What to do when you're buying a car as a private deal?

af_thefragile · 04-03-2010 05:38PM #1

Like what is the procedure you go with?
Do you just shake hands, exchange cash and drive away with the car.
Or do you have to like fill out and sign some sorta "document of sale" thing to make sure you're not get ripped or maybe the seller couldn't later claim the car is still his.

Like how would you buy a private sale car and how do you transfer it onto your name?

Cheers.

Misticles · 04-03-2010 05:41PM

You write your name on the car registration document (log book) and either yuou or the seller sends it off to the Dept of Transport.

I just take the cash, shake hands and do the above....

Gumbo · 04-03-2010 05:41PM

Assuming the car is ok, and everything checks out with that end, we proceed to the document hand over stage :

Ask the owner for some id to proove its him on the VLC (genuine seller wont mind)
You fill in VLC and sign it.
Car owner signs it.
Ideally both of you go to a post box and put it in (100% sure its gone to shannon then).

In regards to shaking hands, thats up you both

my favourite is when its a girl and we kiss to seal the deal

Misticles · 04-03-2010 05:49PM

have u actually sealed the deal with a kiss haha

oh and do a finance check too- I got stung with that before!

dirtydiesel · 04-03-2010 05:53PM

Ask for a receipt with both the seller and your name and address on it, date and time of sale and details of vehicle bought. I always make out 2 receipts,one for me and one for buyer when I sell a car.

af_thefragile · 04-03-2010 05:54PM

Misticles wrote: »

have u actually sealed the deal with a kiss haha

oh and do a finance check too- I got stung with that before!

Mywheels.ie says the car is clear to buy.

I don't know if I came across the vehicle's log book though. It has no service history so the service history book is absolutely empty. When I go to check out the vehicle again, for a more proper and thorough check, I'll make sure to check the log book.

So you and the owner just sign the log book, post it and that's it?

af_thefragile · 04-03-2010 05:54PM

dirtydiesel wrote: »

Ask for a receipt with both the seller and your name and address on it, date and time of sale and details of vehicle bought. I always make out 2 receipts,one for me and one for buyer when I sell a car.

Can you do this on any piece of paper or does it have to be some sorta official paper like, all typed and all?

dirtydiesel · 04-03-2010 06:01PM

af_thefragile wrote: »

Can you do this on any piece of paper or does it have to be some sorta official paper like, all typed and all?

Bring a note pad with you and write out the receipt on the lines of

I_________(Sellersname) of_____________(sellers address) sold vehicle reg number_____________ to___________(your name) of________(your address on) __________ date and time
Sellers sign__________

Buyers sign__________

af_thefragile · 04-03-2010 06:14PM

dirtydiesel wrote: »

Bring a note pad with you and write out the receipt on the lines of

I_________(Sellersname) of_____________(sellers address) sold vehicle reg number_____________ to___________(your name) of________(your address on) __________ date and time
Sellers sign__________

Buyers sign__________

Thanks.

So hopefully after this I should be safe as in the seller can't claim the vehicle is still his or anything like that...

Eoin · 04-03-2010 06:45PM

af_thefragile wrote: »

Thanks.

So hopefully after this I should be safe as in the seller can't claim the vehicle is still his or anything like that...

The odds are that the seller will be even more keen to get it in your name then you are - i.e. toll charges / speeding fines / parking fines and so on.

tinofapples · 19-03-2010 12:22PM

Do any of these websites provide info on mileage of a car ? Car I'm looking at doesn't have service history therefore need to clarify somehow that the mileage is genuine.

Anan1 · 19-03-2010 12:29PM

tinofapples wrote: »

Do any of these websites provide info on mileage of a car ? Car I'm looking at doesn't have service history therefore need to clarify somehow that the mileage is genuine.

The short answer is if there's no SH then the car almost certainly hasn't been maintained properly and might also be clocked. Unless it's absolutely dirt cheap i'd walk.

Gumbo · 19-03-2010 12:35PM

tinofapples wrote: »

Do any of these websites provide info on mileage of a car ? Car I'm looking at doesn't have service history therefore need to clarify somehow that the mileage is genuine.

no you would need to check with old NCT/MOT certs to try match the mileage and to make sure it looks correct.

Tea 1000 · 19-03-2010 01:13PM

gumbo wrote: »

Ideally both of you go to a post box and put it in (100% sure its gone to shannon then).

It's actually up to the seller to post the document. And if I'm the seller and I receive a bank draft for the car, I don't post the ownership of the car until the draft is lodged sucessfully in my account, which is usually the next day anyway.
If anything goes wrong with the draft for what ever reason, the car is still legally yours until you either sort it out with the buyer or report your car stolen.

tinofapples · 19-03-2010 02:05PM

I've just done the Motorcheck €20 report and it's of no benefit. Can't verify mileage, car has 2 owners incl current one. He told me he bought it from an elderly man in Dublin. It's a 2003 with only 49k miles.

dizzydiesel · 05-05-2010 09:32AM

How do you transfer the monies?

Using cash is ok for a couple of grand, but what if you are taking bigger amounts?

What to do when you're buying a car as a private deal?

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