Buying Privately

This should be cheaper than buying from a dealer. It is also riskier. The car may be stolen, it may have been used as security for a loan or hire agreement and actually belong to a finance company.

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 unscrupulous 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 etc.

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 sellers home phone.)
• The same phone number appears in several ads.
• When you phone and ask about 'the car for sale', the seller has to ask "Which one".
• The seller wants to bring the car to you or meet you somewhere, rather than you going to the sellers home.

Points to consider when buying your car privately:-

• Mechanical condition and safety
  Assess the car in daylight and take it for a test drive. If you're not confident about cars, take someone with you.
  
  
• Stolen cars
  If you buy a stolen car, the police can take it from you and return it to the original owner or the insurance company if a claim has been paid. You will not get any compensation even though you bought the car in good faith.
  
  
• Does the car belong to a credit company?
  A car bought on hire purchase or conditional sale belongs to the finance company until the payments have been completed.
  
  
• Clocking
  Low mileage can be a selling point. But the clock can be turned back to reduce the number of miles shown. If the mileage is low but the wear and tear on the car looks heavy, be suspicious, the car could have been clocked. 

For more information contact:

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Trading Standards Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne Lancs OL6 6DL View local map
0161 342 8355
0161 342 2288