Click and Collect Car Buying Query
Discussion
I understand that you can still buy cars via click and collect but are there any restrictions on how far you can travel to do so?
In theory, assuming you don’t stop on the way, there’s no more risk picking up a car 5 miles away to one 100 miles away. The process is the same and you aren’t coming into contact with any more people?
In theory, assuming you don’t stop on the way, there’s no more risk picking up a car 5 miles away to one 100 miles away. The process is the same and you aren’t coming into contact with any more people?
As with a lot of these things it'll depend on the mood of a police officer that stops you.
If you ordered and paid for a car in Hull but live in London, you are technically able to go and collect it, I doubt anyone would give you too much bother if you can show them proof of purchasing etc. I would probably avoid crossing the border personally, regardless of technicalities, just as I can't be bothered to deal with a potentially lengthy debate.
If it's possible, maybe ask the dealer to deliver the car to you? Appreciate that on a £1000 shed it may not be possible or financially viable.
If you ordered and paid for a car in Hull but live in London, you are technically able to go and collect it, I doubt anyone would give you too much bother if you can show them proof of purchasing etc. I would probably avoid crossing the border personally, regardless of technicalities, just as I can't be bothered to deal with a potentially lengthy debate.
If it's possible, maybe ask the dealer to deliver the car to you? Appreciate that on a £1000 shed it may not be possible or financially viable.
The other issue I have regarding distant buying is not being able to test drive. Deal was done before New Year and paid a deposit pending a test drive, now that can’t happen. Car is approved used from a main dealer and they have assured me the car would be free from dings, scuffs and alloy damage, and if there is anything mechanically wrong I could get it sorted locally under warranty.
However, if I drive away and there’s annoying rattles I would assume things like this aren’t warranty issues per se and I’d not want to take it back to the original dealership to be sorted. Likewise if it’s had any cosmetic work done and the paint’s not a perfect match etc. Lastly there are some ‘dents’ in the leather seats in the back where the previous owner has obviously had a baby car seat and the dealer said they would hope to get these out, but again I’d like to see first.
Bloomin COVID. TBH I know there’s bigger fish to fry at the moment and cars are some way down the list on priorities but I would be gutted to lose out on it.
However, if I drive away and there’s annoying rattles I would assume things like this aren’t warranty issues per se and I’d not want to take it back to the original dealership to be sorted. Likewise if it’s had any cosmetic work done and the paint’s not a perfect match etc. Lastly there are some ‘dents’ in the leather seats in the back where the previous owner has obviously had a baby car seat and the dealer said they would hope to get these out, but again I’d like to see first.
Bloomin COVID. TBH I know there’s bigger fish to fry at the moment and cars are some way down the list on priorities but I would be gutted to lose out on it.
snerkler said:
I understand that you can still buy cars via click and collect but are there any restrictions on how far you can travel to do so?
In theory, assuming you don’t stop on the way, there’s no more risk picking up a car 5 miles away to one 100 miles away. The process is the same and you aren’t coming into contact with any more people?
There is more risk in travelling 100 miles than 5 miles.In theory, assuming you don’t stop on the way, there’s no more risk picking up a car 5 miles away to one 100 miles away. The process is the same and you aren’t coming into contact with any more people?
More risk of having an accident and having to rely on the emergency services and hospital staff etc..
This may sound dramatic but it's a true statement.
However if you need a car and need to travel to collect it then it probably comes under necessary journeys.
GreatGranny said:
There is more risk in travelling 100 miles than 5 miles.
More risk of having an accident and having to rely on the emergency services and hospital staff etc..
This may sound dramatic but it's a true statement.
However if you need a car and need to travel to collect it then it probably comes under necessary journeys.
That’s a very good point More risk of having an accident and having to rely on the emergency services and hospital staff etc..
This may sound dramatic but it's a true statement.
However if you need a car and need to travel to collect it then it probably comes under necessary journeys.
snerkler said:
The other issue I have regarding distant buying is not being able to test drive. Deal was done before New Year and paid a deposit pending a test drive, now that can’t happen. Car is approved used from a main dealer and they have assured me the car would be free from dings, scuffs and alloy damage, and if there is anything mechanically wrong I could get it sorted locally under warranty.
However, if I drive away and there’s annoying rattles I would assume things like this aren’t warranty issues per se and I’d not want to take it back to the original dealership to be sorted. Likewise if it’s had any cosmetic work done and the paint’s not a perfect match etc. Lastly there are some ‘dents’ in the leather seats in the back where the previous owner has obviously had a baby car seat and the dealer said they would hope to get these out, but again I’d like to see first.
Bloomin COVID. TBH I know there’s bigger fish to fry at the moment and cars are some way down the list on priorities but I would be gutted to lose out on it.
I think given the way you are with cars (i.e. dents in the seats, blemishes, dings etc matter to you) then taking a punt and hoping for the best isn't the way to do it. Anyone's who's had a walk round a car dealers in the last few years will see cars are far from the perfect condition you'd see described in ads or implied in photos. You can take anything the salesman tells you with a pinch of salt, main dealer or not. I would say unless you can see the car prior to sale then don't go ahead. Before any one calls me a pessimistic bar steward I've sourced a couple of cars for relatives in the recent past from main dealers. The first I test drove last summer, unaccompanied and judging by its condition it was clearly a cared for car. The second was a distance sale (the recipient was happy to take a punt and isn't a "car person" like you and I). We had the customary walk around video of the car sent by email prior to sale. The car (3 year old, £13k) arrived on the back of a trailer having been transported a couple of hundred miles from a main dealer. The inside had a distinct whiff of dog to it, there were lots of stone chips, bad paint scuffs around the front door shuts, one tyre had a serious puncture and arrived with about 15psi in it, 3 were premium tyres but one was a ditchfinder and another had barely 3mm left on it. Not the end of the world I admit but just shows you the sort of things you'd never discover until the car is being driven onto your driveway, plus it tells you the quality of the pre delivery checks. It's not a gamble I'd be taking.However, if I drive away and there’s annoying rattles I would assume things like this aren’t warranty issues per se and I’d not want to take it back to the original dealership to be sorted. Likewise if it’s had any cosmetic work done and the paint’s not a perfect match etc. Lastly there are some ‘dents’ in the leather seats in the back where the previous owner has obviously had a baby car seat and the dealer said they would hope to get these out, but again I’d like to see first.
Bloomin COVID. TBH I know there’s bigger fish to fry at the moment and cars are some way down the list on priorities but I would be gutted to lose out on it.
Rob P said:
Get a quote to have it delivered to you? On Shiply I had responses all around the £200 mark, saving me a 200 mile round trip or a train/taxi combo
This is what I've been looking at. For a 2-3k car I think I'd be fine with it (quite a risk if you were buying private though)Toyoda said:
I think given the way you are with cars (i.e. dents in the seats, blemishes, dings etc matter to you) then taking a punt and hoping for the best isn't the way to do it. Anyone's who's had a walk round a car dealers in the last few years will see cars are far from the perfect condition you'd see described in ads or implied in photos. You can take anything the salesman tells you with a pinch of salt, main dealer or not. I would say unless you can see the car prior to sale then don't go ahead. Before any one calls me a pessimistic bar steward I've sourced a couple of cars for relatives in the recent past from main dealers. The first I test drove last summer, unaccompanied and judging by its condition it was clearly a cared for car. The second was a distance sale (the recipient was happy to take a punt and isn't a "car person" like you and I). We had the customary walk around video of the car sent by email prior to sale. The car (3 year old, £13k) arrived on the back of a trailer having been transported a couple of hundred miles from a main dealer. The inside had a distinct whiff of dog to it, there were lots of stone chips, bad paint scuffs around the front door shuts, one tyre had a serious puncture and arrived with about 15psi in it, 3 were premium tyres but one was a ditchfinder and another had barely 3mm left on it. Not the end of the world I admit but just shows you the sort of things you'd never discover until the car is being driven onto your driveway, plus it tells you the quality of the pre delivery checks. It's not a gamble I'd be taking.
I’ve decided not to go with it, it’s far too expensive a car to risk it. What’s annoying is that Land Rover have now implemented a new APR across the board that apparently is none negotiable so it’s highly unlikely I’ll be able to afford a similar Velar post lockdown. I’ll keep my fingers crossed some deals come around but I’m not prepared to pay 8.9% even if I could afford it so I’ll be looking at other marques now. Seems an odd move by JLR IMO, surely I’ll not be the only one who’s not prepared to pay that high APR?snerkler said:
I’ve decided not to go with it, it’s far too expensive a car to risk it. What’s annoying is that Land Rover have now implemented a new APR across the board that apparently is none negotiable so it’s highly unlikely I’ll be able to afford a similar Velar post lockdown. I’ll keep my fingers crossed some deals come around but I’m not prepared to pay 8.9% even if I could afford it so I’ll be looking at other marques now. Seems an odd move by JLR IMO, surely I’ll not be the only one who’s not prepared to pay that high APR?
I think you have done the right thing, given the cost and your expectations the wait will be worth it. If I was buying a car upto say £4k Id be fine even if it did arrive with a few dings, curbing and other war wounds conveniently omitted from pictures/adverts but once you get to £10k and north of that, becomes a harder sell for me and unless it's a super rare car/spec/combo there will be others.The Rotrex Kid said:
I’m driving 150 miles to meet a customer halfway on Saturday to drop a car off.
...and it's much appreciated! 
There is nothing in the regulations to prevent you travelling to purchase 'goods or services', which clearly would cover making the purchase of a car. The guidance says this should be in your local area 'wherever possible'. It could be argued if you are buying a very common car then travelling to the other end of the country to buy one is unnecessary, but there is nothing to stop you doing so should you wish.
I was slightly unlucky as there was no sign of lockdown coming when I agreed my purchase with The Rotrex Kid a couple of weeks ago, but having made all the arrangements and changed over my insurance details, I didn't want to go through the hassle of delaying or cancelling the purchase - especially when we don't have any indication on when these latest restrictions will be eased.
It does mean my original plan of making a couple of days of it and enjoying a less-direct and more interesting journey back north have had to be curtailed, but at least I still get the car.
Edited by resolve10 on Thursday 7th January 15:14
VR99 said:
I think you have done the right thing, given the cost and your expectations the wait will be worth it. If I was buying a car upto say £4k Id be fine even if it did arrive with a few dings, curbing and other war wounds conveniently omitted from pictures/adverts but once you get to £10k and north of that, becomes a harder sell for me and unless it's a super rare car/spec/combo there will be others.
Yeah, I think I have too. Only trouble is Land Rover have now upped their APR so unless they drop it back down again I’ll not be getting a Velar. I was looking at a Macan beforehand so maybe I’ll go back to that idea. Part of me think Land Rover may have increased APR on used to tempt more people into buying new and it may drop back down after March, or maybe this is wishful thinking
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