Buying Used Car: Who pays for Service / MOT items?

Teresa_Green

I went to look at a (new to me) used car last week. This is at an independent dealer, everyone very nice, no hard sell.

I liked the car, which has Full Dealer Service History, 70,000 miles approx six years old, one owner.

Agreed to buy and arranged for 12 Months Tax and MOT plus a Service which was due. Planned to pick up after above today but something has come up, so called to re-arrange collection for Thursday this week. I have paid £200.00 deposit.

I asked first of all if the car was ready, and was told not quite as had needed new brakes on the rear, no details given. Agreed to rearrange pick up as above which also worked better for them as additional work had been needed on the car.

I have had lots to sort out hence the reason for re-arranging pick up but am now wondering, I had to pay for the road tax and asked for Main Dealer service to keep up the history so was aware I needed to pay the difference between that and a normal service, but it has now crossed my mind that they may also ask me to pay for the new brakes?!

Before I give them a call back and or back out, please could someone advise where I stand on the above?

Surely MOT and Service are part of the advertised purchase price and therefore included. They were adamant as this price was competitive, that they would not enter into any haggling.

Although they are very nice, the price seems to be creeping up so am wondering how to play hardball with them now if I need to. It is three hours away by Train to go and pick this car up. I will then be driving it back, which they know, and am starting to feel a bit resentful at the thought of picking it up and wonder how much fuel will be in the tank.....

I would be grateful if anyone has any advice on how I may need to approach this and to feel happy with such a major purchase?

Many Thanks in advance

spacey2012

The Hard ball will be they have your £200 deposit .

Teresa_Green

spacey2012 wrote: »

The Hard ball will be they have your £200 deposit .

Car costs circa £6 k though, so may need to consider walking away?

fivetide

The history just needed to be a VAT registered garage, following the service schedule and using original parts. To be honest, unless there is any manufacturer warranty left, there is not much point in keeping the book stamped with a main dealer (unless they are happy to do budget servicing or price match as some are).

Regarding the brakes, I wouldn't be paying. At least they have said there is a fault but at the end of the day, they couldn't sell you a dangerous car. I certainly wouldn't be expecting to cough up for it.

Teresa_Green

fivetide wrote: »

The history just needed to be a VAT registered garage, following the service schedule and using original parts. To be honest, unless there is any manufacturer warranty left, there is not much point in keeping the book stamped with a main dealer (unless they are happy to do budget servicing or price match as some are).

Regarding the brakes, I wouldn't be paying. At least they have said there is a fault but at the end of the day, they couldn't sell you a dangerous car. I certainly wouldn't be expecting to cough up for it.

They explained to me that it is a local independent but will have the manufacturer logo on the stamp.

I'm wondering if the brakes were a service and or an MOT issue, anyway they are including a three month warranty so they would have needed to replace brakes under that anyway?

So dilemma for me now is do I phone again to clarify, and be prepared to walk away, or turn up and be prepared to walk away on the day.

I suppose if they are expecting me to pay I should have been notified in advance??

Strider590

I strongly doubt it'll actually get a service, why service a car you've already sold? if it's a new MOT, then it wont be worth the paper, you won't know about any MOT faults for at least 12 months, by which time there will be no come backs, so why bother testing it properly?

Stamps in log book mean nothing, especially from a main dealer, they're the worst for not doing the work.
I had my oil change done recently (but serviced it myself), the garage I used offered to stamp my logbook when all they'd done was change the oil........

You should really have taken it away and gotten a mock MOT done, followed by a service at a local independent.

Buying a car is like walking a mine field and relying on FSH and 12 month MOT instead of checking the vehicle properly, is like being told to wear size 12 flipflops.

Teresa_Green

Strider590 wrote: »

I strongly doubt it'll actually get a service, why service a car you've already sold? if it's a new MOT, then it wont be worth the paper, you won't know about any MOT faults for at least 12 months, by which time there will be no come backs, so why bother testing it properly?

Stamps in log book mean nothing, especially from a main dealer, they're the worst for not doing the work.
I had my oil change done recently (but serviced it myself), the garage I used offered to stamp my logbook when all they'd done was change the oil........

You should really have taken it away and gotten a mock MOT done, followed by a service at a local independent.

That is very interesting, and I mostly agree with you.

However I took the view that when I come to resell it may mean something to the next person, and also doubtful they would give a discount if I said "No Thanks" to MOT and Service.

I am a relatively experienced driver and trust my own judgement, the car drove very well, and after a (very!) thorough test drive my only query in the back of my mind was the rear brakes, so interesting but not surprising this has been flagged up.

As far as used car sales go they seem relatively ok...

fivetide

Brakes are usually a wear and tear item so the warranty wouldn't cover them. The issue is that you'll want to be sure they have at least some life in them.

As all MOTs are computerised now, you will be able to see quite quickly if any advisories were issued. If it drives well and you are happy, that seems ok. Dealer has done ok to flag it up and have a delay too. They should have priced a service (read oil change) into the car though so I would still want to screen price to be the price I pay.

If you have the car a few years, a buyer will be happy to see any history and will go on condition. Keep reciepts for parts etc but I wouldn't stick with dealer pricing.

Good luck with the motor!

Teresa_Green

fivetide wrote: »

Brakes are usually a wear and tear item so the warranty wouldn't cover them. The issue is that you'll want to be sure they have at least some life in them.

As all MOTs are computerised now, you will be able to see quite quickly if any advisories were issued. If it drives well and you are happy, that seems ok. Dealer has done ok to flag it up and have a delay too. They should have priced a service (read oil change) into the car though so I would still want to screen price to be the price I pay.

If you have the car a few years, a buyer will be happy to see any history and will go on condition. Keep reciepts for parts etc but I wouldn't stick with dealer pricing.

Good luck with the motor!

Thank you

My main concern was with the price keeping creeping up, but doesn't sound like I am going too far wrong.