Your experience buying in the UK

Elessar

I'd like to get some people to share their experiences on buying in the UK, how easy/difficult was it?

Explain the process for those of us who are thinking of making the plunge:

e.g.

1st Steps: Did you call the seller first, if so what did you discuss, did you mention that you were from Ireland or should you really not mention it until you get a price? How was the seller's reaction? What did you ask about the car? Did you get a good discount?

Was it a private seller or trade? If private, would they take a deposit to hold the car for you?

2nd Step: Did you arrange to meet the seller or did he pick you up at the airport? What were the cheapest airlines and ferry companies? Did you arrange a mechanic, and from where?

3rd: What was your experience with the mechanic? Did you test drive the car first when you arrived in the UK and for how long? Did a seller ever lie to you?

4th: How did you pay for it? What kind of payments will uk sellers accept? Do private sellers generally only accept cash or bank transfer? Then what documents did you have to sign etc? Finally where did you buy the car and how long did it take you to get to the ferry?

I know there is a separate thread but the info is spaced out over it (it's big) so I think it would be better to have specific answers in a new thread. Any prospective buyers can ask questions here. Personally, I am getting a 3 series this summer, and the more help the better.

Anyone who has bought in the UK please feel free to contribute.

vengeance52

I found it very easy. bought a car in the north, fill out the change of ownership forms. Went into my local customs with the log book and filled out a form there reregistering it in ireland, got my new reg there. went off and got new plates made up, stuck em on the car, drove to the tax office and taxed the car. rang quinn direct, adv of the change of vehicle. All was done pretty quickly

r3nu4l

There's a garage in Linton, 13 miles from Cambridge, the owner lives in Ireland and specialises in helping people in Ireland buy from the UK as well as sourcing low mileage vehicles. PM me for the details (lest I be accused of beng a shill!).

I haven't used his services for importing into Ireland but the garage did help me find a low mileage car and seemed fair enough!

kikel

I bought a 1977 VW Panel van from the UK. I found it on Ebay. Asked the seller all the usual questions through Ebay. Requested more pitures. Then rang him and had a chat. Made a deal before the auction ended without actually seeing it in the flesh.
I paid a deposit through paypal and the balance with a bank draft.
The told the seller i was living in Dublin. He told me to hang on while he rang his Dad who lives in Dublin, to see where he would be around the following week. Unfortunalty his dad was going on holidays so their was no point him coming over here. We then agreed that he would travel from London to hollyhead and i would get off the ferry, check the van out, give him draft, sign the paperwork and get the ferry home an hour later.
Worked out pretty sweet

gary the great

Another thing - which is the better ferry route to get. For arguments sake we'll say most cars go London - Dublin, is the Holyhead Dublin route the quickest or is Fishguard - Rosslare? i know the latter may be a better option as the journey is more broken up?

vengeance52

well i couldnt be bothered going to the England for my car, i just went to NI and i still made a BIG saving rather than buying here, so just keep an eye up north for the car ya want. might save ya the travel issues.

JohnCleary

I had a great experience and loved the spin over and back... In the Amstel tradition... 'This is gonna be GREAT!'

Captain Slow IRL

holyhead to dublin is short - 2 or 3 hours I think, can't quite remember.

you seem to have a far greater choice of cars in england than up north - I've noticed they have the potential for lower mileages as well

Elessar

As a matter of interest, how much did it cost to go to the UK and back? And was that just flights and ferry cost?

Captain Slow IRL

my last excursion cost about €240 round trip on the ferry; that was for me and the gf, foot passengers on the way over and bringing a car on the way back