Buying a car from someone whos selling on behalf of friend

sarah3585

Hello.

I'm interested in a car that someone is selling on behalf of his friend who has left the country after getting a job.

He seems to have all the paperwork for it. Including the last MOT, manual, service book and the Keeper Registration form with her details and signed by her.

Is there anything to be concerned about? For what I can tell he seems genuine.

Thanks

knightstyle

Should be OK but make sure you get confirmation from seller that the friend has permission to sell and check the friends ID, get a copy of something, proof of where they live etc. Then if it goes pear shaped you can show you did everything you could to verify the sale.

flashnazia

Although it sounds dodgy it isn't always. Some people are nervous about selling cars or want to hand it over to someone more "salesman" type. I let my bro-in-law sell mine and the price he got was probably double what I could have got for it.

spiro

Personally I would try and speak to the owner. I would also get a letter from her stating that she has authorised the friend to sell the car and collect the money on her behalf. I have a friend who is a car dealer and what he tries to do when buying a car is collect it from the sellers (in this case the friends) address and check this matches their driving licence which he takes details of.

Worst case is the person owed money and has been forced to sign the log book so some else can sell the car and get the money back but this is very rare.

forgotmyname

As long as they are not house sitting and flogging everything off before the EX-friend
arrives home.

Asking for ID would be a good start, Full photocard driving licence. Copy the drivers number
down. But if they move and dont update the licence address they wont be traceable.

After that fingers crossed.

sarah3585

Thanks for everyones replies.

This will be my first car so I am very inexperienced, I'm also a worrier. So I'm thinking even though I like the car and it's a good price, millage and year for my budget it's not worth the worry and I'm better off walking away from this one.

Still interested to anyone elses opinions on this matter...

roddydogs

The obvious thing is that you will find it very difficult if you need to take it back, as they will plead ignorance "It not my fault" type stuff.

interstellaflyer

I bought a car through a workmate who was selling it on behalf of his son in law as they were moving abroad, got a bloody good car for very little money, mind you, I knew the car had been well looked after and maintained/ serviced no expense spared.

poppasmurf_bewdley

You need to check the car is not subject to any finance, or the car could be repossessed by the rightful owner/

split_second

sarah3585 wrote: »

Thanks for everyones replies.

This will be my first car so I am very inexperienced, I'm also a worrier. So I'm thinking even though I like the car and it's a good price, millage and year for my budget it's not worth the worry and I'm better off walking away from this one.

Still interested to anyone elses opinions on this matter...

the best precaution is to make sure someone that knows cars inside out goes with you, i've been driving for 8 years and i still follow the same rule

pendulum

I never like these "Selling for a friend" adverts... I'll tread where some others won't (i.e. buying a car with a short or non-existent MoT) but am put off by that phrase. To me it reads like "When you find out it's got major faults, it's not my car mate so it's not my fault, I sold it for a mate and didn't know anything about the car innit, private sale and all that, sold as seen"