Buying a car through the internet

Pebblesplus4

Hi, I'm thinking of buying a new car using an internet broker. I have read some threads on here regarding this but they're a bit old now and I would appreciate some up to date views. The companies I am particularly interested in hearing about are Broadspeed and UK Car Discount. Has anybody used either of these companies recently and what was your experience? Thanks in anticipation.

DUTR

Pebblesplus4 wrote: »

Hi, I'm thinking of buying a new car using an internet broker. I have read some threads on here regarding this but they're a bit old now and I would appreciate some up to date views. The companies I am particularly interested in hearing about are Broadspeed and UK Car Discount. Has anybody used either of these companies recently and what was your experience? Thanks in anticipation.

The last two cars I have had have been via a broker, basically they put you in touch with a dealer and you deal with the dealership thereafter.
I didn't use the ones you have mentioned UK Car Discount does not show any options, Broadspeed allows options but they do not appear to be discounted.
Best ring them up so that you can confirm delivery dates, and whilst they show that the car will be delivered to you, the dealership may not be exactly local perhaps even 100 miles away, plus the car is driven to you, not delivered on a transporter.

vikingaero

I've used car brokers for about a decade. From Drive The Deal, Carfile, Broadspeed to UKCD.

With most of them you fill in a webform and they put you in touch with the supplying main dealer. The main dealer takes a deposit (typically £500) and orders the car. Your dealings are 100% with the main dealer. The main dealer pays the car broker a commission of 1% normally but this is of no concern to you and doesn't affect the buying price.

The days of RHD imports masquerading as new UK cars are long over although you can buy Cypriot cars from Motorpoint.

Buying from brokers can be perverse. For instance I went into my local Vauxhall dealer and got their best price for a Corsa for say £10k. I went online and ordered from DTD for £8.5k. And the same salesman who dealt with me as a retail customer handled the DTD transaction. They aren't allowed to offer the same price.

With our Honda Jazz this was delivered to the door via DTD (although the transporter may park some streets away or at your local supermarket if your road is narrow.

With our Mazda I via Carfile, I collected it from Stoke. I booked a one way hire car, a Premier Inn, dinner, fuel etc which cost £200ish. Yet I still saved £3,800 over my local dealers price.

WellKnownSid

The only question to ask any broker is whether you get the V5 or not. There are brokers who'll buy as fleet (at a large discount) and push them out over the Internet to retail customers.

As a fleet deal they won't be allowed to register the car in your name, you will not be the registered keeper, you won't be able to get hold of the V5 for 6-12 months - and when you do you'll be the second owner. Because you weren't supposed to be the first...

snuffy

^ you can apply for the V5 as soon as you get the car. I did this, paid about £10.

WellKnownSid

^ You don't need to 'apply' for anything when you buy a legitimate car...

daveyjp

Holding onto the V5c after ownership has been transferred has been deemed illegal. Any company doing it should be avoided and reminded of this fact.

vikingaero

It's very rare these days to encounter a dealer who would retain a V5C. Certainly none of the main internet brokers would deal with main dealers who would do this.

If you are concerned then ask! "Do I get the V5C from the DVLA as soon as the issue it?" The dealer who pulls this scam has far more to lose. They should give you a printout of the registration (white A4 paper with basic details on). If they don't then walk. That leaves them with a registered car and you doing a chargeback for the deposit. The registered car would immediately be devalued, the card company should support a chargeback and you can report them to the RMIF and the manufacturer. Which is why so few dealers do it now.

chinna

Pebblesplus4 good thread how did you get on?


Thanks