Buying privately- what to look out for

Spottedleopard

My sister is 18 at the end of the month and has been chewing my leg off to get her a Mini for as long as I can remember. She has worked hard this past year and been through a lot for a 17 year old so thought she deserved a special treat for her birthday.

I have seen a 2007 Mini One on eBay for a decent price (5k) but I don't want to buy it, find its a load of rubbish/been in a bad accident and badly patched up.

What can I do to ensure this? I get I could probably check the service history- but it has 34k on it so something could of happened in those last 4k miles and it won't be noted down anywhere.

Is it just a chance of risking it? If so, I think i will stick with going to a car garage

beth.stephenson2009

You can do a "text check"- just google DVLA text check. Straight away it will tell you how many owners it has had, the make and model of the car, colour changes, stolen and scrapped record and if it has been subject to a write off.

Personally I would just a little more and go to a Mini dealer.

Me and my mum saw a 08 Mini One last week for 8.5k with 15k miles on it, we went to our mini dealer and they have sold us a 09 Mini One for 9.5 with 12k on the clock- so not that much more expensive plus we have the peace of mind it is from a legitimate dealer.

gilbert_and_sullivan

You could always get it professionally inspected, and the least you should do is get a proper HPi check which will show any finance owing.

Buying privately will always be a bit of a lottery, some dealers little better, you must appraise the seller as much as the car, if it waddles and quacks it's a duck.

Hoof_Hearted

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

...you must appraise the seller as much as the car, if it waddles and quacks it's a duck.

Totally agree with this. Make sure you go to the home address and the person actually lives there -- cross check log sheet with address. I would only buy from a genuine private seller, not a dealer masquerading as one. A good tip when you phone is to say: "I am phoning about the car for sale". If he/she asks which one, forget it.

I have nearly always bought privately but you need to check everything thoroughly, including the service history

Penny-Pincher!!

I would only buy from a trader TBH after the problems we had and were fortunate we could prove the guy was abrader and got all our money back. You have no rights if buying private but you do if you buy from a trader.

forgotmyname

Dont do a cheap text check, useless and a waste of money. get a PROPER HPI check done.

Before you do that though look at the car drive the car, Have they owned the car for a long time?

Does everything look legitimate? Have they just bought a newer more expensive car?

Or do they look like a trader or selling to raise funds?

Ive looked at cars where people couldnt afford £5 worth of fuel to test drive it.

If they cant afford fuel then its not been serviced properly i can bet.