Buying Guide

Private
Buying privately will normally be cheaper than purchasing your car from a dealer. There are however drawbacks to buying privately, not least of which is the chance that the vehicle may be stolen or have outstanding finance on it. Your rights when buying privately are few, the car must be in the condition described by the seller but other than this nothing else is available if something should go wrong.

You should be aware of dealers posing as private sellers as a way of avoiding their legal obligations regarding the condition of the car, it may be faulty or be subject to other unsavory aspects. Things to look out for include adverts giving only a mobile number, a seller who wishes to meet you at a predetermined meeting place (and not his or her home) or if you spot the same telephone number in several ads.

To reduce the chances of being stung by a dealer posing as a private advertiser, always insist on meeting them at their home (and make sure they actually come out or go in to the house), when phoning to enquire about the car simply say 'I am phoning about the car', if the seller is a dealer then he will have to ask which car you are calling about.

Dealer
Buying from a recognized dealer is by far the safest way to purchase a used car as you benefit from all the legal rights associated with doing so. Use a main dealer or a reputable garage recommended by friends. Also make sure the garage has its vehicles inspected by a recognized body such as the AA or RAC and make sure you are allowed to see the report before buying.

If you buy from a main dealer such as Ford, GM or Chrysler, you benefit from their own quality inspection schemes, giving additional peace of mind when you make your purchase.

A dealer has legal obligations to provide the car in a satisfactory condition; the law says the car must be:

Of satisfactory quality - it must meet the standard that a reasonable person would regard as acceptable, bearing in mind the way it was described, how much it cost and any other relevant circumstances. This covers for example, the appearance and finish of the car, its safety and its durability. The car must be free from defects, except those pointed out to you by the seller.

Reasonably fit for any normal purpose - it should get you from A to B- and for any other purpose that you specify to the seller -for example, towing a trailer.

As described - a car said to have 'one careful lady owner' shouldn't turn out to have three previous owners, all males under 22. These rights are not affected by any mechanical breakdown insurance (often sold by dealers if the manufacturer's warranty has run out), guarantee or warranty giving additional protection. A dealer is not liable for any faults that an independent inspection should have uncovered. It's a good idea to get a description of the vehicle's condition from the dealer. Ask whether there is a pre inspection checklist.

Auction
You can get a fantastic bargain if you know what you are doing at an auction, they are however not for the faint hearted or uninitiated. Go to the auction as a spectator first of all to get a feel for what goes on. When you go for real, set yourself a maximum spending limit and do not deviate from it.

Auctions are certainly the riskiest way to buy a used car, your usual rights (see 'Buying from a Dealer') may not apply if the seller issues a disclaimer, such as the term 'sold as is', which excludes all or some of those rights. If you are unsure at all about what you should look for at an auction, then do not take this route, use the more traditional methods of purchase, such as a private seller or dealer.

Mechanics
Always look at a car in daylight and take it for a test drive, if you don't know much about what to look for in a used car then try and take someone with you who does know. If a car has been in an accident, it may be unsafe. Sometimes, two damaged cars are welded together to create a new one.

These are known as 'cut and shuts' and are almost certainly unsafe. If you suspect a car has been involved in an accident there are companies that can tell you, for a fee, whether a car is an insurance write-off.