Buying from the uk/ auction

Zane97

Has anybody any advice? I normally buy my cars up north

Zane97

Anybody?

richardsheil

If you asked a more particular question you might get an answer.

Zane97

Is there much cost involved with flights and ferry? Is there a saving com paired to buying off a dealer up here or in the North. Do people put the must of the money 1st on your credit card they pay a bit if cash if going Private or dealer?

But more so , is there a saving at buying at auctions like BCA

CiniO

Robbie G wrote: »

Is there much cost involved with flights and ferry?

I went to UK to buy the car earlier this year.
Booked a flight at 10pm for next morning (Knock-Luton). Cost me 65 quid.
When I bought the car I arrived in Holyhead, and purchased ferry ticket there and then. Came at about £100.

MidlandsM

Robbie G wrote: »

Is there much cost involved with flights and ferry? Is there a saving com paired to buying off a dealer up here or in the North. Do people put the must of the money 1st on your credit card they pay a bit if cash if going Private or dealer?

But more so , is there a saving at buying at auctions like BCA

yeah, I buy a lot of vehicles from all the large auction houses in the uk, incl BCA. However, as a priv individual going into bca to buy, you'll get rode sideways on fee's but value is there. All the trade buy from BCA - and a car you'll buy from a garage or dealer may very well have been bought thru bca or the like

bazz26

If you have little or no experience of how auctions work then you will be like a slab of beef to the sharks at these auctions.

Zane97

So can you give me and tips?

testicle

Go to cargiant or similar.

Zane97

testicle wrote: »

Go to cargiant or similar.

Why?

bazz26

Robbie G wrote: »

Why?

Have you been to an auction before or bought from one? The fact that you are looking for basic tips would suggest you haven't. Can you tell the difference between a good car and a piece of **** from looking around it, listening to it running, for a short time before it goes under the hammer? Because most will not let you test drive it, only look around it and start it up.

Auctions are not for novices so you need to know your way around a car first or bring someone who does and make a few visits to auctions first to see how they operate.

Most auctions are attended by those in the trade whose livelihood is buying and selling cars. They know the good from the bad and the maximum they are wiling to bid before the car enters the ring. The auctioneer also knows their regular customers in the trade who may buy 10 to 20 cars off them a month so they have his eye on these guys over the one time buyer unless the trade guys don't bite.

Zane97

Fair point. Yes, I haven't gone to an auction. I might do a trip over to see how they work.

golf247

Just furthering your comment on the fees you are charged as a private customer I am planning on purchasing a car in January at a BCA auction. I am aware of a cash handling fee and a buyers fee. Could you possibly outline what other charges I would be facing. I will be paying cash. All replies appreciated

lifer_sean

golf247 wrote: »

Just furthering your comment on the fees you are charged as a private customer I am planning on purchasing a car in January at a BCA auction. I am aware of a cash handling fee and a buyers fee. Could you possibly outline what other charges I would be facing. I will be paying cash. All replies appreciated

There are fees for handling cash and for credit card transactions (3% for the latter). There is a buyer's fee, an inspection fee (for cars with an inspection report, approx. 40 quid), and a fee for sending off the V5 (even though they don't send it off if you are exporting). On a car sold at 2150 "hammer price", the total including fees comes to over 2550.