Buying a car from Ebay or BCA auctions

sunshune

karenx wrote: »

Go look through autotrader and see the difference in prices between same cars but with diff milleage etc

Thanks

HIntza - no unfortunately, i have been asking around for a few days now and no one has anything to sell

sunshune

Also - sorry for all the questions, but do some cars go for £1k at the auctions?

mikey72

sunshune wrote: »

HI

Thank you all for your responses.

One question though. When do i check the car out prior to the bid ending or once my bid has been accepted? I am just wondering because if my bid is accepted don't i have to pay up front, then the car could turn out to be a pile of junk.

Are there any checks I can do prior to bidding, I have heard of a HPI, is that the right one?

It's your money, pay when you want to, they can't make you. I personally never hand over the cash until I've driven the car and I'm happy. (you could get a NPB strike on ebay, but so what, at least you don't lose hundereds)
Is a HPI check worth it on a car for a few hundred pounds?

mikey72

sunshune wrote: »

Oh you've bought from them, do you know a lot about cars or did you take someone with you? THere is an auction tomorrow I think and next week and I am not sure if I can get anyone to go with me as we need a car asap. Do you think the basic condition car would be enough to decide whether the car was worth it?

thanks

Go to the auction and watch tomorrow, but you really need to know what you're doing. Some cars are good, some are very bad, and if you are obvioulsy new the autioneer will push the price up by making up a few non existent bids (bidding off the wall) on occasions.

sunshune

I've seen this online http://www.hpicheck.com/ I thought that was about average for a Hpi check

Hintza

I'll probably get flamed but I don't think I would spend money on an HPI check on a banger.

terryya

I'm currently also looking for a new car and have been to a few local BCA auctions, after previosuly buying my last 2 cars there. However I've found that they have been quite expensive (even a lot of the pros seem to be shaking their heads at the prices), especially when you factor in buyer fees and the £25 they charge you to write your name on a log book and post it to DVLA. Although at around £1k the fees won't be that bad.

In fact I reckon that at the moment it is no more expensive to buy private through autotrader etc, with the benefits of being able to properly check over a car before buying it.

AdrianHi

I think for £1000 it will be a case of taking the good car you can find regardless of whether it is ebay, autotrader or auction.
I think autotrader, pitsonheads, local papers etc. for cars local to you so you can look at them would be a safer bet personally.

For the money you have and considering space requirements for a 2 year old in a car seat I fancy a Skoda Fabia, my two boys fir in the back of their Aunty and grannies Skoda Fabias. Great little cars with decent space and they don't go wrong much.

bezzza

sunshune wrote: »

HI

Thank you all for your responses.

One question though. When do i check the car out prior to the bid ending or once my bid has been accepted? I am just wondering because if my bid is accepted don't i have to pay up front, then the car could turn out to be a pile of junk.

Why wouldn't you make arrangements to go view first, BEFORE you bid? As someone else also said sometimes you can make a deal there and then as my hubby did only the other week - saw a car on ebay, emailed guy to have a look, gave it a good look over, test drove it, checked log book and mot, offered cash and drove away. My advice is always ask to see car before bidding - why would you bid on something as important as a car and not see it first?

cyclonebri1

sunshune wrote: »

Oh you've bought from them, do you know a lot about cars or did you take someone with you? THere is an auction tomorrow I think and next week and I am not sure if I can get anyone to go with me as we need a car asap. Do you think the basic condition car would be enough to decide whether the car was worth it?

thanks

Whatever you do, do not buy, from anywhere private/internet/auction without taking along someone who knows what they are doing.

The easiest trap to fall into is buying a car that has been a right off, but it just hasn't been through the insurers hands, hence will not appear on any HPI or suchlike search, ie, it was 3rd party only. There are many more of these about than most folks realise:eek:

Little details, like wrong spec, interior trim panel damage, wrong badges or badges in the wrong place are all clues apart from the obvious straightened out chassis members, suspension parts with breakers yellow pen on them.

You need help,