Used car dealer tactics

gazfocus

I bought a car last week from Evans Halshaw and the sales guy was excellent. Ok, we ended up buying their Gap Insurance and the Paint Protection but the sales guy offered me their warranty (on an 11 month old car), we said we probably don't need that and he took it off the quote.

I intentionally wanted the Gap insurance and the Paint Protection and buying it there and then, it's all in the one finance payment rather than paying different companies so I'm happy.

I didn't haggle on the price of the car because it was about £1000 cheaper than anyone else for the same car and is a high spec model so all in all, very happy with my experience of Evans Halshaw

OddballJamie

Just being nosey, what did EH charge you for the GAP and paint protection?

gazfocus

OddballJamie wrote: »

Just being nosey, what did EH charge you for the GAP and paint protection?

The Gap insurance was something like £350 for the 5 year term. I know that's quite expensive compared to online deals but it's done now.

The paint protection was about £200 from memory.

I'm actually looking into the possibility of cancelling the Gap insurance but as it has been paid for under the finance agreement, I'm not sure if that complicates things.

OddballJamie

Paint protection price isn't bad, we were quoted £370 at one place. Although when we get our next car I'm going to get a kit off Ebay and do it myself.

May be worth getting out of that GAP as you say, I paid about £140ish for mine.

gazfocus

OddballJamie wrote: »

Paint protection price isn't bad, we were quoted £370 at one place. Although when we get our next car I'm going to get a kit off Ebay and do it myself.

May be worth getting out of that GAP as you say, I paid about £140ish for mine.

Thanks. Just checked the paperwork and the paint protection was £199 and GAP was £349.

The paperwork says I have 30 days to cancel the GAP Policy so I will be doing that but will the refund go to the finance company or to me?

OddballJamie

Never had car finance, but at a guess I would say to the finance company and act like an over payment. Unless they rearrange the monthly payments to compensate for it.

CB1878

These horrible tactics are still common in main dealers, and as you can understand the salesperson is probably getting a 'kickback' for each and every add on that the 'sell' to you. Some of these products are worthless in my opinion, but some have some merit.......at the right price of course. The problem is that these sort of tactics simply put you off completely.

minimoneysaver

About to go looking for a new car. Just wondered, what is GAP insurance? I also wondered about the paint waranty? From memory, all of my cars have been covered for the first 10 years by the manufacturer.
Thanks for your help in advance.

minimoneysaver

Just to clarify a point, I meant new to me, as in second hand. x

Crabman

minimoneysaver wrote: »

About to go looking for a new car. Just wondered, what is GAP insurance? I also wondered about the paint waranty? From memory, all of my cars have been covered for the first 10 years by the manufacturer.
Thanks for your help in advance.

Some info here:

http://www.moneysupermarket.com/car-insurance/gap-insurance/

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/gap-insurance