Advice needed - Buying from a Private Seller

thehullram

I am looking at buying a car from a private seller for the first time. Whilst I know that there can be no guaranteed route to a risk free sale I am looking for advice for ensuring that the risk is reduced as much as possible. I've never bought privately before so am looking for even the most basic advice.

Any responses would be greatly received.

marlot

There are loads of tips on the internet. Suggest you start here http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/buy_sell/buying_used/buying-used-privately

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/buy_sell/buying_used/checking-the-car-out/

BugsyBrowne

thehullram wrote: »

I am looking at buying a car from a private seller for the first time. Whilst I know that there can be no guaranteed route to a risk free sale I am looking for advice for ensuring that the risk is reduced as much as possible. I've never bought privately before so am looking for even the most basic advice.

Any responses would be greatly received.

If you are buying privately make sure you ask the seller for the most recent MOT test number then this way you can go online and check advisories, mileage etc.

Nearly_Old

I've bought a few cars privately and helped my son buy one 4 weeks ago. A lot can depend on how helpful the seller is prepared to be before you go and see the car. In my son's case he lives Scotland, I live in Yorkshire and the car was in Lincoln and because of this the seller was very helpful:

1. He emailed the VIN and the V5C reference so we could do the HPI check - £19.95 and IMHO absolutely essential.
2. We then did an on-line check of previous MoTs noting that on a couple "Fails" the car had passed on the same day so repairs had been carried by previous owners.
3. We prepared a checklist before going to see the car and spent as long as we needed looking around it. Whilst I was looking around the car my son was going through the file of receipts, etc to check what work had been done.
4. One test drive later, an exchange of money, signed Bill of Sale, a phone call to the start the insurance and off we went.

To be fair we had explained to the seller that we might need a couple of hours to complete everything and he was OK with this.

Even if you've done the HPI and MoT checks do not let the seller rush you when you go to see the car. If something doesn't look / feel right ask questions and if necessary walk away as there will be other cars for sale.

beth.stephenson2009

First things first, get the reg number of the car and do the DVLA text check. It will tell you straight away whether the car has been stolen, classed as a write off, colour chages if applicable and date it was registered and number of owners. For the sake of 3 quid it could save you a costly mistake. I know a friend who was going to buy a ar through a priate sale- and thanks to the text check managed to find out that the car had been stolen and saved herself alot of trouble and bother.

Does the owner have full service history?? If your not sure- ask to see it all and make sure you have all paperwork back to the date it was registered.

beth.stephenson2009

Also look at the price compared to age and mileage. If it looks too good to be true, dont risk it. If it walks and quacks like a duck, its a duck.