Can dealers declare any vehicle as 'spares or repair'?

eamon

AdrianC said:

Changing a cambelt is not a "repair" bill. It's routine maintenance. A repair is what you need to do if you don't change the belt.

Pedantry, lol

frost500

The reason why it is spares or repair is because the electronic power steering has failed, and rather than repair it, they have just reset it, which will give a couple of hundred miles before it stops working again. Then you will have to pay 500 quid to repair it. Probably.   Avoid.

EdGasketTheSecond

AdrianC said:

EdGasketTheSecond said:

Isn't the point though that even if the dealer says 'spare or repairs', then if he lets you drive it away (rather than trailer'd) then all the usual customer protections apply and the  'spare or repairs' has no meaning in consumer law to let the dealer off the hook?

You're getting confused with the only get-out for selling an unroadworthy vehicle being that you made the buyer explicitly aware it could not be driven away and was unroadworthy. Saying "spares or repair" is not the same as the vehicle being unroadworthy.

That's what I said, only more clearly.

This explains in detail:

https://www.thecarexpert.co.uk/spares-or-repair-dodgy-trader-tricks/

So the car has to be unroadworthy, the buyer must be made aware of that, AND the dealer must make sure it is trailer'd away to get out of their obligations to the consumer. Just saying 'spares or repairs' in an Ad does not release a dealer from their obligations.

nottsphil

frost500 said:

The reason why it is spares or repair is because the electronic power steering has failed, and rather than repair it, they have just reset it, which will give a couple of hundred miles before it stops working again. Then you will have to pay 500 quid to repair it. Probably.   Avoid.

If that was the only thing wrong with it then far from avoiding it, I would be offering to sign a disclaimer for a spec I don't need. 

A_Lert

Even if it has little legal force, the prudent thing would be to assume the vehicle needs repairs. Presumably you want a reliable car, not a crock and a legal battle.

I think legally though the only vehicles a dealer can't sell for "spares or repair" are Cat A and B writeoffs? (Which can't be sold in one piece at all.)

facade

nottsphil said:

frost500 said:

The reason why it is spares or repair is because the electronic power steering has failed, and rather than repair it, they have just reset it, which will give a couple of hundred miles before it stops working again. Then you will have to pay 500 quid to repair it. Probably.   Avoid.

If that was the only thing wrong with it then far from avoiding it, I would be offering to sign a disclaimer for a spec I don't need. 

It won't pass the MOT

EPS light on, or assistance not working are both majors.

Disconnecting it is only possible if it were optional in the first place.

barfordboy

hope this helps, if the car is described as spares or repairs it is clear to the buyer that it is such, and is exempt from the 30 day warrnaty etc etc, it must be trailered away. The buyer clearly knows what hes buying and the seller clearly knows what hes selling. No need to comment any further

caprikid1

" it is clear to the buyer that it is such"  It is clear the dealer is trying to avoid his legal obligations. 
If the dealer allows a test drive then clearly this is not a spares or repair car. Any dealer selling a car for spares or repairs should be avoided, they are clearly bottom feeders on so many levels.
Merely describing a car as spares or repair means nothing unless the dealer acts in a manner that reinforces that stance. 
The only clear thing about "Spares or Repair" , "Trade Sale" is  avoid this dealer.... nothing more nothing less. 

JustAnotherSaver

Probably was of no help Barford. I imagine OP sorted it out in the couple months that has passed since they asked. 

nottsphil

JustAnotherSaver said:

Probably was of no help Barford. I imagine OP sorted it out in the couple months that has passed since they asked. 

Actually I've just seen it, and I also still  haven't purchased a vehicle. Even if I had, don't you think the information would still  be useful to others? These threads do turn up on www searches you know!