Paying a reputable used car dealer in advance for a car

[Ulrikakakakaka]

We have viewed a used car and test driven it from a reputable dealer with an excellent reputation. We are not using car finance to buy the vehicle, but paying for it ourselves.
The funds are in place and we are due to collect the car on Saturday morning. The only form of payment they will accept is bank transfer, which is fine. If I were selling a car privately I would only accept faster payments by bank transfer.
However, they have said they recommend paying them at least 48 hours in advance, to ensure the payment has gone through and there is no problem with it. I assume they would be unable to check the bank account themselves as there would be no one in accounts.
We will have to transfer £13k to them in advance. This doesn't seem to have bothered my dh; but it bothers me.
Transferring that sum of money in advance for a car makes me very uncomfortable, even to a reputable dealer. What if a problem has occurred with the car between us agreeing to buy the car and Saturday and we had trouble getting the money back? What if they went into administration between now and Saturday morning?
Not that I expect them to. but you never know.
They are an official vauxhall dealer and operate under a group name. Very good reputation. Incorporated in the 1960's. All filing requirements with Co.s House are up to date. Balance sheet shows they are very solvent and are a going concern. I still don't like handing over the payment 48 hours in advance like this though.
Is this a standard practice?

Ring your bank for advice. Most money transfers these days are instant

Do you have Monzo? I paid 9k for a car at a used car place on the day. No problems at all via Monzo.

Yes. I picked up my brand new car yesterday but I'd transferred the money to them last Wednesday.

If its a proper showroom type dealer with premises and been in business for a while and has lots of cars in stock its fine

Yep this is good advice.

I also think I paid a deposit in advance to hold the car, and then did the transfer on the day.

Its unlikely if they are a proper dealership that it will be a scam but you are right to err on the side of caution with such a big purchase

It's usual for a car dealer to ask for payment in advance to confirm the funds are secure before handing you the keys.

If you want a bit of added reassurance you can pay a small amount (£100 say) by credit card and the balance by bank transfer, that makes the card company jointly liable in the unlikely event of a problem.

I paid 19k for our car, bank transfer on my phone, while in the dealership about to drive it away. And on a Saturday. Skoda dealer.
Payment went through immediately, he rang a central accounts number to confirm, and I drove away 10 mins later! It is possible!
Only thing was, 10k was max individual payment so paid 10k then 9k in two transactions.

I stand to be corrected, but I believe you have more consumer rights if you use a credit card rather than a bank transfer.

All's wel that ends well, picked up the car and we are happy 🙂