Old Car from Dealer - Law

m07775_2

I am looking at buying a town run around for £999 from a dealer.

Now I wonder what the law says. I know it is an old car and the price is low but their again it is not scrap money so I expect the car to function reasonably and not require thousands spending on it.

I am looking to run it home and get a garage to look over it and curious as to what are my rights?

Help appreciated.

System

What you can reasonably expect depends on the price and the age of the car. For £1000 for an old car that is that the vehicle is likely to come with faults or may develop faults in the near future.

For £1000 I would expect the car to function reasonably but it would come as no surprise to me if the clutch packed up within 6 months leaving me with a £500+ repair bill and that when it came to MOT time there were a few things that needed to be done because ultimately you're buying a car that is end of life.

£999 from a dealer is banger money because they'll have paid maybe £500 tops for it.

arcon5

Problem with taking an old car to a garage for inspection is they will pick everything up and most people see a long list and think they've been ripped off when in reality most are just wear and tear and will likely still have a lot of life left in it. Or at the very least make it til next mot.

motorguy

m07775 wrote: »

I am looking at buying a town run around for £999 from a dealer.

Now I wonder what the law says. I know it is an old car and the price is low but their again it is not scrap money so I expect the car to function reasonably and not require thousands spending on it.

I am looking to run it home and get a garage to look over it and curious as to what are my rights?

Help appreciated.

You would be much better attempting to buy a car privately at that price instead. That way, you're getting a £1,000 car for your money rather than a £500 car with a £500 dealer markup.

Do be careful though if looking at cars for sale privately, a lot will be driveway traders masquerading as private sellers so you need to know you're buying from the person whos name is on the V5C and that you are meeting them at the address on the V5C and that they have had the car for a reasonable length of time. Any variance from that and they're most likely a trader.

With a car on a forecourt at £999 check it over thoroughly, give it a good run, let it idle, check for oil and water leaks, check there are no lights on on the dash and any that are there are functioning as they should, and buy ideally with a fresh MOT but at very least a long MOT.

Other than that, you're buying an old car that WILL have wear and tear related issues (possibly the next week, maybe in a month, maybe in six months) and the dealer WONT be liable for them, as he is only liable for FAULTS that could be deemed to have been present at the time of sale.

bris

Take someone with you before you buy not after. Why on earth would you do it after? It's like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.


When you buy an old car you buy the wear and tear that has already accumulated on it. You don't get to return a car for normal wear and tear.


Normal wear and tear can include everything in an older car, but you do get some protection for catastrophic failures for major thing like engine and gearbox, but this is within the first 30 days only.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Id rather go private sellers for this money and ask loads of questions from the keeper/owner. Ask a trader about the history "its paperwork is in the glove box have a look came in part ex that's all I know when your ready give me a shout" response is normal and when you open the glove box? NOTHING!!!.


Where as sitting in front of a genuine seller you can ask all the questions needed to base a decision.

m07775_2

Because I have no one to take! I do not know anyone who is good with cars anymore.

The car has only done 51,000 miles, no female owners so the clutch should be OK

bris wrote: »

Take someone with you before you buy not after. Why on earth would you do it after? It's like closing the barn door after the horse has bolted.


When you buy an old car you buy the wear and tear that has already accumulated on it. You don't get to return a car for normal wear and tear.


Normal wear and tear can include everything in an older car, but you do get some protection for catastrophic failures for major thing like engine and gearbox, but this is within the first 30 days only.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

m07775 wrote: »

Because I have no one to take! I do not know anyone who is good with cars anymore.

The car has only done 51,000 miles, no female owners so the clutch should be OK

pff lost all respect now.

System

m07775 wrote: »

The car has only done 51,000 miles, no female owners so the clutch should be OK

51,000 miles on an old car IS NOT A GOOD THING. It can mean it has spent long times stood or has spent most of its mileage driving round town doing short journeys which will wear out a car far faster than one which has done three times the mileage sat on the motorway in 6th gear, especially the clutch. Anything that has done less than 7-8,000 miles a year should be viewed with extreme caution. Anything that has done less than 5000 miles a year should be actively avoided unless it is only a year, maybe two years old.

macman

What make and model, what year?
If you have a garage in mind, get them to check it over before you purchase-it's futile to do so afterwards!