Buying a used car

bigmun

Hi,

I'm very new to buying a car, so any help here will be much appreciated!

I'm interested in a used car in Birmingham, but I'm from Glasgow. I'm quite happy with the price, but how long does it usually take to make a deal? Are there much paperwork involved? I'm hoping to just make a day trip, but would that be a rush?

How about insurance, registration, etc. would all of that need to be sorted out first before driving the car away?

TIA!

tim9966

It may only take 30 mins or so. It depends if the car you are buying privately or from a dealer.

The car needs to be taxed for you to drive it away. If it's already taxed then great that's alot of time saved. You can just ring your insurance company when you get there and get them to insure it over the phone so you are all legal. If not you would need to get it insured before you pick it up and have your insurance certificate posted to you, then you could take that to a local post office in Birmingham and get it taxed which would take a bit longer.

The V5 log box the seller fills in and posts it off to the DVLA, so that will only take a couple of minutes, then your new copy will be posted to you a few weeks later.

lincroft1710

It would be far easier to buy a car in Glasgow. If you buy from a dealer and have a guarantee, it is a very long and costly journey from Glasgow to Brum and back if you have a problem which can be fixed under the guarantee.

bigmun

tim9966 wrote: »

It may only take 30 mins or so. It depends if the car you are buying privately or from a dealer.

The car needs to be taxed for you to drive it away. If it's already taxed then great that's alot of time saved. You can just ring your insurance company when you get there and get them to insure it over the phone so you are all legal. If not you would need to get it insured before you pick it up and have your insurance certificate posted to you, then you could take that to a local post office in Birmingham and get it taxed which would take a bit longer.

I haven't got a car yet, so I'm not with an insurance company already. Is arranging insurance over the phone that seamless, even as a new customer? Will I be insured once I hang up the call? Will I not need a certificate?

Thanks

bigmun

lincroft1710 wrote: »

It would be far easier to buy a car in Glasgow. If you buy from a dealer and have a guarantee, it is a very long and costly journey from Glasgow to Brum and back if you have a problem which can be fixed under the guarantee.

That's a good point. The car is less than 3 years old and is covered by the manufacturer's warranty, so I don't think I'll be getting a warranty from the dealer.

lincroft1710

You should ring up a few insurance companies or use comparison websites to get a quote for the car you're thinking of buying.

bigmun

lincroft1710 wrote: »

You should ring up a few insurance companies or use comparison websites to get a quote for the car you're thinking of buying.

Yes, I have already come up with a shortlist. Is arranging insurance as a new customer something that could be done over the phone when I'm at the dealer? Does the insurance company not need proof of address, credit check, etc. before issuing a policy?

Thanks

lincroft1710

It is better to get quotes first, choose one and then agree with them to cover the vehicle if you decide to buy.

poppasmurf_bewdley

I think it would be the most stupid thing in the world to buy a car in Birmingham when you live in Glasgow.

What happens if something goes wrong? Twice? Or even three or four times?

I am sure there are similar cars in Glasgow for sale. There is always a better car than the one you have set your heart on. But unfortunately, heart overrules common sense so very often.

bigmun

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

I think it would be the most stupid thing in the world to buy a car in Birmingham when you live in Glasgow.

What happens if something goes wrong? Twice? Or even three or four times?

I am sure there are similar cars in Glasgow for sale. There is always a better car than the one you have set your heart on. But unfortunately, heart overrules common sense so very often.

Thanks for the advice. If something does go wrong, can I not take it to my local dealer since the car comes with the manufacturer warranty (10 months remaining)?

Thanks

poppasmurf_bewdley

It all depends on what the warranty says. Some say it has to go to the selling dealer. At the end of the day, it's the retailer who has the responsibility for the car, not the manufacturer.

Are you saying that there is not the equivalent car available for sale in or near Glasgow? Are we talking Ford Focus or Maclaren F1? Vauxhall Insignia or Maybach?