Buying privately - tips?

TheSunIsShining

Hi there,

Just wondering, other than using a car check website, how best to approach a potential private purchase? I assume one can ask for a copy of the service records from the seller - and what's the expectation between the asking price and what you might actually offer?

Thanks for any advice.

Henry Ford III

Standard precautions really. Data check plus a thorough mechanical inspection.

Check service history plus supporting receipts.

If the car is comparatively good value (do a bit of research) make an appropriate offer.

goochy

If the car is well priced compared to others. / dealers you can't expect loads off . I saw an audi a8 for sale recently. Thought it seemed expensive for private sale . Then noticed it was about €5k cheaper than dealers .which is a fair saving

Buddy Bubs

I'll be handling selling a Qashqai for a work colleague in next few days

Its actually very high spec and the other comparable ones from dealers are asking 15k, realistically they might go for 14k

Private sale, asking 13000ish looking to let go as close to 12000 as I can get within quick enough timeframe

I think thats a fair enough expectation between dealer and private sale.......2000/2500 better for the buyer, about 15%

Paul MCM

Get someone who knows about cars to look it over. Also, might just be me but when you are completing the purchase do it at the persons house. If they want to meet at a garage for the inspection and test drive that’s grand but I would want to complete the sale at their house. 

I’ve bought and sold a few cars privately and it’s something I’ve always done. It’s not that I’d ever call back if anything went wrong with the car it’s just a peace of mind thing and I think makes the person seem more trustworthy. Again it’s just something I do. 

Montage of Feck

"Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat"

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124134809#Comment_124134809

This makes more sense. Private sale prices are all over the place so it's better to get an actual value from dealer prices then deduct a percentage to get a fair private sale price. 15% to 20% below dealer prices is fairly accurate

goochy

Alot of overpriced private cars around ..

BK5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124134839#Comment_124134839

I'd second this, I'd also ask to have a look at the VLC before signing it. Make sure the address on the VLC is the same as the address where the seller lives. Number of owners is on it and other info so don't be afraid to take your time.

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124134852#Comment_124134852

Im doing it as a favour so dont want it to drag on for ages either, I dont mind doing it for friends and family actually enjoy selling a car or 2 a year for people that dont like the process

That said I have just spotted a dealer with a similar one asking 12950 with same mileage which wasnt there before so expectations may need to be adjusted

12000 would be an excellent result but possibly difficult to achieve

Its all about being realistic

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124134934#Comment_124134934

You always seem to get roped into selling cars for other people😂

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124134943#Comment_124134943

I offer to be honest, i like getting people close to me an extra few quid. I always tried to sell my own privately too over the years. I'm in newer EVs now so that might he hard to continue!

Mothers 2009 micra about 2 years ago got 3000 in about a week on sale. No idea what trade in offer would have been.

Mothers 2019 corsa (she hated that car, always missed the micra) got 11000 on 1st day of sale, a dealer contacted me he must have had a buyer. She then got an inster, trade in offer for the corsa was 8500

Bmw x5 belonging to work got 28000 when the trade in offer was 20000 against a new x5. Took a good few weeks, had some timewasters ringing me and not showing up, others asking me to hold it until they sorted money etc which I wouldn't do.

Now Qashqai from work colleague has to be sold privately as she is getting company car in Feb or March so can't trade in, she will be getting proceeds of the sale herself.

Usually try to split difference between dealer prices and dealer trade in offers to gauge what is fair to sell at, its how I would price a private purchase if I was doing one.

Ill get some trade in offers over next week to see what qashqai will go up for, but I have a fair idea already.

goochy

The fact is there's often a huge difference in trade in prices between dealers whether it be new or used car sales. I remember the land rover dealer in Cork used to sell alot of his land rover trade ins - in the trade- I also noticed alot of land rovers being bought outside of the county . Nowadays same dealer is happy to retail even older vehicles- surprise surprise few people buy new vehicles outside the county now ! If you see used vehicles as good for business you will give good trade in values

Quay_Koncept

How important is the NCT? i see from time to time cars listed on donedeal or adverts that seem great value, then alas when you click on the add, "NCT due next month hence price, will fly through thou just dont have time to NCT it"

Im always a bit nervous when I see an NCT check is imminent and the person is not bothered to NCT it😊

goochy

Avoid I would say . A person with any sense will sell a car with nct much easier to sell . Its grand if u a mechanic or just looking for a bargain

Henry Ford III

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124143484#Comment_124143484

Its not perfect but it is still important.

If you see a car you like with an expiring/expired NCT tell the owner you'd look at it seriously if it had a fresh ticket.