Buying a car - what do I ask for?

hieveryone

Hello

My husband and I have found a car we like, from a relatively small independent trader. It's a substantial amount of money so we want to make sure everything is ok. 

It's quite a distance from us, so the likelihood is that if we travel there, we will be buying it. 

What should I be asking for before committing? Should I ask for the VIN number on the v5 and photographed on the car? 

Anything else I should note? 

Many thanks

SaverRate

Do a HPI and a V check - you will need the VIN, Registration No, V5 number and issue date
Ask for proof of service history - ask for physical evidence dont just take their word
Will they be doing a new service and MOT on the vehicle (if needed?)?
Number of Owners
Ask if there is any warranty provided on the vehicle
Ask if there are any issues cosmetically and mechanically with the vehicle. 

Ask if they will deliver - some garages deliver up to 250 miles for free

hieveryone

HarryDavies01 said:

Do a HPI and a V check - you will need the VIN, Registration No, V5 number and issue date
Ask for proof of service history - ask for physical evidence dont just take their word
Will they be doing a new service and MOT on the vehicle (if needed?)?
Number of Owners
Ask if there is any warranty provided on the vehicle
Ask if there are any issues cosmetically and mechanically with the vehicle. 

Ask if they will deliver - some garages deliver up to 250 miles for free

Thank you - I have most of those details bar the V5 so will get that. Is it useful to have a photograph of the VIN plate on the actual car? Currently it's photos of the car with trade plates on. 

[Deleted User]

You are going to take it out for a while, to drive it, before buying, yes ?

You've test driven, somewhere, the same model to know what the car is like, yes ?

Don't just do a few minute trip around the town, it's the second largest purchase most of us make so do take it long enough to make your informed decision.
Buying remotely requires decent amounts of due diligence.

hieveryone

[Deleted User] said:

You are going to take it out for a while, to drive it, before buying, yes ?

You've test driven, somewhere, the same model to know what the car is like, yes ?

Don't just do a few minute trip around the town, it's the second largest purchase most of us make so do take it long enough to make your informed decision.
Buying remotely requires decent amounts of due diligence.

Thank you - yes, we will be. And we've driven similar models. It's just this one is competitively priced and with the spec we like. I just need to know what I should be checking beforehand before I make the trip. 

Belenus

Please think very carefully about buying from a small independent dealer a long way away from your home. This forum is full of threads about people who have bought cars a long way away from their home and have deeply regretted it when they have problems with the car.

Is there a manufacturers warranty remaining on the car that would allow you to take it to any dealer of that make?

If not and if you have any problems with the car then you will either need to return the car to the dealer or pay yourselves to have it fixed locally to you.

If the dealer can't or won't fix it quickly you will have to leave the car with the dealer, return home possibly by public transport and revisit the dealer again. And maybe repeat that a few times.

Is this car so special and so competitively priced that it is worth the risk or buying a long way from home?

If it is competitively priced ask yourself why?

I apologise if I am being overly negative but these are factors that you must consider.

Good luck.

hieveryone

Belenus said:

Please think very carefully about buying from a small independent dealer a long way away from your home. This forum is full of threads about people who have bought cars a long way away from their home and have deeply regretted it when they have problems with the car.

Is there a manufacturers warranty remaining on the car that would allow you to take it to any dealer of that make?

If not and if you have any problems with the car then you will either need to return the car to the dealer or pay yourselves to have it fixed locally to you.

If the dealer can't or won't fix it quickly you will have to leave the car with the dealer, return home possibly by public transport and revisit the dealer again. And maybe repeat that a few times.

Is this car so special and so competitively priced that it is worth the risk or buying a long way from home?

If it is competitively priced ask yourself why?

I apologise if I am being overly negative but these are factors that you must consider.

Good luck.

Thank you - it's a relatively new car of a brand that we are well versed with. Going by servicing history and MOT all looks well enough. 

I would need to check re: manufacturers warranty, that will be worth looking into, thank you. 

JJ_Egan

Problems and return vehicle the long distance  are you OK with that ??

ButterCheese

Make sure you try everything electrical:  windows, A/C, fans, auto wipers, auto lights,  check all the lights are working, make sure you know what various dash warning lights mean (not just engine management lights, but things like "check front left headlight" or "check tyre pressure sensor".  New cars have a habit of throwing up warning lights, which isn't a big issue but best to query that with the trader and get it fixed first if you aren't happy.  I fell foul of this, I keep getting headlight/sidelight errors but the bulbs are working fine.  Not a fault as such, but just annoying.  I can't keep taking the car back to get it all sorted becasue it's too inconvenient and I don't have time.  And this is only 4 miles away.

In summary, just don't rush and make sure you check everything.  Sometimes a good deal is there because some annoying or intermittent fault is present which they don't want to spend time and money fixing if it's not substantially affecting the car

mobileron

Use the deal  to secure better locally, if theres  a problem how much will it cost u to trailer car back to dealer.

Bigwheels1111

Does it have both keys and do the remotes work ?.
Locking wheel nut.
Service book, old mot’s and any other paperwork.