Advice on buying a car unseen.

[FeelingLucky]

Buying a car unseen from a dealer, what regulatory safeguards are in place to cover me?

It's not something I've ever considered doing, but a dealer with a good rep, and distance selling regs, is it safer these days?
All opinions welcomed.

Edited by FeelingLucky on Wednesday 22 August 11:42

[phib]

So long as it hasnt go S**** stone in name of the garage !!!

Done this twice with them ... both with the car ending up going back and months of agro ...never again !!

Phib

[Eth2312]

Always wondered how you buy a car without viewing, surely you can offer up a deposit to secure until you can visit/view, then agree sale there and then (or not if you dislike)?

Not done this myself, maybe I'm missing a trick?

[Chamon_Lee]

don't!!
Weekly thread from people who have done this and then have a total nightmare getting issues resolved or car returned

take the time to go view the car before you give over your hard earned money!!!!!

[TooMany2cvs]

Going to see it before purchase is a lot easier and quicker than negotiating the return if you don't like it...

[trickywoo]

Unless its dirt cheap don't.

If the issue you can't see it is distance ask yourself what you will do if there is a problem and you need to return it to the dealer for a look see?

[steveo3002]

yep everyweek theres someone on griping that the salesman told them a pack of lies and now they want the legal ins and outs of getting a refund

take the day off and view it or find something local you can view easily

[Ziplobb]

do yourself a favour - regardless of all the regulation, rules and consumer protection that may or may not be available - do you really want to rely on that ? have you got time for the hassle ? have you got the budget for any out of pocket cost ? buy one locally its never worth the potential agro

[LordGrover]

...I'll not bother repeating the advice above, but mine's the same.

[OverSteery]

Remember - its YOUR problem to get it back to the dealer if there are any issues that you want them to fix.

Personally I'd avoid if at all possible. Many cars 'disappoint' in the metal -without actually being unfit.

[99dndd]

Finding a PHer local to car might be an idea, ask them to have a look at it.

[steveo3002]

even if a dealer was great and says yep heres the refund no probs , you're still down for canceling insurance admin fee, road tax , and then stuck without a car so cornered into buying another fast /taxis

[skeeterm5]

I must be in the minority, I have purchased my last 3 cars unseen and haven't had any problems. My current car was purchased like this and the first time I actually saw the car was when it was delivered.

I have found that the key to this is having a really good conversation with the salesman and being sure and very precise about what you want to know so that you aren't surprised.

S

[JaredVannett]

Not related to UK laws, but interesting nonetheless:

When Shrewd Negotiation Goes Wrong

[luckystrike]

skeeterm5 said:

I must be in the minority, I have purchased my last 3 cars unseen and haven't had any problems. My current car was purchased like this and the first time I actually saw the car was when it was delivered.

I have found that the key to this is having a really good conversation with the salesman and being sure and very precise about what you want to know so that you aren't surprised.

S

That’s all well and good if the car’s ok, but you’re gambling on a) the salesman having a similar definition of what ‘good condition’ and ‘service history’ actually mean, and b) them being honest with you in the first place. Viewing the car first removes that risk.

I have bought a car unseen previously but it was so cheap that I could write off the whole cost and not worry, which would have been less hassle than a double trip to look at it. Lucked out as it happens, but my eyes were open to the fact that it could have been a heap.

[irocfan]

surely a returnable deposit should car not be as described and it's all good?

[EmilA]

Agreed to the above, view it and test drive it if it's an expensive car.

I saw a car that was 130 miles from home in person and they lost the keys to it the day before the viewing, brought it in good faith being an AUC car and within 30 days of picking it up, it had a gearbox issue alongside other points picked up by my local dealer during its health check and investigations into gearbox.

[skeeterm5]

luckystrike said:

That’s all well and good if the car’s ok, but you’re gambling on a) the salesman having a similar definition of what ‘good condition’ and ‘service history’ actually mean, and b) them being honest with you in the first place. Viewing the car first removes that risk.

I have bought a car unseen previously but it was so cheap that I could write off the whole cost and not worry, which would have been less hassle than a double trip to look at it. Lucked out as it happens, but my eyes were open to the fact that it could have been a heap.

Yep - but that was exactly the point I made when I said be precise about what you want to know......

[vsonix]

The only time I'd ever buy a car unseen/untested would be either if I won it at auction for a very low price indeed, or I know I could recoup my outlay by selling bits off it were it to turn out to be a total lemon.

[Valgar]

You have the consumer rights act backing you up, items must be as described etc etc.

I once bought a small hatchback on eBay unseen because I lived on a remote island, had it shipped up and it was great!