Buying A Car Off eBay - Is This A Scam?!

Bollinger76

Hello there,

Hopefully someone out there might have some experience of this particular concern. I've bought and sold a few cars on eBay, but not come across this one...

We're in the process purchasing a car advertised by a seller on eBay. When we went to view the car, half way through the buyer mentioned that he was still waiting for the V5 to come through, because the car was previously on private plates.

Car had service history, service book, MOT docs etc with it. All looked OK.

We wanted to purchase the car nonetheless, but decided we'd wait until the V5 documents came through, first. We left a small, refundable deposit to secure the motor, with the understanding we wouldn't purchase until we saw a V5.

The seller than spoke to my partner, and said instead of waiting for the V5, he was just going to complete a V62 in her name (meaning a new V5 would come directly to her), as it would be less hassle... I was perplexed - no money has changed hands yet - but not too concerned.

At this point we also did an HPI which checked out fine. However no number plate change is registered on the HPI - no private plates as seller stated!.. Everything else checks out OK.

I kind of wish we had just waited for the V5 to be in his possession - completing a V62 in my partners name seems convoluted. And I can't work out why someone would mislead us about private plates being the reason for no V5, or is it an honest mistake?

For what it's worth he seemed OK - lots of positive eBay feedback. But are we being scammed somehow?! Or is just me being overly cautious and a bit paranoid?!!

- B76

facade

I would be worried that it had a logbook loan, does the HPI guarantee that it hasn't, and that they will give you your money back if it has?

Bollinger76

Ha! Yep, no outstanding finance. Fingers crossed when the new V5 comes though I guess... !

AdrianC

He's a trader, and doesn't want you to see the V5C because it's not in his name, but the previous keeper's (with the "sold to trader" slip missing).

Herzlos

Bingo. He's trying to hide the fact he's a trader and that the V5 was never in his name.

Assuming the plates were already off the car, the V5 wouldn't take long to reach him.

A V62 on the other hand will take about a month, because they need to write to the previous owner to allow them to contest it. I dread to think how you'd tax a car in the limbo period as you've no proof of being the keeper, and will have all sorts of problems if whoever traded it in says it's still theirs.

Wait for the V5 or look for another car.

forgotmyname

As above you could have a car you cannot use without tax.

Are they a trader or have they a logbook loan which may not show on an HPI report and maybe too soon to show up anyway.

No V5C then dont buy it.

Bollinger76

Hmm.. Thanks all for the swift replies.

But now I'm more confused! I always thought he was a trader and he confirmed as such - he's got a bunch of cars listed on eBay, we went to his premises - a lot on a small ind. estate with a dozen cars on it. Car is being offered with a month's warranty and 3 months parts, AA inspection and HPI (we did our own anyway). He even offered to tax on some trade status, but I said we'd wait for the V5.

If he had explained (just as an example) that he doesn't have V5, or that it's in previous owners' name as traders buy cars without becoming the registered keeper (if they are not keeping the car, just selling it on), I might have been OK.

It's just him saying he doesn't have it because of a 'plate change', when there's no plate change on HPI that's bothering me.

On the HPI there's a function where you can check the VIN number - I might just get that and see what it turns up.

This is so much more complicated than the Mk3 Ford Fiesta I bought over the phone while in a pub many years ago (though interestingly that car turned out to be a lemon).

waamo

A logbook loan can take just over a week to show up. While the V5 is away it could be being processed.

Do you have a bargepole?

Bollinger76

Ha! Tried to buy one, but shop couldn't prove they owned it in the first place..!

AdrianC

Bollinger76 wrote: »

But now I'm more confused! I always thought he was a trader and he confirmed as such

Ah - the way your OP was worded, I took the impression this was not a trader.

It's just him saying he doesn't have it because of a 'plate change', when there's no plate change on HPI that's bothering me.

Have a check of the plate on cazana.com, too.

missile

You could check when it was last taxed / MOT via DVLA, but I would suggest you do not buy.