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Car Auctions

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whambam
whambam Posts: 526 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
in Motoring
Hello,

How do the car auction people inspect your vehicle? Is it a visual inspection only with an MOT pass? Or is it a onboard diagnostic check connecting their laptop software with the OBD port?

Comments

  • Warwick_Hunt
    Warwick_Hunt Posts: 1,179 Forumite
    They don't.
  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 32,922 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    They are not bothered whether your car is legit, thats upto the buyers to check, which is why cars appear to sell cheaply.

    The experienced traders know what to look for and any private bidder should be watching to see if they bid or not. No bids they have spotted something.
    Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...

  • Ectophile
    Ectophile Posts: 7,977 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    It's not their problem. Often, their liability ends the moment you drive it off their forecourt. If it gets that far, any faults are your problem.
    If it sticks, force it.
    If it breaks, well it wasn't working right anyway.
  • wgl2014
    wgl2014 Posts: 1,144 Forumite
    Your car that is purchased at auction or your car that is being sold at auction?
  • System
    System Posts: 178,348 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    whambam wrote: »
    How do the car auction people inspect your vehicle? Is it a visual inspection only with an MOT pass? Or is it a onboard diagnostic check connecting their laptop software with the OBD port?
    The only thing they check is whether or not it is stolen and whether or not you can provide ID that matches the name on the V5.

    That is why as a buyer you need to go over them with a fine tooth comb and if you don't know anything about cars and can't take someone who does then to steer clear as you don't get any guarantees other than maybe a one hour one on some of the newer cars.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • whambam
    whambam Posts: 526 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    So, I guess the buyer doesn't know the MOT details at the time on selling the vehicle?
  • TonyMMM
    TonyMMM Posts: 3,423 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    whambam wrote: »
    So, I guess the buyer doesn't know the MOT details at the time on selling the vehicle?

    The length of any existing MOT, or the lack of one, would normally be part of the information available to bidders. Nothing much beyond that.
  • facade
    facade Posts: 7,589 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    whambam wrote: »
    So, I guess the buyer doesn't know the MOT details at the time on selling the vehicle?

    If you can see the reg, number, and the auction site doesn't have a 'phone jammer, you can do an online check easily enough and view the MOT history with a smartphone.
    I want to go back to The Olden Days, when every single thing that I can think of was better.....

    (except air quality and Medical Science ;))
  • trigger_fish
    trigger_fish Posts: 3,172 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Bought a couple of auction cars.

    The MOT (if there is one) I saw visually.

    After winning the bid on the car I had an hour to drive it and if finding a fault I could have returned it with full refund. Never had too.
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