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Original poster

Can I part-exchange my car in lockdown? Anyone done it?

12 replies

Handy123 · 13/02/2021 16:05

Just that really.

Need to change my car - been waiting a while to do it. I know we're in a pandemic and that this is NOT essential travel but how long could this all go on for?! I know that many garages offer click and collect, but I'd also like to PX my old one. How on earth do I do that at the moment?

Thoughts please - has anyone successfully managed this, including a part exchange, in the recent lockdown?

Looking for a used car, and I don't really need to test drive it. Could do with it sooner rather than later as I need a safer car for my DC.

OP posts:
Jasperjosephjulian · 13/02/2021 16:10

We did. Garages/car sales are still opening and functioning. We were offered either a delivery with collection (costing more) or we could drop off/collect which we did. My DH needs a car for work (key worker) and ours was going to fail it's MOT (garage aware) so we worked on the basis that he needed access to safe and reliable transport.
I'm sure some covid police will be outraged, but we did it.
All veyf easy. Phone call with the garage to talk through our car and give details. They then gave us to PX price. Did all the finance documents online/over the phone. Agreed a time to do the swap. DH took the car, new car was waiting. Old car was given a quick check over to make sure it was what we said it was, given the keys to the new one. All outside and took less than 10minutes. All wearing masks/keys were sanitised and in a plastic bag.

GrannyWeatherwaxsHatpin · 13/02/2021 16:12

I just, well, part exchanged it. I needed a new car (mine couldn’t be repaired) so I drove it over, looked at a replacement, dealer took my car, I paid for my new one, we filled in the V5 sections and we both went our merry way.

Stealthynamechange · 13/02/2021 16:13

Hi op
I changed my car about 4 weeks ago, part ex'd old one, was fine. Like you I needed a safer car. I stayed local to do it, had no issues. Met the salesman outside, I didn't sit in the new car until i'd brought it (but then i hate test driving!) They didn't test drive my old car. Felt covid safe.

TriSeaSwim2021 · 13/02/2021 16:19

Yep we just did it. The Garage asked for photos of the car we were part exchanging and they sent us a video of the car we were buying . Had an hours video to go through all the paperwork and DH drove to collect/exchange outside. Only pain was we felt we couldn’t travel far to get a car so we’re restricted on what was available really locally. Took a week to sort it all out, garage said they were quite busy.

Original poster
Handy123 · 13/02/2021 16:19

Thanks so much for your responses. How do Part exchanges work, though at the moment? I thought it usually required a bit of contact from a garage- poking over your car to see what it's worth etc.

Do you feel as though the Part Ex was a fair price, or were the garages just making the most of people keen to replace a car?

OP posts:
GellerYeller · 13/02/2021 16:30

Dealers know how much your car is worth as they have databases with a range dependent on age, mileage and condition.

How much you get for your car can also be affected by how much profit margin they have to play with on the vehicle you're buying.
Describe it as accurately and honestly as you can over the phone so when it's assessed at the showroom you don't get delayed. Your definition of mint condition won't be the same as theirs! Minor scratches or seats needing a good valet is something they expect I think.
They're getting fewer customers right now so might be keen to get any deal. You might get a bargain.
Hope that helps 😊

TriSeaSwim2021 · 13/02/2021 16:33

We had to answer a series of questions about the car and provide multiple photos from different angles. We got an online quote of its value from its number plate and yes it was lower than we could get selling privately but they were just going to put it in a local car auction anyway. We just sucked up the loss for the convenience of getting rid of it.

Stealthynamechange · 14/02/2021 07:36

I had to answer questions - mileage condition etc, they had a deal to give additional £500 as want to encourage business, i think i probable got more than it was worth!

Parkandride · 14/02/2021 07:40

Really want to do the same but want to test drive as need to go bigger. Think we'll just have to wait and adapt to parenthood in a 3 door, DH can be in charge of car seat fitting as I can't contort myself that way!

Timeonmyhandsfornow · 14/02/2021 10:49

We're offering px on click and collect, and it's working quite well. Unless it's a highly specialised car being offered, we use our standard valuation process alongside an assumption of £400 of 'soft preparation' - alloy wheel refurbishment, dings and dents etc, plus any scheduled servicing due. We win on some, lose on others, and of course no doubt miss the occasional sale because of that approach. Not ideal, but as a workaround it's proving quite successful.

CastleCrasher · 14/02/2021 11:07

Most garages work on a price index and continue to do so, so you'll be offered the same as you would outside of lockdown. I px mine in lockdown, very easy. They told me the price they'd pay for mine (exactly the same as other garages were offering and what I expected) I was allowed to test drive the car I bought, then did the paperwork and that's it. The only real difference from previous purchases was you had to be very serious about buying the car to test drive as it was quarantined and cleaned afterwards if you didn't buy it.

Merryoldgoat · 14/02/2021 11:10

Yup - I did it two weeks ago.

Found the car I wanted, went to the dealership at pre-arranged time, did the transaction.

All very easy.

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