When to buy tax/insurance on a used car?

zxcvbnm1

I know that all cars need tax/insurance before going on the road but I'm not sure what to do about a car I would like to purchase from a private seller. It is my first car and I don't know how to go about purchasing tax/insurance on a car that is not on my property and that I don't own yet. I have read that you can buy tax from the post office, but as I wish to purchase it in the evening the post office will be closed. I only passed my test last week and I'm not sure how to go about buying a car, especially as nobody in my immediate family drives so I can't get anyone to come and give me a hand.

Would be grateful for any advice.

DUTR

Have a look at the car, if it is suitable and a price is agreed, then you can get the car tax and insured ready for you to collect at the next opportunity.
As you have recently passed your test the last thing you want is penalty points on your license especially in the 1st few years, your insurance may already be high, so it's a false economy to try and save a few quid over a risk just really not worth it.
You can get an insurance estimate by inputting your details on a comparison site and the registration of the car or a similar model car.

tim9966

From October there will be no disc to display so you don't need to go to the Post Office and can just tax it online.


For the next 2 months you will still need a disc. You best option would be to find a car already taxed, but if not you will have to go and collect the car a couple of days later and after you have had time to go to the Post office.

zxcvbnm1

DUTR wrote: »

Have a look at the car, if it is suitable and a price is agreed, then you can get the car tax and insured ready for you to collect at the next opportunity.
As you have recently passed your test the last thing you want is penalty points on your license especially in the 1st few years, your insurance may already be high, so it's a false economy to try and save a few quid over a risk just really not worth it.
You can get an insurance estimate by inputting your details on a comparison site and the registration of the car or a similar model car.

Thanks. So will I need to collect documents from the seller before purchasing tax and insurance?

tim9966

Yes. The seller would need to give you the green new keeper slip part of the V5 log book to be able to get it taxed.


It would be easier to try and find a car that is already taxed.

zxcvbnm1 wrote: »

Thanks. So will I need to collect documents from the seller before purchasing tax and insurance?

Norman_Castle

If you have a drive or off road parking ask the seller if they will deliver the car.

macman

How have you been able to legally road test the vehicle if it's not taxed?
You are not considering buying a car you haven't tested?
If it's not taxed, then the owner can't even legally take you for a drive in it.

forgotmyname

Dont forget without tax and insurance you wont be able to test drive it.

And dont trust a seller who says your covered in their policy. Unless you see it for yourself. If you get stopped he will swear blind you said you have cover and you lose your licence and get to take your test again.

BeenThroughItAll

One point I would make here - If you know so little about motoring and vehicles that you're questioning the process of purchasing VED and insurance (both of which are easily clarified with a short Google search), then I would seriously question whether or not you're experienced or qualified enough to determine whether or not a vehicle offered for sale by a private seller is a good or bad purchase.

You may of course be a mechanical expert who's rubbish at personal admin, but my suspicion is you're equally as at sea with the tangible vehicle aspects of this as you are with the paperwork - if this is the case, PLEASE get the car inspected by an independent expert/friendly mechanic/mate who knows about cars.

If you don't, I suspect your next thread will be one of the regular 'I bought a car from a geezer and it's knackered, how do I claim my money back/compensation/repair costs' posts we see here.