New car purchase

[TableDesk]

Call me a skeptic but I've found a car that ticks all my boxes, is just under budget & sounds perfect.... The guy wants paid in cash I've never bought privately before so want to make sure I'm not being conned.

Does anyone know the best place to check to make sure theres no HPI / finanace owed on the vehicle and to check it hasn't been involved in an accident. There's loads of sites offering this online but they charge. I don't have a problem paying but I want to make sure I use a decent site. I've looked on the DVA site & its taxed and MOT isn't due for another 18 months due to the manufacturing year.

Any advice? Thanks

An 18 month old car will be worth thousands, possibly 10s of thousands.

Cash payments would raise a flag to be honest. He is obviously determined to hide the money for some reason. He could be a dealer posing as a private seller.

The AA will do a full check, HPI and write off, they charge about £70, but they will also physically check the car over for you too.

Also 18 months old is a very odd time to sell a car. Most HPI agreements last at least three years, and people who trade in new cars usually do it annually, not usually in the middle of a year.

What's the history and how much is the car?

Make model?

The AA and the RAC both offer HPI checks (for a fee!) so I would probably plump for one of those, at least you know that they are reputable companies.

Thanks for responses appreciate it.

Car is a Jan 2017 V40 Volvo. 24k miles & automatic. Price £8500. The seller has only had the car 4 months & loves it but his wife has just found out she's pregnant with baby number 4, hence reason for sale. It's for sale at his (veryyyy naice) house, kids & wife all present, seem lovely. Has asked for cash payment as they are doing up the house & garden and it's to pay the trades men.

I took my mechanic with me & car seems sound & all appropriate paper work seems legit

Am I just paranoid at such a bargain?

Sounds too cheap to me! Also not 18months until MOT, it'll be due Jan 2020,3 years after first registration

Hmmm maybe I picked the MOT thing up wrong, I'll definitely check that out again.
It seems to be in the right ish ball park for a car like that in my area, maybe 500 quid less. I'm in a pickle over it!

What is the actual reg plate, is it 17 or 67 as cars are only released in March and September on a new registration. Do you mean it's a 66 plate and was first registered in Jan 2017?

If that's the case, the first MOT will be due in January 2020 so only a few months away. Cars have to be motd 3 after first registration date

Vehicle check is a really good app- has finance checks too. I wouldn't pay cash in that amount.
It's definitely too cheap

Just checked, it's a 66 plate, November 16

A November 16 car is due its first MOT in November 19, i.e. Next month

At best they've done it already so will have 11/12 months till next one

This all sounds fishy to me.

So it was first registered is November 2016? That means the MOT is due next month at some point. Potentially why they're selling!

So I paid for a vehicle check

Holy moly! You had a close shave there! I’d definitely report it!

Thank Fuck you checked. Do not contact the seller anymore and report it ASAP! It's no wonder they didn't declare it as a write off! Rip off bastards.

I found this:

Some vehicles may still be repaired and put back on the road, as long as they pass strict checks. There is also a huge list of bodies that potentially need to be notified these include:

DVLA
Motor Insurance Anti-Fraud Theft Register
Police
DVSA
Vehicle data agencies

It is not illegal to repair a car that has been declared a write off if it is repairable. It does present issues though, good advice here:

www.parkers.co.uk/car-advice/could-a-category-s-or-n-write-off-be-a-bargain/

My ex had a repaired write off. It was owned and fixed by his bil who was a mechanic. He had it inspected and it was fine. He had to declare the fact it had been written off to the insurance company though.

Posted too soon.

The fact he didn't declare it and wants cash rings alarm bells though. I wouldn't touch it in this case.

You can repair a write off and drive it again but you should be informing a potential buyer of the fact it was a right off. They want rid of it before the MOT! A repaired right off has a slim chance of passing an MOT. They probably bought it and never bothered looking at the paperwork and realise the shit they are in with the MOT due so trying to sell it cheap and hope you don't notice

Write! Stupid auto correct

Knew there was a reason! Makes sense now.

My car's a cat c, that's the older categorization, meant it was damaged but fixed/fixable, but not by insurance company.
It says cat c on the vehicle registration paper thing.

I'm not sure if you get to find out what repairs were done unless there's paperwork to show.
Tricky one, as I'd not trust them now for not disclosing this in the first place.

When mine was advertised it said in the advert.

I'd walk away

Phew! Lucky escape!

What a fucking chancer he is

Wow, it was well worth paying for the check! Unfortunately, if it seems too good to be true it usually is.

The seller seems genuinely surprised with this information. He has decided not to sell until he works out is the car actually legal. I'm usually a good judge of character & I really don't feel he's trying to dupe me. Instinct told me something was 'up' with the car but instinct is telling me he's been duped by previous seller....

However, I'm not walking away.... I'm bloody running!