermaker]

Cash is fine - £4k isn't a "large withdrawal" for the bank even if they do want to check you haven't been scammed out of it by someone pretending to be a policeman when they call you up. But if not, then just go online and do a transfer - you don't need the mobile app to do online banking for most you can do it on a mobile browser.

Are you saying it is broken down and therefore undriveable/unroadworthy, or are you just worried that the timing belt will fail in the next 300 miles? If unroadworthy then yes, you may need to get it transported, but if just worried, then have breakdown cover handy and go for it.

[Palms]

From a dealers i would pay for a car and collect it later if needed.
From a private seller i would pay and take it with me straight away, no way would i leave it after paying.

Either train/bus it and drive it back,
Get a mate to help drive one car back,
Trailer it back

Failing that find one closer.

[ZX10R NIN]

As above I'd pay & drive it back, I'd take cash as I get more leverage when the seller sees the money but a bank transfer will be fine too.

[Skyedriver]

Shakermaker said:

Are you saying it is broken down and therefore undriveable/unroadworthy, or are you just worried that the timing belt will fail in the next 300 miles? If unroadworthy then yes, you may need to get it transported, but if just worried, then have breakdown cover handy and go for it.

Hi
No situation is, I currently reside in North Yorkshire.
The car is near Aberdeen
I'm taking it to Oban 150 mile away on the other side of Scotland where i'm relocating to shortly
I then need to get back to North Yorkshire.
It's a round trip of around 700 mile which I was planning to do over a weekend.

I have two other cars in North Yorkshire to get to Oban in March, near to relocation time....

[Wooda80]

It depends what the car is and how much you trust the seller.

If the car is good value, appears well described and you have something in reserve for repairs you could just stay where you are, transfer the money and have someone move the car from Aberdeen to Oban.

Put the money (and time) you have saved by not travelling up there from N Yorks towards any unforeseen refurbishment.

[Skyedriver]

Wooda80 said:

It depends what the car is and how much you trust the seller.

If the car is good value, appears well described and you have something in reserve for repairs you could just stay where you are, transfer the money and have someone move the car from Aberdeen to Oban.

Put the money (and time) you have saved by not travelling up there from N Yorks towards any unforeseen refurbishment.

Car is a reasonably good price unless I find some problems upon inspection that haven't been highlighted or not in the photos.
It's a not that rare "classic" for £4K

I don't know the seller from Adam, the car was on ebay. I have spoken (messaged) the seller a few times, they seems genuine.
Intention was to basically do as you said except view it first before transferring or handing over the cash.

Short of buying or hiring a trailer I think my best option is:
1)view it, leave a deposit to secure,
2)then arrange transport,
3)then do a bank transfer.
4)wait for it to arrive

or find one closer to home after I've moved house and my current "fleet"

[CubanPete]

Unless it is something special or an amazing bargain it is long way to go for a £4k car.

I would take a mate, take cash and drive it back.

A recovery company will be expensive.

[xjay1337]

Just drive it home Jesus.

[Skyedriver]

No I'm not Jesus, don't wear sandals

As previous, if I get a train to Aberdeen then drive it home I'll then have to ship it back to the other side of Scotland and if I drive it over to the other side of Scotland. I then need to get back to Yorkshire from Oban by train somehow.

Trailer is the answer I think.

Oh and heavy snow forecast for later in the week will probably scupper everything anyway.
will give up on cars - take up collecting beer mats or something...

[Toaster Pilot]

Why wouldn’t you be able to get a train from Oban? Regular services to Glasgow if I remember correctly which is then obviously a major hub for onward travel

[xjay1337]

Skyedriver said:

No I'm not Jesus, don't wear sandals

As previous, if I get a train to Aberdeen then drive it home I'll then have to ship it back to the other side of Scotland and if I drive it over to the other side of Scotland. I then need to get back to Yorkshire from Oban by train somehow.

Trailer is the answer I think.

Oh and heavy snow forecast for later in the week will probably scupper everything anyway.
will give up on cars - take up collecting beer mats or something...

Eh? I am confused or very thick.

You are buying a car that is relatively far away.
It's due a cambelt change so you are not driving it back because of this? Or are you going to buy it, they change the cambelt and collect?

Just take a train / taxi / get a lift .
Drive home. Simples