Buying a used car, is it a scam?

Chibisan

jimjames wrote: »

Why not arrange to meet at the address on the V5? I'm guessing you'll find out that was a previous owner who sold it some time ago.

I'd never buy a car from someone private whose name wasn't on the V5.

How does that work? They can buy a car and never register under their name? I don't mind if he is a trade seller, as long as the deal is legitimate and I won't get into any trouble.

Reason why I'm paranoid is that my parents got scammed a long time ago by their own family. They spent over £20k on a stolen car with the engine chassis number not matching.

shaun_from_Africa

xHannahx wrote: »

Sounds like a trader trying to pose as a private seller. Not a scam but not right neither.

A trader posing as a private seller is most definitely a scam as by doing this they are attempting to deceive buyers about their statutory legal rights should there be a problem with that vehicle in the future that a trader may have to rectify whereas a private seller wouldn't.

AdrianC

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

A trader posing as a private seller is most definitely a scam as by doing this they are attempting to deceive buyers about their statutory legal rights should there be a problem with that vehicle in the future that a trader may have to rectify whereas a private seller wouldn't.

If the buyer thinks he's buying from a private seller, he thinks he's buying with no legal rights, and pays a lower price.
If the buyer is actually buying from a trader, he has more rights than he thought he had, for which he should have been paying more.

This is a scam?

Herzlos

Can you visit the address on the V5 and ask them about it?

[Deleted User]

In the dark unemployed Thatcher years I made my living repairing cars and flogging them cheap, some were the bargain of the year others were ready for the scrappers in a year. Just because he was trying to make a living flogging cars it does nt mean the vehicle was useless. I never messed about registering any cars as mine for the two or three weeks I had it. This was the black economy at work and its still in big demand. All the buyers understood the system. My job was just to fix all the oily bits a damn site cheaper, and as good, as a garage. Please try and take a proper mechanic alongside you when viewing cars. Some of the worst value cars I bought were from the middle class private sellers with big houses and a gravel drive. Even dodgy dealers can have a decent motor, after all they would ve just bought it at auction probably, or like me advertising for non runners/mot failures, so really take along an expert when viewing cars even if you have to pay him.

EdGasket

I would only buy at the address on the V5 unless very happy about why the car is not at the V5 address. I've come across plenty of the 'It's my brother-in-law's car' and @I'm selling it for a friend' type of excuses; just walk away from those.
Is it taxed and insured at the moment? Have you run an HPI check on it?
If there is any doubt then leave it; there are plenty of other cars to buy.

jimjames

Chibisan wrote: »

How does that work? They can buy a car and never register under their name?

They can do. And I'd never buy a car from someone who thinks it's ok to run a car without registering it as theirs. If they do that then chances are they probably aren't insuring it or servicing it either.
I see so many posts on here from people who have bought dodgy cars yet a few simple checks would have stopped the problem. Long ownership, plenty of history with receipts all are positive for me but totally your choice.

Chibisan

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

A trader posing as a private seller is most definitely a scam as by doing this they are attempting to deceive buyers about their statutory legal rights should there be a problem with that vehicle in the future that a trader may have to rectify whereas a private seller wouldn't.

First time buying a car for myself. I didn't know about statutory legal rights at all. I just thought buying off trader and private is all the same.

Is there a time limit on how long they are responsible for the car?

shaun_from_Africa

AdrianC wrote: »

If the buyer thinks he's buying from a private seller, he thinks he's buying with no legal rights, and pays a lower price.
If the buyer is actually buying from a trader, he has more rights than he thought he had, for which he should have been paying more.

This is a scam?

However you try to word it, a trader pretending to be a private seller is illegal.
Irrespective of the price paid, how does attempting to deceive someone about their legal rights not count as a scam to you?
A buyer might get a car 10% or 15% cheaper but this discount may turn out to be pointless if they discover in a few weeks that the car was sold with a knackered engine.

Chibisan wrote: »

Is there a time limit on how long they are responsible for the car?

The maximum time that you have to attempt to claim from a trader is 6 years from purchase in England and Wales and 5 years from when you discovered a fault if in Scotland.

This doesn't mean that all goods should last this length of time as it all depends on the type of goods, price paid, their intended use etc.

AdrianC

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

However you try to word it, a trader pretending to be a private seller is illegal.

Yes, it is.

But what's the problem, as far as the buyer's concerned?

Irrespective of the price paid, how does attempting to deceive someone about their legal rights not count as a scam to you?
A buyer might get a car 10% or 15% cheaper but this discount may turn out to be pointless if they discover in a few weeks that the car was sold with a knackered engine.

If the buyer thinks they're buying from a private seller, they're stuffed in that case - whether that "private" seller really is or not.

We're talking about a 10yo+ car anyway - comeback in a few weeks will be minimal even with a legit trader.