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Cars - buying a used car MENU Before you buy Buying from a dealer Buying privately Buying at an auction Buying over the internet What to watch out for If things go wrong Checklist

Buying Privately

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 (see 'what to watch out for').
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:
• Ads which give a mobile phone number or specify a time to call (it may be a public phone box, not the seller's home)
• The same phone number appears in several ads
• When you phone about the car, the seller asks 'Which one?'
• The seller wants to bring the car to you or meet you somewhere, rather than you going to the seller's home.If the seller is really a dealer, then your full legal rights apply (see 'buying from a dealer').
Buying privately

Information courtesy of The Office of Fair Trading

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