Buying a car remotely and mitigating risk

[kp_nuts]

I'm in the market for a fairly rare car and a used car dealer has the colour and spec I am looking for. Unfortunately the dealer is in the South of England and I am in Northern Ireland. I know I could fly over and drive back via a ferry but I am very time constrained for the next few months and would like to use a collection service to bring the vehicle to my home.

My quandry is that the car is £35k and although the dealer has been around for decades and has a very good reputation, what if they were to go bankrupt between the time I make the payment and the date the car gets picked up by the transportation company.

I know the chances of this happening in the space of a couple of days is highly unlikely but for piece of mind is there anything I can do to protect myself against such an outcome? I'm thinking Escrow is a possibility (obviously at my expense) but it's maybe a bit unorthodox using this for a car sale where both parties are within the UK?

[cuprabob]

Use a credit card to pay the deposit / part payment and you will get Section 75 protection on the full amount irrespective on how you pay the balance.

[Trevor555]

No dealer I know would get involved in an escrow payment.

You'll just have to make the trip for total peace of mind.

As the previous poster said, deposit on a credit card.

The deposit will be refundable if you get there and the car isn't to your liking.

[Pistonheader101]

Have an AA inspection done? Surely you can take one day off to go and collect the car?

[Qwerty911]

Assuming you have direct banking. Pay deposit with credit card for additional protection mentioned above. Use a good local car transporter and have them go check the car over. Make the payment once they give the OK and are ready to load and leave. That’s was I did.

[Pvapour]

cuprabob said:

Use a credit card to pay the deposit / part payment and you will get Section 75 protection on the full amount irrespective on how you pay the balance.

Didnt know this, knew paying entire amount covered you but not this, thanks

[Cliftonite]

Is there not a £30,000 limit on Section 75 protection?

[Trevor555]

Cliftonite said:

Is there not a £30,000 limit on Section 75 protection?

I think there is, and I think the credit card deposit has to be at least £300?

I'm sure someone in the banking industry can confirm?

Also, if you had to claim I'm sure you wouldn't get all your money back overnight, the bank will want to do a thorough investigation before refunding 30k