Buying a car on eBay unseen -things to consider ?

john539

I am interested in buying a cheap car on eBay.
The only thing I have to go on is the listing, the photos & any answers to questions.

I haven't bought a car for many years & now with the internet, ebay, fraud, new car tax/insurance measures, there are new things to consider.

I will buy this cheap car without seeing/checking it in person & without a test drive.

1) The car I am interested is listed by someone on behalf of his mum.

So he is answering questions on behalf of his mum.
Then I thought, I need to make sure his mum, the owner/keeper will be present when I go to pickup car.

2) When I go to collect, what happens if I find there is a problem not described in the listing ?

3) Should I insure the car before I go to pickup ?

What's the best way to insure/tax a car you have bid & won on ebay, but you never know, you may reject if there is a problem.

Any other things to consider ?
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ormus

ask any questions before you buy it.
if poss go and see the car before the end of the auction.
make sure all the serial numbers etc.. on the car and the log book tally.
ask if he will agree to a 24 hr warranty period?
find out how long his mother owned the car. if less than a year, walk away.

Hintza

Might be better in the motoring section?

Ask him straight out is there anything else wrong with it, is it in a roadworthy condition, any dings scratches etc, is upholstery ok get that in writing (email). THen if it doesn't meet those answers you have a bit of bargaining power or can walk away.

Also a good idea to have a chat with him and judge if he is OK or being evasive. I would really just treat it as buying from the small ads.

As for insurance you might want to get it set up subject to a phone call.

john539

ormus wrote: »

ask any questions before you buy it.
if poss go and see the car before the end of the auction.
make sure all the serial numbers etc.. on the car and the log book tally.
ask if he will agree to a 24 hr warranty period?
find out how long his mother owned the car. if less than a year, walk away.

He says she has owned car for 2 years, hasn't used for 1 year.

I'm wondering about problems/faults that should be described, that you may only find when you see a car in person.

He says:
"We've owned it for over two years but hasn't been used for one year - bought another vehicle.
No service history, not sure about the MOT, it had some work done on it last year to get it through but hasn't been driven much since. May need a couple of new tyres other than that I can't really help you."

The car has couple of small logos, one on bonnet, that I would not expect a mother to put on, so think someone else, assume her son has been using.
.

ormus

it had better be really cheap with no history and no MOT.
and if its that cheap then why even worry about it? you should get your money back if you have to sell it.

if its not road legal (with or without insurance) then you really need a trailer to get it home.

kotka4

I wouldn't buy unless I see it first (unless it's really cheap - by this I mean £50-100 if no MOT and history). Also look at the seller's feedback if you can't go to see the car - if he's sold many cars, then you can be sure that this is not 'his mum's car'. Good luck with it in any case. I was trying to sell my old Nissan with some history and 3 months of MOT left, running in OK condition - no one called to buy it for 200 GBP, so I sold it for scrap for £50 quid - this is just to tell you that the one you are buying sholdn't come close to the 200 mark. HTH

john539

ormus wrote: »

it had better be really cheap with no history and no MOT.
and if its that cheap then why even worry about it? you should get your money back if you have to sell it.

if its not road legal (with or without insurance) then you really need a trailer to get it home.

It has MOT till May, bidding is just over £100 with 6 hours to go.

It's almost exactly same as car I already have, who's head gasket has gone, so even as cheap car at least I know what they are like.
Obviously with cars it's always best to see & drive car before you buy.

Even if it's cheap, I want to avoid problems & arguments !!! :rotfl:
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mike230652

Answers:

1 - You can bet a lot of money it isn't being sold on his mum's behalf....and why would she leave it standing around for a year? Also...if he's selling on behalf of " his mum "...then where do you stand if it goes pear shaped? Cos the kid selling it will say " It's down to my mum, not me....". You need to be talking to the right person i.e. the seller herself or you're inviting hassle from the outset. he says he doesn't know if it's MOT'd...if it's been stood unused for a year then it won't be MOT'd. Also...why would anyone buy a car` and leave their original car standing around ??????

2 - If it's been stood for 12 months...you can lay money it's more likely than not to have problems NOT illustrated/ described in the ad on eBay...and to be fair to the seller, he/she may not even be aware of them.

3 - Do you intend to drive it home? Then YES!!! obviously you need insurance...if you're haveing it taken on a trailer, then No.


Each to his own etc....but this just looks to me like a bagful of problems and issues just waiting to happen..........the owner uses someone else to talk to you....vague info on MOT , condition etc...2 knackered tyres......and " can't help you " on some questions........ dunno what other people think but I'd avoid like the plague....

custardy

ive bought cars 'blind' before
however it is risky.
last one was a cheap (£700)vectra estate with FSH and a full years mot.
its a gamble but i wouldnt be buying your car by the description you stated.
the stickers you mention make it sound more like registered by mum but (ragged?)driven by the son