Buying a used car

lebryant

Hi all, so I am about to buy a used car from the dealer. However, the car I liked is quite far away. My question is, if I am happy with the car after the inspection, how long would it take to sort all the documentation (registration, insurance, tax, etc.) so that I'm able to drive it home. Would it be possible to do it all in one day?

And by the way, it's my first car, therefore - no previous documents available.

pompeyrich

Registration should be easy, if the dealer has the log book, V5C, you keep the new keeper bit, section 10, the dealer sends off the rest. Tax instantly online, smartphone or dealers PC.

Insurance is the important one, make 100% sure you are covered before you drive away, again online or by phone, you don't need a paper copy of the insurance. The dealer may offer drive away insurance, which will cover you for a few days, again make sure it covers what you want/need it to.

lebryant

Thanks for the reply. I was under the impression that since last October you need to already have an insurance to tax the vehicle. That's the tricky part - would they accept a short-term insurance? I personally would prefer to insure it for the year straight away, but how long it takes until I receive a required confirmation so I could pay the tax.

pompeyrich

It seems you don't need to show or prove insurance to tax a car anymore, as long as you have the new keepers supplement and the car has a valid MOT, this is checked electronically if you tax online.

Details here

lebryant

Brilliant! I missed this change. Thanks again for your help clearing things up