Buying a car when the seller is not the owner

Moneybagsss

I've seen a car I'm interested in buying, the seller is acting on behalf of the owner. How do I verify their story and protect myself in the event of buying the car?

The owner is apparently an OAP., I don't know their name. The car was parked on a verge, the seller 'lives nearby' but I have not visited their house. They want paying in cash. Seller seems genuine enough.

Any advice?

marlot

Sounds like a dealer trying to escape their liabilities.

The V5C will tell you the name and address of the registered keeper if you want to check it out.

IanMSpencer

Con men seem like nice genuine guys - so you cannot tell the difference between a nice genuine guy and a con man.

Buying without entering a property and not being able to see the paperwork and check out the owner is a no no.

If you are suspicious, and it seems with good reason, don't talk yourself out of it, get the seller to resolve those suspicions with evidence, not chat.

Lucky_Duck_2

Avoid?

(Plus some additional characters)

wgl2014

If you can verify the story is true then fine, don't take the sellers word for it though.

Herzlos

Insist on meeting the actual keeper first, or having a look at the V5 before you buy. If they are local and have the same surname as the seller then it could be legit. As marlot said this is probably a dealer trying to pretend to be a private seller to get rid of a trade in.

I'd also google the dealers phone number, and phone from a different phone to ask "is the car still for sale?" and see how he answers; "which car?" means he's a dealer "yeah I've still got the _____" means it's more likely to be genuine.

Moneybagsss

Thanks for all comments so far, it's given me something to think about

EdGasketTheSecond

Herzlos wrote: »

I'd also google the dealers phone number, and phone from a different phone to ask "is the car still for sale?" and see how he answers; "which car?" means he's a dealer "yeah I've still got the _____" means it's more likely to be genuine.

.....or that the 'dealer' currently only has one car for sale.

missile

Sounds well dodgy to me :-(

BeenThroughItAll

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

.....or that the 'dealer' currently only has one car for sale.

In which case they'd be a pretty !!!! 'dealer'...

EdGasketTheSecond

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

In which case they'd be a pretty !!!! 'dealer'...

We are talking of a street trader here masquerading as a private seller. I have come across many with only 1 car to sell; they aren't Arnold Clarke you know and don't have the capital to tie up in several cars or anywhere to put them..