Buying car, seller in Australia

mikehn

Hi
Found a car that I would like to buy, Irish car with all paperwork present.
However when I emailed the owner to sort out collecting and paying it turns out that he emigrated to Australia last year. Apparently he expects a family member to handle the sale on his behalf. (Signing the reg document ???) I am not comfortable with this. How do I protect myself from this guy arriving back in a year or so and saying WHERES MY CAR GONE.
Thanks in advance

Cee-Jay-Cee

I wouldn't worry too much about that happening. A receipt signed by his father/mother clearly stating they have permission from their son to sell the car on his behalf should suffice. Then, is n the highly unlikely event of the owner arriving home and seeking his car back, his family would first have to return the money before anything else could happen.

coylemj

'How do I protect myself'? Easy, walk away, it smells like a scam.

coylemj

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I wouldn't worry too much about that happening. A receipt signed by his father/mother clearly stating they have permission from their son to sell the car on his behalf should suffice. Then, in the highly unlikely event of the owner arriving home and seeking his car back, his family would first have to return the money before anything else could happen.

Sorry but that is not true. If, for example, you buy a car with finance outstanding, the finance house can come and seize the car and you have to go and attempt to get your money back from the seller as a completely separate exercise.

You don't cede your ownership rights if someone fraudulently sells your car to a third party.

Fred Swanson

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mikehn

This definitely could be a deal breaker for me.
The car is a restoration project hence no problem with finance, might check with local garda. Gut feeling is that it would be a risk.

James Bond Junior

Have you a link to the car? Someone one here might know it and may be able to vouch for it.

Alun

OP, I take it you're corresponding with the family member rather than the owner himself? If so, I'd just ask them for his contact details, i.e. email and ask him yourself what the story is. If they refuse to give it to you, walk away from the deal.

LollipopJimmy

If you can physically see the car and collect it from the address on the vlc then it's a non issue. Get a receipt from the family member who handles the sale.

Atlantic Dawn

Communicating by email with the owner wouldn't be enough for me. Are you viewing the car at the registered address as per the VLC, if not can you visit the address on the VLC and confirm with the residents there that their son is in Australia and selling his car?

Could you get the owner to scan their passport and send you a copy, then when you receive the copy chat to them on Skype to confirm they are the person on the passport.

I'd make payment to the owner via bank transfer or lodging the money in their account so there's a record of the transaction.

mikehn

communicating directly with owner via email.car is at address on documentation, I could hand over bank draft payable to owner, that would cover evidence of payment, its just signing the transfer section to me is causing me grief

_Brian

Donedeal, carzone etc are full of cars, just avoid the hastle and drama, walk away.

Fred Swanson

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ScouseMouse

It could well be legit. I was selling a car where the owner was in Dubai. It was for my brother.

punisher5112

Hold on get this straight for us.

Have you only dealt through emails?

Is the car worth much?

What type of car is it and why is he selling a year after he left?

If only contact and only way is this way its a scam.

Atlantic Dawn

mikehn wrote: »

communicating directly with owner via email.car is at address on documentation, I could hand over bank draft payable to owner, that would cover evidence of payment, its just signing the transfer section to me is causing me grief

The part to sign says Seller/Owner, it doesn't matter which of these signs it...