Buying a used car privately not at his home address.

[taxiboy]

Hi Guys

We've seen a £10,000 car we like, the car is 200miles away (home address) but he is visiting his family over the weekend which is 50miles away from us. We are planning to view the car tomorrow and BACS the money over (we bank with the same bank so will go through instantly) assuming the car is in the right condition. All documents are intact:

• MOT valid
• Service book
• V5 (reg, vin & address all match)
• Photo ID showing home address
• Bank statement showing home address
• Checks done to confirm it isn't stolen, written off or finance outstanding.

Are we good to go? Some guides are saying never buy if it isn't at their home address? Why is this? if they can prove they reside at that address (i.e Driving licence and bank statement?) Many thanks.

 

[GlanzaV]

Well home address is security that you can go back should anything go really wrong (however it's generally caveat emptor in private sales anyway) but if the guy is happy to prove his address by way of the docs above I wouldn't see why not.

I sold one of my cars to a guy about 350mi away. He came up in the train and I picked him up at the train station, took a test drive, went back to the train station car park and exchanged money/paperwork.

Not everyone is dodgy lol!

 

[Biker]

If he has a picture driving license with the same address on it that the car is registered at and the HPI check is ok, you should be ok.

 

[taxiboy]

Thanks guys, good to go then....does anyone know any good company to do HPI...a google search shows up loads so not sure which are legit and reliable.

 

[DEAN0]

Thanks guys, good to go then....does anyone know any good company to do HPI...a google search shows up loads so not sure which are legit and reliable.

AA, RAC and HPI themselves will all do a vehicle check for you.

 

[GlanzaV]

Have a look on Money Saving Expert Forums.

Sometimes these HPI places give you 3/5 HPI checks for £30 or something and people who have only used 1/2 give the remainder up for free on the MSE forums.