Bought a used car I suspect the previous owner was a driving instructor

user1977

Jenni_D said:

Undervalued said:

Jenni_D said:

Unfair trading legislation bans a trader from any practice that may adversely influence a consumer's buying decision. That's why a trader is generally require to declare relevant details to a consumer even if the consumer doesn't ask.

That's the (summarised) legal position - enforcing it though is a different matter.

That assumes that the trader knows the occupation of the previous owner and even if they do is it relevant?

Plus, from some of the earlier comments in this thread, some people might consider it a plus point rather than a minus.

This topic has been addressed before ... the short answer is "It doesn't matter". The trader is deemed to be the "expert" in the transaction so should know relevant info that may adversely affect a consumer's buying decision. It is evident that the car formerly being a driving school car does affect a buying decision - for some it is positive, for others it is negative, but it is clear that it has an impact. 

But if on balance the impact is neutral (or at least insignificant), I don't see the need to mention it.

Do you think the gender of the previous owner is relevant info?

Undervalued

Jenni_D said:

Undervalued said:

Jenni_D said:

Unfair trading legislation bans a trader from any practice that may adversely influence a consumer's buying decision. That's why a trader is generally require to declare relevant details to a consumer even if the consumer doesn't ask.

That's the (summarised) legal position - enforcing it though is a different matter.

That assumes that the trader knows the occupation of the previous owner and even if they do is it relevant?

Plus, from some of the earlier comments in this thread, some people might consider it a plus point rather than a minus.

This topic has been addressed before ... the short answer is "It doesn't matter". The trader is deemed to be the "expert" in the transaction so should know relevant info that may adversely affect a consumer's buying decision. It is evident that the car formerly being a driving school car does affect a buying decision - for some it is positive, for others it is negative, but it is clear that it has an impact. And a trader should be able to ascertain such information - if it was enough to cause suspicion for a consumer then it should have been more-obvious to an "expert". Ignorance is not a defence.

Well, by that argument every single factor in the car's history is relevant. Where do you stop?

e.g.

Little old lady or boy racer?

Kept in a garage or outside?

Seaside or inland? (corrosion)

Driven mainly over rough roads or on motorways? (suspension)

Lots of short journeys of fewer longer ones?

And so on ad infinitum.... 

TELLIT01

When we bought my wife's Micra in 2007 we asked about its history.  It was only 6 months old with about 7k on the clock.  Sales guy said he didn't know and the V5 was at another branch, this was a main dealer.  Long story short, when I received the V5 it showed that it had been a rental car for one of the big rental companies.  We have never had any problems with it and my wife still uses it for work a couple of days a week.  I probably wouldn't have bought it if I had known its history, and would have lost out.

born_again

Alderbank said:

Driving school cars are leased. The previous owner would be for example Hitachi Finance.
Plenty of driving instructors own private cars and only do their teaching in the leased one with the big sign on top.
If the 'one previous lady owner' is a self-employed driving instructor it would be pretty easy to find her on Google or Yell.

Except you do not get to know the previous owners name. Not on V5
Many garages even go as far as to remove this from service book & any invoices that will have the information on.

Grumpy_chap

Jenni_D said:

Unfair trading legislation bans a trader from any practice that may adversely influence a consumer's buying decision. That's why a trader is generally require to declare relevant details to a consumer even if the consumer doesn't ask.

That's the (summarised) legal position - enforcing it though is a different matter.

Jenni_D said:

This topic has been addressed before ... the short answer is "It doesn't matter". The trader is deemed to be the "expert" in the transaction so should know relevant info that may adversely affect a consumer's buying decision. It is evident that the car formerly being a driving school car does affect a buying decision - for some it is positive, for others it is negative, but it is clear that it has an impact. And a trader should be able to ascertain such information - if it was enough to cause suspicion for a consumer then it should have been more-obvious to an "expert". Ignorance is not a defence.

I'm intrigued on this one.
I recently enquired about a car seen online and available from the local franchised main Dealer.
I had already done a free online check and noted an unusual MOT history, which I suspected might indicate taxi use.
I called up and asked about the MOT history - open ended question - but got the answer "I don't know".
I then asked specifically about prior use as a taxi and got the answer that the car had been under a PCP and taxi use would be against the terms of that PCP agreement.
How far should the Dealer have to go to verify?

Alderbank

born_again said:

Alderbank said:

Driving school cars are leased. The previous owner would be for example Hitachi Finance.
Plenty of driving instructors own private cars and only do their teaching in the leased one with the big sign on top.
If the 'one previous lady owner' is a self-employed driving instructor it would be pretty easy to find her on Google or Yell.

Except you do not get to know the previous owners name. Not on V5
Many garages even go as far as to remove this from service book & any invoices that will have the information on.

Interesting.
I know it is no longer on V5, but I have never had anything redacted from any paperwork. I changed my car recently (in May) and the dealership (a major one in Scotland) gave me all the receipts for servicing intact.
I can see that fear of GDPR breach could well lead dealers to expunge data.
However the satnav and radio (which the seller should have cleared out although it is extremely fiddly to do) told me her home address, husband's name and workplace, her children's addresses, where she shopped, her favourite restaurants and a great deal about her choice of music!

ETA: and everyone's mobile numbers

k3lvc

Alderbank said:

born_again said:

Alderbank said:

Driving school cars are leased. The previous owner would be for example Hitachi Finance.
Plenty of driving instructors own private cars and only do their teaching in the leased one with the big sign on top.
If the 'one previous lady owner' is a self-employed driving instructor it would be pretty easy to find her on Google or Yell.

Except you do not get to know the previous owners name. Not on V5
Many garages even go as far as to remove this from service book & any invoices that will have the information on.

Interesting.
I know it is no longer on V5, but I have never had anything redacted from any paperwork. I changed my car recently (in May) and the dealership (a major one in Scotland) gave me all the receipts for servicing intact.
I can see that fear of GDPR breach could well lead dealers to expunge data.
However the satnav and radio (which the seller should have cleared out although it is extremely fiddly to do) told me her home address, husband's name and workplace, her children's addresses, where she shopped, her favourite restaurants and a great deal about her choice of music!

ETA: and everyone's mobile numbers

And this is the farce of GDPR - for each vehicle I've purchased in the last few years (4) I've seen the V5 in the dealer, photographed it and in 2 cases (hot hatch and motorbike) checked out via social media to get an idea of the background.

I've had a single case where the previous keeper info show on the advert was redacted for both V5 and service invoices but the real documents were intact when received 

Undervalued

Alderbank said:

born_again said:

Alderbank said:

Driving school cars are leased. The previous owner would be for example Hitachi Finance.
Plenty of driving instructors own private cars and only do their teaching in the leased one with the big sign on top.
If the 'one previous lady owner' is a self-employed driving instructor it would be pretty easy to find her on Google or Yell.

Except you do not get to know the previous owners name. Not on V5
Many garages even go as far as to remove this from service book & any invoices that will have the information on.

Interesting.
I know it is no longer on V5, but I have never had anything redacted from any paperwork. I changed my car recently (in May) and the dealership (a major one in Scotland) gave me all the receipts for servicing intact.
I can see that fear of GDPR breach could well lead dealers to expunge data.
However the satnav and radio (which the seller should have cleared out although it is extremely fiddly to do) told me her home address, husband's name and workplace, her children's addresses, where she shopped, her favourite restaurants and a great deal about her choice of music!

ETA: and everyone's mobile numbers

This is the modern version of the previous owner leaving their diary or notebook in the glove compartment!

sheramber

That one lady owner could have had young sons who used the car so more than one driver, who may not be  careful drivers.

Is you mechanIc qualified to determIne a car used by a driving instructor? What would define that?

Or would it just be another suspicion, not proof.

shiraz99

Will the OP be back I wonder.