To consider buying a car online?

[Caitlynandthecat]

We need a car. We are quite short on time.
I'm looking at online companies like cinch but my dh thinks it's mad to buy a car online if we are spending 10k. I think surely they must be credible enough to be so popular: he thinks they can market themselves but could be shit.
Aibu to think about buying a car online?

My DD bought her car from Cinch. It was very straightforward and the car was good.

Bought from cazoo, great experience.

We've done so a couple of times and had it delivered to our rural home. Found it super convenient!

I bought from buyacar and so did my brother. Both lovely cars

We bought from Cinch. So has my neighbour now. Absolute doddle. Cars are both pristine.

This is super good news!!

I shall tell dh that mumsnet has spoken

Cazoo not on the cards, never heard of them.
I'm looking at cinch

I don't think I know anyone who has bought online.

I previously bought a couple of cars through Evans Halshaw's website , purely purchased looking at photos/info.

Just do your research and don't get tempted by 'too-good-to-be-true' prices.

He's not all that bothered as I'll be the main driver for this one.

I recently bought through Cinch. In my experience they ensure the car is roadworthy (MOT) and look for cosmetic damage. I took my car to an independent garage who told me it needed new front and rear brake pads and the tyres were worn and out of alignment. The back window demister also didn't work. TBF Cinch offered to arrange for all the work to be done but at a main dealership on the other side of town which was completely inconvenient for me so I returned the car. The 14-days give you a really good chance to identify any issues. They refunded me really quickly. It's not put me off and I'm buying another car through Cinch. I want a specific trim level which is not available at my local dealerships.
Be careful with the car tax and don't buy a car at the end of a month because if your 14 days crosses two calendar months and you do reject the car, you have to pay two months car tax.
With Cinch you can also pay using a 0% credit card which most main dealerships won't accept.

Bought a car listed on Autotrader without seeing it in person, from a dealer who had some decent reviews. It’s been fine, no regrets after nearly three years

We have bought from Cinch (twice) and it has been great. Both times they drove away in our old bangers.

Cinch has made huge losses I read today, I don't know enough about business finances to know whether that means that there is a risk that they will be joining Cazoo. After much research about 18 mths ago I did reserve one online and paid for it without actually seeing it or driving it but collected from a reputable dealer about 25 miles away as they gave 12 months warranty & MOT and were a couple of hundred pounds cheaper for a similar cars, its been absolutely fine. I am considering changing it to go back to an automatic though and probably would buy online and use a delivery service.

Oh that's not ideal!

How did that work- how come you got the guarantee from the local garage?

Oh was it from a further branch and they moved it for you?

I bought mine from a dealer online, they delivered it, it's been fine. We'd relocated to the UK and I needed one quickly without trawling round dealers and had identified the model I wanted.

They MOTed it, fixed the advisorys, no issues. I'm very unbothered about cars though. If you cared maybe you'd look!

I'd definitely do cinch or similar (although I think you pay a bit of a premium for the convenience).

Sorry @Caitlynandthecat not sure what you are asking, I saw it online (a car dealer that I know has been there for at least 30 years called mangeletsi) reserved online with £100 payment then went to pay the rest and collect it. They give 12 months guarantee and MOT on all their cars which cazoo and cinch did not do at the time. Haven't needed the guarantee as it's been absolutely fine for 18 mths.