Be Warned - Tips for Buying A Used Car

Here’s a warning! When buying a used car it's vital that you do a data check.

There are tons of firms offering a service that requires you to give them the registration number and, if you can get it, the chassis number of the car your interested in. It costs no more that a tank of fuel and could save you buying a car that might not even belong to you!

When times are hard people default on repayments for all kinds of things but generally after the mortgage a car is the biggest outlay, so be warned that there are plenty of cars for sale that still owe lots of money to finance companies, and if you buy one, legally it still belongs to them. So check!

If you find the car is on finance you can ring them and ask for a settlement figure, I suggest you write a cheque for the settlement and take the balance in cash, if you and the person selling the car both post the cheque together at a post box you both know its been paid.

Also, make sure you get a clearance letter from the finance company declaring no further interest in the vehicle.

Comments

[Andy R]

I definatly endorse what Mike says from experience!

I once agreed to buy a Mercedes from a seemingly reputable garage in Scotland. Although England based, I'd asked the AA to go an inspect the car for me, which they duly did, giving it a clean bill of health and saying that the paperwork and plates appeared to be in order and up to date. I duly book a flight up to Glasgow to collect the car.

Before I left, a neighbour mentioned I might want to do a data check...at first I thought why? It's being bought from a dealer, but I relented and did it.

Just as well I did - the car was owned by a finance company. I called them up to tell them about my potential purchase and to see, as I had found it for the cold I buy it off them. Ordinarily, they said, yes, but the vehicle had mutiple identities and £000's worth of fraudulent finance against it...

One lucky escape!

[Andrew Waber]

Really nice and useful tips. I think it will help to those who are new in buying the new car.

http://www.createfreeblogs.com/smashing/69010/Things+You+Should+Keep+in+Mind+Before+Buying+a+New+Car.html

[David hogard]

Really very nice useful tips I think it is help full for those people who want to buy second hand car.

http://crash456.blog.co.uk/2009/10/27/tips-for-buying-an-old-car-7253607/

[peliportti]

The best time to buy a new car would probably be September and October this is the time when the new models cars arrive

[peliportti]

Before purchasing a dream car, try to assess if the budget can really afford it.

[Alex Penn]

Hi,

We are a taxi company Hummingbird Cars in London. We provide Airport Transfer service from all london airports.
We are in need of buying cars as our business is growing.But, we are in a sort of confusion as that should we go for used or new cars. So, Can anyone please advice us looking at cost and also other factors which is the best option for us.
http://www.hummingbirdcars.com

Thank you

[Darren van de Weg]

Great post, I agree with all the fact here but I also know that there are a lot of used car dealers that are not truthful about what they are selling. I have started my own company dealing with used cars but I am prepared to stand by what I sell and put MY money where my mouth is.

I offer used car buyers checked, repaired, MOT'ed, TAX'ed cars for under 2000 pounds. I have been stung sooooo many times buying a car that I know what it is like.

What we offer:

Minimum of 30 days FULL parts and labour warranty
7 days returns policy (even if you just don’t like it)
ps: so far I have never had a car come back.
Full year MOT if the car had less than 6 months when I got it.
6 Months TAX
A full report of what was repaired on the car including the parts
Full service
HPI and VIC checks
Where the car came from - private, auction, trade, px

I am trying to give used car buyers a little more piece of mind and the satisfaction that IF something goes wrong we will fix it and not come up with some stupid excuse like "the warranty does not cover that"

I have had enough with main stream dealers getting away with offering warranties, GAP and all the other insurances but when it comes to claiming off them there is a "clause" which they point out.

I would appreciate any feedback or suggestions on what I offer so I can make this exactly what people want.

Regards

Darren