A Guide to Buying and Selling your Car

Buying a car

Think carefully before you buy that new or used car. It could be your most expensive purchase (second to a home) or mistake.

Remember these points when buying a used vehicle:

Decide what you can afford and include running costs, insurance etc.
If buying from a garage look for a reputable dealer who is a member of a trade association and where the cars have already been inspected before they are offered for sale
If a ‘private’ seller asks which car you are interested in be suspicious, he may be a trader
Take along a mechanic or have the car examined by someone like the AA or the RAC. If this is not possible and you have no practicable knowledge of cars, take someone with you who does
Look at the car in daylight
Take a test drive
Ask to see the service history and MOTs
Remember MOTs are only valid at the time of issue and are not a guarantee of roadworthiness
Ask how many owners the car has had. Check this with the registration document
Check what any warranty includes and think whether it is worth buying an extended one
Ask if the car has been involved in any accidents or been an insurance ‘write off’. An HPI check could tell you this. (Call them on 0722 422422 or visit www.hpicheck.com)
If buying on credit most dealers will be able to arrange this for you but you don’t have to accept their offer. You may be able to get a better deal. Look for the APR (Annual Percentage Rate). The lower the better
If a private sale ask how long the owner has had the car and why they are selling it
If buying privately check that the name and address on the registration document is that of the seller
Be suspicious of people who want to meet you in car parks and not at their home
Make sure the number on the car engine agrees with the registration document
If you are unsure about the seller or the car then walk away, do not be pressurised into making a purchase

How to sell your car

It can be just as confusing selling your car as buying a new one
These tips could help you decide on the best method for you and help you get the best deal possible
Selling privately will probably get you the best price although you could spend money advertising your car and it still doesn’t sell. You will need to do a fair amount of work advertising and showing potential buyers your car
Work out how much you want to spend on advertising and decide where to place your ads
If your car is more unusual than the normal run-of-the-mill models you could consider a specialist publication rather than just a local ad
Make your car sound like it is worth looking at but you must tell the truth. If you mislead someone into buying your car you will find you have broken the Misrepresentation Act and the Sale & Supply of Goods Act
The car you sell must be roadworthy unless you sell it for scrap or parts. If this is the case, state it clearly on the receipt you give or you could fall foul of the Road Traffic Act and be liable for prosecution
Selling to a dealer is probably the quickest method to get rid of your car but you are unlikely to get as much for it as selling privately. You will probably get more from a dealer if you are using your car in part exchange for another one
Some companies offer to sell your car for you using a computer database. If you are contacted don’t agree to anything over the phone and don’t give your credit or bank debit card number. Check what they are offering in writing before you decide
Auctions are another route you can take to sell your car and they are mainly used by dealers and fleet operators for getting rid of their vehicles. You can sell privately at an auction but it is unlikely that you will make as much as selling privately yourself. Use an auction house that is a member of the Society of Motor Auctions (SMA)
One final word of caution - make sure you are the owner of the car before you decide to sell it. If the car is on Hire Purchase it is not yours to sell until it has been paid for. Contact your finance company first
If you do your homework first you should hopefully get the best deal for yourself