do trade sellers have to disclose cat C/D cars?

kuepper

a bit suspicious - cos of price / paranoia- about some cars i've been looking at on garages' websites. I don't want to waste money on lots of separate checks so I just wondered if I could assume they were not write-offs?

motorguy

kuepper wrote: »

a bit suspicious - cos of price / paranoia- about some cars i've been looking at on garages' websites. I don't want to waste money on lots of separate checks so I just wondered if I could assume they were not write-offs?

The garage "should" disclose anything that may influence your buying decision - a previous write off, an ex hire car or taxi, however some lazy or less scrupulous dealers dont.

Also, if you are looking at the cars on autotrader it automatically checks the reg and tells you if is a Cat C or Cat D car in the advert.

I would still, even once you've settled on a particular car to perform your own quality (not a £1.99 phone special) HPI check before you finally hand over your hard earned.

Its unusual for a car / cars to be "suspiciously cheap" from a big garage?

kuepper

motorguy wrote: »

The garage "should" disclose anything that may influence your buying decision - a previous write off, an ex hire car or taxi, however some lazy or less scrupulous dealers dont.

Also, if you are looking at the cars on autotrader it automatically checks the reg and tells you if is a Cat C or Cat D car in the advert.

I would still, even once you've settled on a particular car to perform your own quality (not a £1.99 phone special) HPI check before you finally hand over your hard earned.

Its unusual for a car / cars to be "suspiciously cheap" from a big garage?

it wasn't on auto trader but the garage had other cars advertised on autotrader, I just looked at their website to see what else they had and found this which seems to be 1/3 or more less than market (using the autotrader valuation tool) .http://www.fmmotor.co.uk/used-cars/volkswagen-polo-1-2-e-3dr-stockport-201610289215403

bengalknights

Yes they should state its CAT C/D and also the log book will have it on special notes.

MEM62

kuepper wrote: »

I don't want to waste money on lots of separate checks so I just wondered if I could assume they were not write-offs?

HPI checks are not extortionate and the cost is absolutely minimal compared to any potential downside and cost associated with buying a car with a poor or hidden history. Don't check and assume all is OK if you wish but be prepared to deal with the consequences if things don't pan out. You pay your money (or not as the case may be) and take your choice.

mrmot

motorguy wrote: »

The garage "should" disclose anything that may influence your buying decision - a previous write off, an ex hire car

Previous write off has to be declared by the dealer, previous owners or how the vehicle has been previously used does not have to be declared un prompted, however the dealer must tell the truth if the buyer asks the question - which if it is a major factor in the buying decision it will be, if it isn't we'll the get stories about how a wicked dealer stitched someone up into an ex rental.

19lottie82

Legally dealers have to declare a cat C/D at the time of sale (they don't have to be promoted)
Private sellers don't but must to IF asked.

19lottie82

bengalknights wrote: »

Yes they should state its CAT C/D and also the log book will have it on special notes.

The logbook will say if it's a cat C, but not a cat D.

Hoof_Hearted

Lots of advisories on the MoT history. In 2016:

Front number plate cracked
Rear number plate deteriorated
hand brake lever near max travel
Offside sill corroded
Nearside Rear bearing slight play

I would check that 3 and 4 have been done.

AdrianC

kuepper wrote: »

it wasn't on auto trader but the garage had other cars advertised on autotrader, I just looked at their website to see what else they had and found this which seems to be 1/3 or more less than market (using the autotrader valuation tool) .http://www.fmmotor.co.uk/used-cars/volkswagen-polo-1-2-e-3dr-stockport-201610289215403

That URL suggests the car's been for sale since late October. The ad says "12mo MOT" - yet it's now down to 9 (last test 15th Dec 16). This is not a car that's flying off the forecourt, despite being superficially cheap. Which begs the question why not? The pics don't make it look that bad, abysmal photography skills and godawful market-stall wheeltrims apart. A grand's worth of 12yo Polo should FLY off the forecourt.

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Lots of advisories on the MoT history. In 2016:

Front number plate cracked
Rear number plate deteriorated
hand brake lever near max travel
Offside sill corroded
Nearside Rear bearing slight play

I would check that 3 and 4 have been done.

Rather more to the point, the general history of previous MOTs suggests it's a car that's only ever had the absolute bare minimum of "maintenance" ever done to it.

I suspect it's an utter unloved shed with a real air of neglect about it.