Donedeal seller – private or dealer?

Stallingrad

Is there a sure way to discover if a seller is private or dealer? A pal has looked at a car and there is an elaborate story about the wife not wanting the car or some such, but the car is registered to someone else altogether.

Hard to find a genuine, private car with the €3K budget...

leonidas83

Stallingrad wrote: »

Is there a sure way to discover if a seller is private or dealer? A pal has looked at a car and there is an elaborate story about the wife not wanting the car or some such, but the car is registered to someone else altogether.

Hard to find a genuine, private car with the €3K budget...

It should say on the advertisement whether its private or a dealership. Tbh I wouldnt even consider going down the road of private unless I was an expert on cars or was close to one who knew exactly what he was doing. The dealership doesnt offer as good a value as a private sale usually would but at least you have a comeback with them (guarantee) & can usually trade in your current car for a decent price. Dealership all the way for me

Tar.Aldarion

Well if it was me I'd just get somebody that knows their scthuff about cars to have a look over it and go privately. Of course if you don't know somebody like that I wouldn't really be too happy going privately.

livingthedream

Well there's always the old trick of calling them and saying:

"Hi, I'm calling about the car? Can you tell me about it?"

If they reply "Which car?" then you know they are probably a dealer, trick is not to go into any specifics about which car it is until they do.

Not bullet proof but worth a punt.

triple-M

leonidas83 wrote: »

It should say on the advertisement whether its private or a dealership. Tbh I wouldnt even consider going down the road of private unless I was an expert on cars or was close to one who knew exactly what he was doing. The dealership doesnt offer as good a value as a private sale usually would but at least you have a comeback with them (guarantee) & can usually trade in your current car for a decent price. Dealership all the way for me

funny im the total opposite I wouldnt go near a dealer with a ten foot barge pole if you paid me,all my current dealings are private as i just find private sellers alot less pressurising and intimidating and all round more pleasent than dealers,once a car has service historey and a recent nct thats good enough for me

Stallingrad

Dealers at this price range bring very little to the table bar their overheads, but having a someone who knows their stuff is vital. The car has a good NCT and is being thoroughly checked by a mechanic, but the story from the seller stinks which is regrettable, trying to second guess what else he is hiding.

djimi

leonidas83 wrote: »

It should say on the advertisement whether its private or a dealership. Tbh I wouldnt even consider going down the road of private unless I was an expert on cars or was close to one who knew exactly what he was doing. The dealership doesnt offer as good a value as a private sale usually would but at least you have a comeback with them (guarantee) & can usually trade in your current car for a decent price. Dealership all the way for me

It depends on the car you are looking at. In the kind of price range the OP is talking about its pretty unlikely that a dealer is going to be interested in taking a trade in, and any warranty they may give will be minimal (3 months engine and gearbox usually). You need to weigh up whether or not its worth paying the extra price for a car from a dealer, or if the money you save by going private could cover most issues that the dealers warranty would cover. For the most part, when talking about sales in or around €3k it makes more sense to buy private.

ba_barabus

In answer to the original question asked I would google the sellers mobile number.

Also unless the VRC is in his name or that of someone identifiable who can sign the book I wouldn't buy it from him. It's not unknown for owners to leave the BRC in the glovebox only to remember its there when the car is stolen.

Personally I'd steer clear. Was the address in the VRC the address where you viewed the car?

Edit: I can't remember if its VRC or VLC

Stallingrad

ba_barabus wrote: »

In answer to the original question asked I would google the sellers mobile number.

Personally I'd steer clear. Was the address in the VRC the address where you viewed the car?

Did that, the only place the number came up was for the donedeal ad.

No, VRC shows owner on the Northside, he claims to live in a house that is available for rent on Daft.

He was happy to let the car be driven off to a mechanic.

As I say it stinks, but if the car checks out does his Walter Mitty story matter?

ba_barabus

Everyone has a story when selling a car. Some find it very hard to accept my one, that I just like a change every 6-8 months. They can't get their heads around the fact I'd sell a car with nothing wrong with it.

Having said that I'd be wary of someone with a very elaborate story and someone else's name and address on the documents.

mickdw

If the book isnt in him name, walk away as he is then at best a dealer on the quiet. At worst a thief.
Ideally, find a car thats been owned a couple of years by the guy that is selling it. His name must be on the logbook and go to his house. You will get a picture of the real story then.

JohnBoy26

leonidas83 wrote: »

It should say on the advertisement whether its private or a dealership. Tbh I wouldnt even consider going down the road of private unless I was an expert on cars or was close to one who knew exactly what he was doing. The dealership doesnt offer as good a value as a private sale usually would but at least you have a comeback with them (guarantee) & can usually trade in your current car for a decent price. Dealership all the way for me

On a sub 3k car, going down the dealer route isn't worth it imo as you will get very little if any warranty at that price range. You will still be paying a premium over a private sale without any real benefits.

Henry Ford III

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

On a sub 3k car, going down the dealer route isn't worth it imo as you will get very little if any warranty at that price range. You will still be paying a premium over a private sale without any real benefits.

Yes, but regardless of a short warranty or not you'll still be entitled to SOGA protection when buying from a dealer.

p.s. If you ever have to resort to that though the car is almost certainly a lemon, and you've bought real problems.

naughtysmurf

mickdw wrote: »

If the book isnt in him name, walk away as he is then at best a dealer on the quiet. At worst a thief.
Ideally, find a car thats been owned a couple of years by the guy that is selling it. His name must be on the logbook and go to his house. You will get a picture of the real story then.

How important is this?, I'm selling a car on behalf of my Father, he's too old and doesn't need the hassle & asked me to do it for him, the car is at my address not his, it's a genuine car & obviously my name isn't attachted to it

mickdw

naughtysmurf wrote: »

How important is this?, I'm selling a car on behalf of my Father, he's too old and doesn't need the hassle & asked me to do it for him, the car is at my address not his, it's a genuine car & obviously my name isn't attachted to it

Well if you are a bloke, at least the surname is the same and your story will add up. Too many selling cars 'belonging to brother in law' which is a handy excuse for the names bearing no relation to each other. In your case, you dad probsbly had it a couple of years too. All adding up to show you are not a side of the road dealer.

bazz26

The main problem I have with dealers selling cars and passing off as a private seller besides the tax side of it, is that the buyer is no longer protected by the Sale of Goods Act as the dealer is not selling the vehicle through the course of their business.

Stallingrad

Well the car was checked, not without it's faults irrespective of it's history.

If anyone here knows of a 1.4 or less with a good NCT, around €2.5K, not clocked with no skeletons in the closet and some form of SH let me know!