What should I ask when buying a used car online?

[TheHawk]

I haven't bought a car for a few years and I'm looking for tips.
I can't find the car I want locally so I'm looking online so that would mean buying without seeing it.
What sort of questions would you ask?
I've seen one that's two years old and had two owners - is that unusual /risky?

Is it private sale or from a garage? If it's private sale I always ask how long they've owned it and the reason for sale (not owning it for long is a red flag), is the V5C in their name (if not probably an illegal dealer) and do they have 2 keys (only 1 key and there could be a logbook loan on the car). I've never bought from a a garage so not sure if that route.

Thanks but no, it would be from a garage. I have never bought or sold privately.

I’ve commented on a couple of threads about AI recently but promise I’m not a bot or working for an AI company but this is a question I’d ask also ask AI. It was very helpful when we bought a new car and also when I was selling my Mums house. It was also helpful in both situation when it came down to negotiating.

As a rule I only ask AI things that I know would take me a lot of googling.
Which is also useful for buying a used car. If you don’t have membership they do cheap or free trials I think.

I would 100% not buy a car online sight unseen unless it was from somewhere like Cinch. I’ve seen so many car scams over the years and narrowly avoided several by insisting on viewing the vehicle. The only time I didn’t even proceed to a viewing was when the guy acted offended when I asked when the MOT was up and whether the cam belt had been changed. So many issues only become apparent when you see/start the car. You’ve clearly got a good budget if you’re considering a 2-year-old car, so I would make do with something you can view via an Uber. You cannot possibly have zero options at all within 40 miles.

Arnold Clark will transfer a car in a different part of the country to a local garage for you, if you see something on their website that you are interested in.

Aways view the car in person before paying any money

There are loads of scammers on the internet

My friends are petrol heads & can spot the scammers. The scams are not easy to see .

You can check MOT yourself & view it on DVLA website use number plate

Buy local

Are you looking at a dealership? If so many will move cars around within the group, although appreciate that might not help if its still 100 miles away!
I would want to test drive it, I've seen too many cars that look nice, and are horrible close up or to drive!

would make do with something you can view via an Uber
Sorry but this made me laugh. I live in the back of beyond, nearest place with Ubers is two hours away. So yes there are dealers nearby but they don't have the specific car I want. A two year old car is still under warranty so MOT and cam belt aren't really an issue.

I have test driven a car of this make and model but can't find the right one with the spec I want nearby. It would be from a dealer not an independent car sale, so essentially the same as buying from Cinch.

@IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads thanks, I'll check them out.