Buying a private sale car - can any checks be done before hand

noodlespink2

Im looking at the weekend at some peugeot 307's and worried about buying a car privately but are obviously much cheaper than garages.

Is there any checks that can be done to make sure there is no outstanding finance etc

McKneff

private sale - no guarantee.

Dont do it, Ive seen it done so many times done to friends that a car has been bodged so that it lasts for a couple of days after a private sale then costing them hundreds of pounds for repair.

Again, don't do it.

Splott

T-1000 wrote: »

The hpi check does have a guarantee on private sales.

Only that it isn't stolen, written off or on finance. There is no guarantee for the condition of the vehicle or any faults.

terrylamps

McKneff wrote: »

private sale - no guarantee.

Dont do it, Ive seen it done so many times done to friends that a car has been bodged so that it lasts for a couple of days after a private sale then costing them hundreds of pounds for repair.

Again, don't do it.

I wouldn't go that far. I've bought all of my cars privately and never had any problems, even my current car that i paid £5500 for.

shaun_from_Africa

There are a number of companies who will carry out inspections of used cars. I've never used one of these so I've no idea how relaible they are or if there is any comeback if they miss something.
The AA & RAC do these checks as well as some independent companies

http://www.rac.co.uk/buying-a-car/vehicle-inspections/

http://www.theaa.com/vehicle-inspections/index.html

http://www.amber-assessors.co.uk/

And many more..

steve-L

Splott wrote: »

Only that it isn't stolen, written off or on finance. There is no guarantee for the condition of the vehicle or any faults.

So no different from buying from a dealer except cheaper.
Your protection from buying from a dealer is pretty minimal and even harder to enforce!

I wouldn't go that far. I've bought all of my cars privately and never had any problems, even my current car that i paid £5500 for.

The last car I got from a dealer was 8 months of hell before I finally got 2/3rd of the money back in small claims.
Paid £3000 got back £2000 and the in the 8 months we only had the car for about 1 week working.

Had I bought the same car privately I'd have got it for £2000 to start off. (I didn't chose it or insist on using a dealer, that was my OH)

Not only that but the issue was a failed turbo and after the dealer having it 3 months to replace it (as the replacement turbo just fitted was under warranty - not the car) it failed again a week later and they had it a further 3 months. Had I bought it privately I'd have paid £1000 for a recon fitted (properly) ...
Not saying ALL dealers are BAD.... but buying from one offers very little in forms of protection.

Last private sale I paid £6000 (would have cost be 7,800-8000 at a dealer). Car has been an absolute joy. Owner gave me loads of paper work and small extras on top (oh hold on I have a spare tax disk holder/some oil, polish etc.). and even called me back 8 months later wondering if I wanted to sell it back.

I still might have to replace something but I'm £1,800 better off already than if I had bought at a dealer.

steve-L

noodlespink2 wrote: »

Im looking at the weekend at some peugeot 307's and worried about buying a car privately but are obviously much cheaper than garages.

Is there any checks that can be done to make sure there is no outstanding finance etc

Ask for the Reg and VIN number BEFORE you go and see and run a decent HPI check from home. When you arrive check the VIN and REG.

terrylamps

steve-L wrote: »

So no different from buying from a dealer except cheaper.
Your protection from buying from a dealer is pretty minimal and even harder to enforce!


The last car I got from a dealer was 8 months of hell before I finally got 2/3rd of the money back in small claims.
Paid £3000 got back £2000 and the in the 8 months we only had the car for about 1 week working.

Had I bought the same car privately I'd have got it for £2000 to start off. (I didn't chose it or insist on using a dealer, that was my OH)

Not only that but the issue was a failed turbo and after the dealer having it 3 months to replace it (as the replacement turbo just fitted was under warranty - not the car) it failed again a week later and they had it a further 3 months. Had I bought it privately I'd have paid £1000 for a recon fitted (properly) ...
Not saying ALL dealers are BAD.... but buying from one offers very little in forms of protection.

Last private sale I paid £6000 (would have cost be 7,800-8000 at a dealer). Car has been an absolute joy. Owner gave me loads of paper work and small extras on top (oh hold on I have a spare tax disk holder/some oil, polish etc.). and even called me back 8 months later wondering if I wanted to sell it back.

I still might have to replace something but I'm £1,800 better off already than if I had bought at a dealer.

Actually, i did buy one of my cars from a dealer. It was about 20 years ago and i've had that many cars since then:rotfl:

Anyway, a week later the head gasket went. They gave me 3 months warrenty on it when i bought it but surprise surprise the warrenty didn't cover the head gasket.

Buying from a dealer offers no guarantees at all, apart from paying more money for the car.

colino

Before focusing on any car, work out what you want from it and how you will really use it and check out owners reviews of them (even Honest John). The 307 is an embarassment, like most current Pugs, compared to the really strong, reliable, entertaining cars the company churned out a decade ago. Try a Focus instead.

MrSmartprice

There are parts of Sale of Goods legislation that do apply to private sales. Specifically those concerned with the description of the car. So if the ad says 'immaculate condition' then you can sue the seller if it isn't.

There is also a requirement that the vehicle is roadworthy unless sold for scrap. And statements such as 'Sold as seen' on the receipt have no meaning in law.

If buying from a private seller, it is worth ensuring he is not actually a dealer claiming not to be. They do that for a reason.;)

property.advert

I went through this dilemma in 2010 and I after grilling the RAC and AA, they admitted their car inspections were basically worthless as evidence should the car prove to be a lemon.

Now I know you could embarrass them on Watchdog etc. but just what are you paying for if their so called experts cannot back up their huge fees with something concrete akin to a warranty that the car they let you buy was at least ok on the day you bought it.

They can't and they won't stand behind their products.