First time buying from a private seller, advice
Discussion
Hello,
Looks like I found a car I'd like to buy, it's on the cheap side and looks like a good deal.
The seller is a private person and I never bought a car like this before (usually from firms/dealers etc). I have a few basic questions:
1. I'd like to do a test drive, but becuase of lockdown etc its probably not practical to do it with the owner inside, how can I do it? shoudl I leav ehim a deposit of some sort?
2. Is it legitimate to ask to take the car to an indipendant garage for its condition to be assed properly? If so what would be a good place? An official dealer? Indie garage? would an 'MOT place' do?
3. Is it common to leave a deposit to 'lockl the sale' while I get the car checked over?
4. How do you technically complete the sale? You pay cash or make a transfer, what do I need from the owner? The V5 form? To do it in a post office?
Appologies for the basic questions, appreciate the help
thank you!
Looks like I found a car I'd like to buy, it's on the cheap side and looks like a good deal.
The seller is a private person and I never bought a car like this before (usually from firms/dealers etc). I have a few basic questions:
1. I'd like to do a test drive, but becuase of lockdown etc its probably not practical to do it with the owner inside, how can I do it? shoudl I leav ehim a deposit of some sort?
2. Is it legitimate to ask to take the car to an indipendant garage for its condition to be assed properly? If so what would be a good place? An official dealer? Indie garage? would an 'MOT place' do?
3. Is it common to leave a deposit to 'lockl the sale' while I get the car checked over?
4. How do you technically complete the sale? You pay cash or make a transfer, what do I need from the owner? The V5 form? To do it in a post office?
Appologies for the basic questions, appreciate the help
thank you!
1. Test drive is likely to be difficult. Maybe one in the back and one in the front and wear masks? Don’t forget insurance if you are going to drive.
2. Best to get an inspection done before purchase rather than after. Place depends on the car: a cheap focus could be done at a local MoT garage, an expensive Ferrari really needs a specialist. The seller may not want an inspection.
3. If you want the car then leave a deposit.
4. I used to do cash but bank transfer has worked for me more recently. You need a signed receipt and the V5 transferred into your name (this can be done online so you can see it happen when you buy the car).
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/96595/buyin...
Always have at the back of your mind , is it cheap for a reason ?
Always have at the back of your mind , is it cheap for a reason ?
I literally bought a car from a private seller yesterday. I've only really ever bought from traders but because cars aren't selling at the moment all the ones I had a look at were damp inside. Yuck. I only had 1k to spend. I knew when I went to have a look at it that I would be taking a risk. There was no option to have a test drive and apart from basic check, like the head gasket and looking under the bonnet there wasn't much I could have done.
If I was the seller I'm not sure I would allow someone to take my car and have it inspected even with a deposit.
In the end I bought the car and as with anything you buy second hand it is a case of buyer beware.
I justified it as an essential journey since my old car was full of water and I needed a new one for childcare commitments.
If I was the seller I'm not sure I would allow someone to take my car and have it inspected even with a deposit.
In the end I bought the car and as with anything you buy second hand it is a case of buyer beware.
I justified it as an essential journey since my old car was full of water and I needed a new one for childcare commitments.
aa/rac inspection at their home yes....take it away? no not really
id expect to work out some way to demostrate it works as it should , them driving or me until the engine is up to temp
have you looked up the mot history< ..can help sometimes showing how its been kept and help prove the milage is genuine
id expect to work out some way to demostrate it works as it should , them driving or me until the engine is up to temp
have you looked up the mot history< ..can help sometimes showing how its been kept and help prove the milage is genuine
Edited by steveo3002 on Tuesday 26th January 13:50
Go, drive it, buy it or don’t, it’s as simple as that.
I wouldn’t bother with an Inspection, just have a good look around the car, look at the history, the owner, condition ans the tyres (premium or cheap tat).
I’ve bought and sold a few cars / bikes during lockdown, haven’t inspected one of them, ask the right questions and get on with it!
Much better than buying from a dealer, good luck.
I wouldn’t bother with an Inspection, just have a good look around the car, look at the history, the owner, condition ans the tyres (premium or cheap tat).
I’ve bought and sold a few cars / bikes during lockdown, haven’t inspected one of them, ask the right questions and get on with it!
Much better than buying from a dealer, good luck.
steveo3002 said:
aa/rac inspection at their home yes....take it away? no not really
It really does depend on the car. Anything veering towards the exotic then I would want the car inspected by a specialist on their premises. Obviously I would pay for this, and I would only do it if I wanted to buy the car subject to a satisfactory report from the specialist. I would agree a price with the seller upfront and also what would be done about anything that the specialist found needed doing.BTW - an AA / RAC inspection at your house isn't as straightforward as you might think. They demand all sorts of things and the owner needs to be around for quite a few hours. Personally, if I was selling I'd prefer to take the car somewhere to be inspected than have the AA / RAC round to inspect it on my driveway.
Having moved back to the UK from the Middle East recently I’ve seen where every used car is subject to an inspection at the cost of the purchaser prior to sale. It’s basically used as a last minute price reduction so the initial price is set a bit higher. I sold a few cars whilst overseas and I always used to knock a bit off for the findings of the inspection (thankfully always trivial).
The arrangement was that you met and viewed the car, if you were interested you drove to a nearby ‘inspection’ centre. An independent mechanic checked the car for faults and wrote a report. There is obviously a lot of scope for abuse of the system but in my experience it worked.
The arrangement was that you met and viewed the car, if you were interested you drove to a nearby ‘inspection’ centre. An independent mechanic checked the car for faults and wrote a report. There is obviously a lot of scope for abuse of the system but in my experience it worked.
holes who want dealer levels of assurances at bottom end pricing. Thank you people,
I saw the car it was in perfect condition (for an 11 year old car) bought it on the spot.
Then drove to a proper garage who checked the car and everythign is fine, need to replace the tires but I'd have done it anyway.
So all good, thank you for the great advice people!
I saw the car it was in perfect condition (for an 11 year old car) bought it on the spot.
Then drove to a proper garage who checked the car and everythign is fine, need to replace the tires but I'd have done it anyway.
So all good, thank you for the great advice people!
Late to the party, but FWIW...
I bought a car privately last week. Looked it over, went for a test drive (left car keys and driving licence with the seller), paid by bank transfer, did dvla transfer online. Taxed online, temp insurance via app (cuvva), drove home. The V5 arrived in the post 3 or 4 days later.
I bought a car privately last week. Looked it over, went for a test drive (left car keys and driving licence with the seller), paid by bank transfer, did dvla transfer online. Taxed online, temp insurance via app (cuvva), drove home. The V5 arrived in the post 3 or 4 days later.
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