Contacting previous owner.

[Fastra]

Would it be acceptable to ask for previous owner details when viewing a car at a dealers?

I just want to verify the mileage of a particular 2 year old Civic I'm interested in, so could I ask to see the V5 - and would/should he show it to me?

[markmullen]

In my experience buyers wanting to see the previous keepers details want to do so in order to ask them how much the dealer gave them for the car in part exchange and then to come back and demand we sell them it for what we paid for it.

[thenortherner]

I've thought about this. I'm not so arsed about knowing what the sold the vehicle for to the dealer, more whether they've had any mechanical issues with it or if it's been in an accident.

[markswebpages]

No experience buying a car this new, but surely you could verify the mileage and what work's been done to it by looking at the service history and contacting anyone who's carried out work on it, shouldn't be that difficult with a 2 year old car. The previous owner could tell you whatever they want, but the actual work that's been done would give you a better idea IMO.

Edited by markswebpages on Sunday 31st October 14:29

[thenortherner]

What I've done previously is ring another dealer and spoken to the service department. I've given the reg and told them the car's for sale privately and asked if the car has had any warranty work or body work done to it. BMW and Honda have both done this for me without issue.

[Deerfoot]

I`ve called the previous owner before prior to a purchase.

I just asked him if he`d had any dramas with the car, if it`d been in an accident in his ownership and what the mileage was when he sold it. He was all too happy to put my mind at rest and I bought it.

It never crossed my mind to ask what the garage had paid him for it as I`d already get a deal I was happy with.

I`d be happy to answer questions from prospective buyers of my old cars too.

[weezb]

Fastra said:

Would it be acceptable to ask for previous owner details when viewing a car at a dealers?

I just want to verify the mileage of a particular 2 year old Civic I'm interested in, so could I ask to see the V5 - and would/should he show it to me?

Of course it's acceptable. I've only owned 2 dealer bought cars and got the details of the previous owner for both before purchasing, the 1st one was local so I popped in and ask and they were fine and happy to chat away, i actually found out very useful info that sealed the deal. The 2nd one was on the other side of the country, so I sent them a letter via next day deliver and asked if they wouldn't mind emailing, texting (their number) or phoning me, they didn't reply but I had HPI'd it and had a mechanic look over it anyway, so it didn't really matter.

[EK993]

I would go nuts if a dealer passed my telephone number to someone that I didn't know so that they could contact me.

Besides, I think they would be in breach of data protection laws if they did pass on personal details of previous owners.

[Deerfoot]

EK993 said:

I would go nuts if a dealer passed my telephone number to someone that I didn't know so that they could contact me.

I didn`t ask for any details from the dealer. I asked for a look at the V5 (It`s a fair enough question when purchasing) and remembered the name and address of the previous owner. Two internet minutes later I had the guy`s number and gave him a call.

I was polite and told him who I was and why I was calling. He had no problems with that at all.

[Davel]

I always write to the previous owner, after I've bought the car.

It's not to find out how much the garage has made on the deal, merely to see if there is anything likely to need sorting in the near future, or if they've had any problems with the car or bike.

Most people are really helpful.

[Fastra]

Cheers, most helpful.

I am sure it will check out fine. The thing about the service history though is that it will have been done at 12 & 25k (or every twelve months) so with it possibly getting on for nearly three years old there could well be a discrepancy between what's now showing and what the last owner left it with.

I don't see theres any harm in trying to find out before committing and I wouldn't ask the dealer outright for any contact details of the previous owner, and indeed would be very suspicious should he offer me any, but just make a note of the address and either write or look it up in a directory and give them a very polite call.

I've not bought a second hand car for a while so just need my mind putting at rest.

[Jasandjules]

The dealer can always ask the previous owner for permission to pass on his telephone number OR you give your number to the dealer to pass on to the previous owner to call you?