Selling a car to France - PayCar payment?

[Nickgough1979]

Hi All

I'm selling my BMW 330i and a guy from France seems very keen. Been having lots of comms, he seems legit and is planning to fly over and take the car back after I sent him lots of photos and videos etc.

Tricky thing comes to how he pays for the car, as a bank transfer could take days. He says in France he has purchased cars using a site called www.paycar.fr/en/ . Has anyone any experience with this, or can offer any advice aside from asking him to bring cash?

Starting to think it's more hassle than it's worth but would be good to shift my car. Car is 57 plate and he's willing to pay £5.3k, which is a couple of hundred under asking price.

Thanks in advance!

Nick

[Pistonheader101]

Would avoid seems like a scam escrow

[smokey mow]

I’ve bought and sold a few things in France although not quite to that value. I’ve always used bank transfer and it’s only ever taken 3-4 working days.

[Nickp82]

smokey mow said:

I’ve bought and sold a few things in France although not quite to that value. I’ve always used bank transfer and it’s only ever taken 3-4 working days.

This, I have sold quite a few cars to French people and they all paid cash or transfer, no mention of ‘Paycar’.

[shtu]

to be fair though, leboncoin is pretty much the French Gumtree, so I doubt it's a total scam.

Question is, is it worth the bother?

[emperorburger]

Is he going to quarantine for two weeks in the UK before meeting you to buy the car?

[sunbeam alpine]

I wouldn't take the risk. Bank transfer from France to UK is simple and fast. Asking him to bring cash is probably safest.

[Nickgough1979]

Thanks all, I think it's more hassle than it's worth. Also a very good point regards having to isolate at the moment if travelling in from France, hadn't thought of that! All good advice, thanks, much appreciated

[Ben Lowden]

Not sure if PayPal is an option, I've bought a car using it before as it's instant and no fees for a friends and family transfer.

I sold my Impreza to a chap from France. Felt too good to be true as he offered me full asking price within a few hours of my advert going live on PH, but the enquiry felt genuine enough so after a couple of emails I sent him my bank details. Transfer took a couple of days and he flew over that weekend to collect it and drive it back to Montpellier! But obviously the risk there was with him, not with me.

[Nickgough1979]

Yeah, my guy has said he will transfer the money in advance of picking it up so seems ok!

[Nickgough1979]

Ben Lowden said:

Not sure if PayPal is an option, I've bought a car using it before as it's instant and no fees for a friends and family transfer.

I sold my Impreza to a chap from France. Felt too good to be true as he offered me full asking price within a few hours of my advert going live on PH, but the enquiry felt genuine enough so after a couple of emails I sent him my bank details. Transfer took a couple of days and he flew over that weekend to collect it and drive it back to Montpellier! But obviously the risk there was with him, not with me.

This guy has previously purchased an Impreza from the UK, coincidence? His name is Michel, not the same guy is it?

[Ben Lowden]

Nickgough1979 said:

Yeah, my guy has said he will transfer the money in advance of picking it up so seems ok!

Perfect!

Nickgough1979 said:

This guy has previously purchased an Impreza from the UK, coincidence? His name is Michel, not the same guy is it?

That would have been a funny coincidence, but someone else. I'm not surprised though, RHD cars are on the rise in France. I sold my Impreza for £12K and he sold it in France for circa €16K a year later I think; they're so much cheaper to source here.