Vehicle Purchase Considerations

No document can fully convey the advice that will protect you from buying a ‘lemon’ or worse. The amount of advice out there is astounding and arguably in the vehicle crime/deceit world, constant update would be required. but here are some considerations …

The more you know about the vendor & vehicle the more comfortable you will be when buying a
car. This is about your risk & reassurance. Some words of advice:

  1. Obtain a Purchase Receipt
  2. Don’t buy from the roadside
  3. Beware cars with ‘for sale’ notices in their window
  4. If the vendor is selling the vehicle ‘on behalf of someone else’ – are you happy that this is the case?
  5. The newer the car, the more keys you want – get at least two sets
  6. Don’t buy unless there is a registration certificate (V5) and it is in the vendor’s name. No V5 = No purchase
  7. VIN – the Vehicle Identification number – on most vehicles 17 alpha-numeric characters
    • Check the VIN is consistent on the:
  8. Is the VIN clear, does it appear to have bene tampered with?
  9. Try to confirm the vendor’s identity & address
  10. On your first visit to the vehicle, take a picture of it with the vendor in the picture using a mobile phone (or similar) – you want to show your ‘other half the car’
  11. Do the number plates have a dealer’s name displayed- give them a call?
  12. If there is no dealer’s name on the plates, why not?
  13. Buy at the vendor’s home, not at a meeting point such as a railway station or service station.
  14. Does the vendor go into their property?
  15. Check all documentation – service history, MOT – check those mileages and look at the dealer stamps / signatures. Do they all add up, is the mileage date/continuity correct?
  16. What does the vendor know of the vehicle; the mileage, service history, features i.e. how everything works? Or is it something they have owned for a short time and know little or nothing about?
  17. Consider age / mileage with the condition; does everything add up?
  18. Tyres vs. mileage – is the depth of tread consistent with the miles completed?

The documents

  1. There is no excuse for a private seller not having a registration document.
  2. Is all the information on the V5 correct – is there any information missing?
  3. Take a V5 (or copy) from another vehicle and compare the information and font (typed detail) on the vendor’s document – do they match.
  4. Tax: if it’s not taxed then the DVLA are after someone unless the car is declared SORN – check online
  5. MOT – dates & mileage – check online

Payment

  1. Avoid cash.
  2. If the vendor insists on cash, ask for a discount. A cheque is preferable but the vendor may be concerned to part with a car for fear a cheque will bounce or a bankers draft will turn out to be a dud!
  3. A transfer – to what type f account? Ideally with a High Street bank
  4. Escrow services – are you being asked to place payment with a third party pending receipt of the vehicle? Why and is the escrow service bona fide?

Protection

  1. Undertake a vehicle check – the price makes the investment good sense. Apparently 1 in 7 vehicles has an adverse history. Is the vehicle:
    • a previous write-off?
    • stolen?
    • the subject of outstanding finance?

As you stand to lose everything, maybe it is time to trust your gut:

  • If in doubt – LEAVE IT OUT
  • Do not feel OK? – WALK AWAY

Post Purchase

Keep a copy of the advertisement with the original purchase receipt.