How do I buy a private 2nd hand car?

cHk4

cHk4

cHk4

Soldato
Joined
21 Jun 2005
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Say I'm spending £10k on a 2nd hand car I'm not really comfortable going down there and paying cash... if I bank transfer what's to stop him once I do it going cheers for the cash mate see you later... Also once I've paid what do I do? What's stopping him calling the feds once I drive off? I've only ever bought one car and it was from a dealer so I literally paid the cash filled in a few forms and walked away.


Thanks
 
cHk4 said:
Also once I've paid what do I do? What's stopping him calling the feds once I drive off?
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The fact that he has £10,000 sitting in his account which is easily traced back to a transfer from your account?

I thought I was a bit paranoid, but you seem to be taking it to a new level :D
 
Pay cash or bank transfer, fill out the V5 and take the new keepers supplement with you, have the seller write out a receipt, be sensible about it (if anything seems off walk away) and don't let anxiety hold you back.
 
Meet the seller at their home, don't pay any deposits in advance. Check the v5 matches the car VIN and the address. Use reasonable personal judgement whether you trust the seller.

Take a small deposit with you (few hundred quid) and get a receipt for that. You could take a printed template for you both to sign if you like.

Go home, arrange the bank transfer (use the registration as the reference) and sort your insurance, tax, parking permit etc. Go back and pick up the car once they confirmed funds are recieved.

Today with faster payments you could probably do it in one go although I can't remember the limits so check this first
 
If need be go to the bank with him and make the transfer. Once the seller has verified the funds have been received finalise the V5 and take the keys.

(£10k faster payment limit but you can make multiple payments of this amount in any given day).
 
Ok cool thanks guys.

I'll check what my limits are as like you said I could do it all in one go, thank you ;)
 
It's a second hand car c'mon man, don't be so paranoid!
I hear the chap has a pretty decent forum rep anyway.

Just send him the cash via Bank Xfer of maybe Paypal Gift?
Then go pickup when you can be bothered.
 
If you are going to do an electronic transfer via mobile banking or whatever, make sure you get it pre-authorised by the bank or let them know in advance, otherwise it will sometimes get put on hold while you have to contact them and hang about for ages on the phone till you can authorise it.
 
cHk4 said:
Say I'm spending £10k on a 2nd hand car I'm not really comfortable going down there and paying cash... if I bank transfer what's to stop him once I do it going cheers for the cash mate see you later...
Click to expand...

Equally if you do bank transfer how certain is the seller it cannot be reversed?

I'd take cash, it's not like we're talking tens of thousands. I sold a car private for a bit more than this and after checking out the car he left a small deposit and we arranged to meet in a local bank a couple of days later. He took out the cash from the cashier in front of me, we signed the documents and both went on our way.

My bank was just over the street so I went straight in and deposited it.
 
Yes Acme does a good enough job of trying to make every thread about himself, we dont need everyone else doing the same thing with the same crappy jokes
 
Nasher said:
Also do a history check on the car before you even look at it.

Start with this one: https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/
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Yeah well worth checking over both the MOT and an HPI check if it's a serious amount of cash.

As above, meet at a bank and have him withdraw it then you know there's no funny business going on.

I've always filled out a copy of the AA second hand buyer contract.
 
From buying experience,

Always meet them at there home address, most will invite you in (good sign).

If you want the car the seller should be happy to help in anyway so allowing you to do your checks there and then shouldn't be a problem (i'll do this on my own laptop i brought with me)

After the usual MOT /HPI/ Written off checks (found RAC checker good. It's about £15 but worth paying when buying a 10k car).

Also gov.uk websites for MOT history etc.

I pay using online banking and transfer funds in his account, all on my own laptop.

Once he sees the funds in his account, sort out reciept, V5 etc and away you go! :cool:
 
A family member bought a car for £14k the other day, and this is how they went about it.

Went for a viewing at the seller's home, took car for test drive, liked the car so left a £100 deposit.
Went home sorted insurance tax etc
Went again checked the car all over again. Paid the rest as cash, signed the paper work while the seller counted the cash.
Drove home.
 
The actual buying of the car should be straightforward as you take the vehicle once payment is confirmed; it is more leaving cash deposits that would be subject to dodginess (in relative terms, I am not suggesting this is commonplace) I would have thought in terms of them driving off into the sunset with it.

Neither of your scenarios look that troublesome:
a) You have an auditable electronic transfer record to his account, plus you are there in person
b) I don't really see what he has to gain in this scenario; when the feds pull you over it will become apparent that there is a dispute so it's not like they are going to simply hand him the car back, chuck you in the slammer and never speak to him again. Eventually it will transpire that you have indeed transferred him some money so his accusation that you stole the car will be dismissed.

I'd be more worried about him having a spare key and nicking the car back off you himself at a later point in time, then trying to get the feds to do it for him.
 
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