Used car buying advice please

greenwich

I was involved in a car accident yesterday. Not my fault, and no one was hurt, but it does look like my car will be a write-off. So I'll need to buy another car. It's been a long time since I bought a car, so I'd appreciate some advice please.

How do I find out the right price to pay? Parker's price guide?

Is it better to pay a bit extra and buy from a dealer rather than risk a private purchase?

How do I avoid buying a stolen car? Or one that's been reassembled from a written-off car? Or been clocked?

What happens if there's unpaid parking fines on the car I buy?

What paperwork do I need to complete with the seller?

What's the best way to find the car I want? Go round the local dealers? Or look in the local paper? Any websites?

I'm really annoyed that I'm having to do this, since our old car was doing fine. But it looks like we just have to grit our teeth and do it. Any advice would be appreciated.

mrtg0525

greenwich wrote: »

I was involved in a car accident yesterday. Not my fault, and no one was hurt, but it does look like my car will be a write-off. So I'll need to buy another car. It's been a long time since I bought a car, so I'd appreciate some advice please.

How do I find out the right price to pay? Parker's price guide?

Is it better to pay a bit extra and buy from a dealer rather than risk a private purchase?

That very much depends on what you're after - for something expensive (say, 6k+), you may want to go to a dealer. If you're after a 500 quid banger, you may want to buy privately.

It also is a good idea to keep an eye on the finished auctions on places like ebay. Not to buy, but to work out what the "real" price for the model you're looking for it. It seems that the guide prices are all over the place at the moment and not necessarily reflect what's really being paid for the cars.

greenwich wrote: »

How do I avoid buying a stolen car? Or one that's been reassembled from a written-off car? Or been clocked?

All three can usually be answered by an HPI check.

greenwich wrote: »

What paperwork do I need to complete with the seller?

You both fill out the V5, the seller sends the large part of it to the DVLA and you keep the little green stripe. Make sure you get MOT certificates and if possible, invoices and service books. Oh, and tax discs...

greenwich wrote: »

What's the best way to find the car I want? Go round the local dealers? Or look in the local paper? Any websites?

Do you know what car do you want or are you trying to work out what you should be looking for?

greenwich wrote: »

I'm really annoyed that I'm having to do this, since our old car was doing fine. But it looks like we just have to grit our teeth and do it. Any advice would be appreciated.

I'd wait for the insurance assessor, see if the car is really a write-off in the first place. Once you know which parts need replacing or repairing and also depending on the extent of the damage it maybe worth talking to the insurance if you can buy back/keep the car.

The problem with most 'economic' write-offs is that the insurance company has to get the car repaired using new parts. Sometimes, for cars that have good second-hand spares availability, a specialist can fix the damage using used panels for a fraction of the insurance repair quote. If you don't intend to sell the car anytime soon, who cares if you're driving around in a car that's been written off?

That said, I would only do that with a car that doesn't have structural damage - say, a couple of bent wings and a bonnet, but not one that's been shortened by a foot or so.

anewman

If that's you in the pic you did cause the accident. The other driver was obviously distracted by your immense beauty and wasn't watching what they were doing

greenwich

Nah, it was the other driver who was really pretty. (And, no, I didn't see what she looked like until after the accident.)

Thanks for the advice. The car is probably only worth a few hundred, as it's a 13 years old Micra. I've got a mechanic coming round hopefully tomorrow. He's a good guy and if anyone can fix the damage inexpensively, he can.

I'm not looking for a pricey car, certainly not more than £6K, maybe another Nissan, as the one we've got has been reliable. I had a look at Autotrader just now. They offer a check for £25 which sounds like the HPI check.

I'll check out ebay. Thanks! Hadn't thought of that.

saintjanet

mrtg0525 has saved me a load of typing!!All i would add is that when you come to buy ,know exactly what you want and compare as many prices as possible,real ones not just guide prices.Car sales people love punters who tell them what they have to spend but are not sure what to buy.!!!

vansboy

https://www.honestjohn.co.uk there is LOADS info there.

& if you post in The Backroom - Discussion, even more help will come your way.

& don't forget, depending on your insurance cover, you're possibly entitled to a 'free' courtesy car 'till an offer of settlement is made.

NOTE, once an offer is made, the car goes back, even if you reject the amount!!

VB

anewman

vansboy wrote: »

& don't forget, depending on your insurance cover, you're possibly entitled to a 'free' courtesy car 'till an offer of settlement is made.

Oh yes take advantage of this if it is available. Particularly if there is any delay in a cheque getting to you (as there was in my sister's case) make sure you get the courtesy car extended, as they want to take it back ASAP. May take a few phone calls and a bit of agro but it gets you a free car to use.