Buying Privately
Buying a car privately could save you money - but it's riskier than buying from a car dealer. You won't have so much legal protection, and it may be more difficult to make sure that everything is above board.
Avoiding problems
Buying privately should be cheaper than buying from a dealer. But it is also riskier: the car may be stolen, or it may have been used as security for a loan or hire agreement and actually belong to a finance company. It’s always a good idea to complete an HPI check on a car and this might show up any outstanding finance or insurance claims made on the vehicle in the past.
You have fewer legal rights if you buy privately. The car must be as described, but the other rules don't apply. If a private seller lies about the condition of a car, you can sue for your losses - if you can find the seller.
Some dealers pretend to be private sellers to avoid their legal obligations and to get rid of faulty or over-priced cars. They advertise in local newspapers and shop windows. Warning signs to look out for include:
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Adverts which give a mobile phone number or specify a time to call (it may be a public phone box, not the seller's home).
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The same phone number appears in several adverts.
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When you phone about the car, the seller asks “Which one?”.
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The seller wants to bring the car to you or meet you somewhere, rather than you going to the seller's home.
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When you get to the sellers home and there seem to be a lot of cars for sale on the street
If the seller is really a dealer, then your full legal rights apply.
Data source: Consumer Direct - Funded by Government.