Approaching a business to buy one of their business cars?

maggots_123

Within a business park that I work at, there is a company with a few business cars parked up outside in the car park in the same spot, for months, I presume due to Covid and the cars not being needed. One of the cars is a stunning A4, 2018. I notice it because I drive past it every day, and its the car I've wanted for years, especially this particular model...

I'm thinking of approaching the company, put in an offer for the car. They MUST be losing money on it with it just sitting there. Its been there since April, there's even a layer of dried in dust on it, brake disks all brown etc, but I know its a fine car given a wash.

Has anyone here ever approached a company to purchase one of their business vehicles? There's no 'leaseplan' sticker on the licenseplate or anything. Surely they're losing a packet on it. I'm hoping if I come along and put in a low offer they would consider it...

Just wondering if anyone has ever done anything like this before?

Nothing ventured nothing gained

Smee_Again

It’s probably leased so they can’t sell it.

maggots_123

Smee_Again wrote: »

It’s probably leased so they can’t sell it.

Yes I thought that, but no 'leased plan' on the license plate. You're probably right though!

Atlantic Dawn

Maybe have a look at the tax/insurance disc holder for a lease company. I'd say it's leased alright, companies much prefer this way of managing costs

_Kaiser_

No harm asking though if you are keen on it. Worst they can say is no/we can't

Justaburner

maggots_123 wrote: »

Yes I thought that, but no 'leased plan' on the license plate. You're probably right though!

Is there any dealership sticker on the window / plates?

Some of the bigger dealers do leasing in house.

Chevy RV

Hello There,


Call them up and ask for the person that looks after the Fixed Asset Register(probably the accountant) . Ash them what's the story and would they be interested in selling it.

Even if its leased, they MAY be able to assign it to you as part of a sale as i have done this in the past.

Regards,


Chevy RV

colm_mcm

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Maybe have a look at the tax/insurance disc holder for a lease company. I'd say it's leased alright, companies much prefer this way of managing costs

Company would often have their own insurance policy that covers the leased car.

Rrrrrr2

Probably leased and that’s usually a 3 or 4 year term. To break the lease you have to pay a big whack of money so maybe for now they’re not returning them.
Most companies assign the cars to individual drivers as part of their remuneration package so they’re possibly pool cars (Be more for commercial vehicles) or possibly the drivers were let go or reassigned

Rrrrrr2

maggots_123 wrote: »

Yes I thought that, but no 'leased plan' on the license plate. You're probably right though!

Not always the case you’ll get stickers- Leaseplan most obvious as they do the number plate wraps but there’s several other companies and dealer groups do leases

crosstownk

colm_mcm wrote: »

Company would often have their own insurance policy that covers the leased car.

He means the disc holder which will often have the leasing company's brand name/logo printed on it.

Buffman

Rrrrrr2 wrote: »

Most companies assign the cars to individual drivers as part of their remuneration package so they’re possibly pool cars (Be more for commercial vehicles) or possibly the drivers were let go or reassigned

Or the driver is working from home and doesn't want to be paying BIK tax on a car they're not using.

Rrrrrr2

Buffman wrote: »

Or the driver is working from home and doesn't want to be paying BIK tax on a car they're not using.

Could be but usually the car is your main private transport but that’s possible if living in good public transport and not bothered about a car

Water2626262

Buffman wrote: »

Or the driver is working from home and doesn't want to be paying BIK tax on a car they're not using.

Could well be this. Zero BIK if you park it up. Not sure why they can’t park it up outside their house but maybe parking is tight where they live.

Also could be a pool car. I used to have a job with a company car. There was always a good few cars near the end of lease stored with the fleet company. These were cars that were used by staff who had since left etc. These were given to new staff or used while other cars were out for maintenance.

aFlabbyPanda

A company I worked for years ago had a fleet of 520d and non were leased, all HP/finance. Then the celtic tiger died and they sold them all privately, worth asking the question anyway

phill106

all they can do, is say no!
Go for it.

Kowerski

maggots_123 wrote: »

Yes I thought that, but no 'leased plan' on the license plate. You're probably right though!

What you mean is "Leaseplan". Leaseplan are a company that provide lease cars to company but they are one of a number of companies.

Kowerski

maggots_123 wrote: »

Within a business park that I work at, there is a company with a few business cars parked up outside in the car park in the same spot, for months, I presume due to Covid and the cars not being needed. One of the cars is a stunning A4, 2018. I notice it because I drive past it every day, and its the car I've wanted for years, especially this particular model...

I'm thinking of approaching the company, put in an offer for the car. They MUST be losing money on it with it just sitting there. Its been there since April, there's even a layer of dried in dust on it, brake disks all brown etc, but I know its a fine car given a wash.

Has anyone here ever approached a company to purchase one of their business vehicles? There's no 'leaseplan' sticker on the licenseplate or anything. Surely they're losing a packet on it. I'm hoping if I come along and put in a low offer they would consider it...

Just wondering if anyone has ever done anything like this before?

Nothing ventured nothing gained

If the car is sitting outside all the time then it is a company pool car and not a car assigned to a specific owner. This allow employees to use the car for company business only but not pay all the overheads of a company car.


You can approach the company but very doubtful they would sell after 2 years. It would have tax implications as well which means the company would probably end up paying a fortune to sell it to you.

Old codger

I bought a great Passat 2L auto estate with all the bells and whistles from a company. I knew it’s driver and the cars history, and that the companies policy of selling their cars after three years. I put in a “cheeky” offer €7K less than market value three months before their due selling date. They took my offer, I think because it saved them the trouble of finding a buyer and as it happened they had decided to lease the replacement, meaning no trade in possible. You never know till you try, how they will react to an offer so go on, you’ve nothing to lose. I hope you get as good a car as I did, eight months on and no regrets.

turbot

Rrrrrr2 wrote: »

Probably leased and that’s usually a 3 or 4 year term. To break the lease you have to pay a big whack of money so maybe for now they’re not returning them.
Most companies assign the cars to individual drivers as part of their remuneration package so they’re possibly pool cars (Be more for commercial vehicles) or possibly the drivers were let go or reassigned

These are not ordinary times though - and parties on both sides may be prepared to negotiate.