Buying a car from BCA Auctions - Online

[Ray Singh]

I am in the market for a new car for my wife. I am keen to buy the best car for my money and have recently been pointed to the British Car Auctions website.

I have found what i am looking for and am keen to bid, but as a private customer (i.e. non trader) i am unable to bid online. I have to physically attend the auction. This is not some thing i can do due to work comitments.

Does anyone on here provide a service to buy a car for me as a trader?

Any help appreciated.

[p4cks]

I've been to a couple of physical auctions of late and the two things I'd recommend would be to a) go view the car/s at the auction and b) don't buy anything from an auction

Genuine advice, there are better cars privately.

[av185]

Depends on the car at auction, grading and more importantly the source.

Lots of great condition cars at auction. Most dealer and franchised dealer stock comes from auction anyway.

Plenty of bad and grossly overpriced cars for sale at dealers (including franchised ones) and private sales can be a minefield with no redress.

Edited by av185 on Tuesday 28th May 10:17

[GreatGranny]

OP, why buy from an auction?

The savings you think you are making will be wiped out by charges, fees, potential repairs you're unaware of etc...

Personally I would rather buy private if saving money over a dealer is the aim.

[bassanclan]

I've used a service from a company called flipping cars before. Their fee was saved by the discount in the auction fee

[JCollins]

Ray Singh said:

I am in the market for a new car for my wife and have recently been pointed to the British Car Auctions website.

Do another thread for when it goes bang after you find out it's an ex taxi that's been clocked and she hates you, won't ya?

[Trevor555]

The indemnity fees you pay at the auction will only cover the account holder.

So just be warned, in the event there turns out to be an issue with the car, BCA will not entertain, or discuss it with you.

They'll simply tell you to return the car to the account holder.

Is it such a rare car that one isn't available retail somewhere?

[4941cc]

Ray Singh said:

Does anyone on here provide a service to buy a car for me as a trader?

Plenty. Then they prepare the car for sale, apply a profit margin to cover their costs of doing business and fulfilling their consumer obligations and you buy it from them. They call them "car dealerships" and "motor traders".

Or you go to the auction yourself, bid in direct competition with them, pay non-account holder buyer fees, drive away with no consumer rights at all, then whinge on here when it dies on the way home.

opcorn:

[ShyTallKnight]

bassanclan said:

I've used a service from a company called flipping cars before. Their fee was saved by the discount in the auction fee

I've never used them before but heard good things. They have an app you can download which will show you the 'indicative' costs and savings for using their service. I think the only caveat would be you won't get a fully retail ready vehicle so study the condition reports carefully and have a slush fund for putting right any cosmetic issues etc.

[Mr Tidy]

I was getting carried away a few days ago looking at a car BCA were selling and spoke to a mate who is a trader with a BCA account, so I could have done it under his account.

Traders get more information that private individuals, the most significant piece being a guide price!

But then I realised I was being a bit ambitious - I wonder what it went for today?

[Ray Singh]

Thanks all.

I will continue to look at private sales via Autotrader etc, but realise that this is a minefiled also.

[av185]

Mr Tidy said:

Traders get more information that private individuals, the most significant piece being a guide price!

Traders know exactly what a car is worth and don't need a guide.

The guide price is just that ....a guide only. And often miles out often £1000s too much.

[Trevor555]

Ray Singh said:

Thanks all.

I will continue to look at private sales via Autotrader etc, but realise that this is a minefiled also.

It can be.

Can you/will you not buy from a dealer?

They're not all sharks.