Advice please - used car - scam?

flan_flinger

Hi,

I have agreed to buy a car from a private seller, but haven't paid yet, and just wanted to check a few things...

The seller has a logbook, but instead of being registered to him, it is registered to his previous company from whom he bought it and then he has seemingly registered it as a trader.

I am dealing with him at his home, and am pretty sure he is who he says he is (I've been into the house, got his bank account details, etc., seen a passport) and the HPI check for the car is clear, but I'm still nervous about the logbook thing - I guess ultimately there is not really any evidence he owns the car, other than the fact he has a key and a logbook...

Am I being paranoid here, or should I walk away?

Thanks for your advice!

OddballJamie

He sounds like a trader, does anything else worry you about the car? Suspicions history or unusually cheap?

If your gut tells you no, just remember unless it's very rare, theres plenty of other cars out there.

flan_flinger

It's quite cheap - about 80% of market value I'd say, but no suspicious history as far as I can see.

The guy has offered to register it first in his own name if I want - would that help?

Foxy-Stoat_3

HPI it, check the V5 reference number on the log book with the DVLA log book checker, look closely through the history and do a MOT check online. Call previous garage who serviced the car to confirm the history.

Call the registered company on the log and ask to see the receipt from when he purchased it from them.

Nothing wrong with buying a car that's not registered to a traders as long as he IS a trader and is being sold as such. If he is a trader then he should be registered at companies house with a company number, although a lot of driveway traders dont so they dont pay any tax on the profits.

spacey2012

Call him up from a strange phone and ask about "THE CAR FOR SALE" then act daft, you will soon know if he is a trader when he has to ask, which car mate.

I doubt he had any connection with the company on the VC5 and bought the car at the auctions.

They do sell tall stories more than they sell the car and everyone like a long story about their new car to talk about.

OddballJamie

spacey2012 wrote: »

Call him up from a strange phone and ask about "THE CAR FOR SALE" then act daft, you will soon know if he is a trader when he has to ask, which car mate.

I doubt he had any connection with the company on the VC5 and bought the car at the auctions.

They do sell tall stories more than they sell the car and everyone like a long story about their new car to talk about.

That doesn't always work as some small (part) time traders only sell one car at a time, more of a hobby for them.

flan_flinger

Ok, thanks everyone. I'll remain vigilant...

vaio

Foxy-Stoat wrote: »

....... If he is a trader then he should be registered at companies house with a company number, although a lot of driveway traders dont so they dont pay any tax on the profits.

Nah, there is no requirement to register with companies house unless he is trading as a ltd company.

Similarly, trading as a sole trader (from driveway or premises) is perfectly honourable and no indication of honesty re HMRC.

Some of the biggest crooks I know trade through a Ltd company and some of the biggest crooks in the world trade through public limited companies

50Twuncle

Run away, as fast as you can - don't look back ...
Seriously - why risk it ?

colino

If you have, "been into the house, got his bank account details, etc., seen a passport" and, "the HPI check for the car is clear" and you are still not convinced this is a legit transaction, doesn't really matter if he is a privateer, driveway dealer or Arnold Clark selling one of his collection from home, I don't think you are ever going to be happy with a private sale.
Golden rule for private sellers buying from anything other than trade premises is to get a full, genuine, insurance backed HPi report. Accept no other substitute.

DUTR

flan_flinger wrote: »

Ok, thanks everyone. I'll remain vigilant...

You are right to remain vigilant, however when I sold my Mum's car for her, the viewers viewed the car at my place, but the purchaser went to my Mum's place to complete the paperwork etc.