How do I safely buy a car?
Posted by anomalous_cowherd@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 15 comments
I just saw a post on LegalAdviceUK about someone who bought a car off someone who didn't own it (it was a Motability lease) and who left the country immediately afterwards. It didn't sound hopeful that they'd get their money back.
Several of the comments said to never buy a car if the seller didn't have the V5 registration document, which seems like a reasonable point BUT I've always understood that the V5 is only about the registered keeper and nothing to do with legal ownership. Not having it is clearly a red flag, but how could I actually prove that someone owns the car they are selling?
Happy_Chief@reddit
If you're buying privately, it never hurts to do a full HPi check on things.
Though having seen the post you're talking about, dont buy from someone who's fleeing the country
anomalous_cowherd@reddit (OP)
I agree, that was another red flag. Having said that my last purchase was from a family who were preparing to go back to the UAE and had the house all boxed up and that has been fine. Then again I was only buying a VW Caddy from them and the large driveway of their very large house had half a dozen G-Wagons and E-class Mercs, on so I don't think they were into measly £10K scams.
Happy_Chief@reddit
Nor were they heading to Pakistan...
MintyFresh668@reddit
Wise words
Happy_Chief@reddit
Am I really what? Am I really here? Are any of us really here?
Key_Illustrator_9077@reddit
V5, go through trusted dealers, use your sixth sense. It's not hard to spot a bullshitter once you throw a few questions at them.
Avoid anything that seems too good to be true.
BabaYagasDopple@reddit
This and make sure a deposit of at least £100 is made on credit card to give you s75 protection from your credit card company.
xPositor@reddit
You don't need to pay £100 on a credit card to get S75 protection. You could pay just one pence. The key consideration is that the product you are buying costs more than £100 and less than £30,000.
BabaYagasDopple@reddit
Well seeing as on a car most deposits are £100, it’s a moot point but yes.
xPositor@reddit
I wouldn't be relying on paying the deposit as guaranteeing S75 protection. A dealer could argue they are two different transactions, and therefore having paid the deposit on card won't cover the purchase of the vehicle. Certainly pay some/all of the deposit on a credit card, but _also_ pay at least 1p of the settlement of the full invoice on credit card. Belts and braces.
BabaYagasDopple@reddit
If you’re buying from a dealer that won’t show the deposit on the invoice of the car avoid that dealer 🤣
sideone@reddit
One penny.
Key_Illustrator_9077@reddit
Ah yes great point, forgot about that.
carnage2006@reddit
A few pointers for buying from an individual.
Make sure they have the full v5 in their name and address and the date of last keeper change corresponds when they said they bought it. Yes, it is only the registered keeper , legally, but someone who owns a car has the v5 in their name usually.
Do a HPi check or similar to make sure no outstanding finance or stolen markers.
Ask for receipts for work done in their history of ownership. Call the garages listed (not all of them if a lot) and ask if the receipt was genuine.
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