Buying a car - what do I need to do?

[toogoodforthisworld]

I have no idea how to go about this - I've never lived in the UK before so I'm feeling like a real novice.
I've viewed a car today at the owners home. I liked the car so I said I would go back tomorrow and collect it. It's 5K - which I can do a online bank transfer for tomorrow.
How do I arrange the insurance to drive it home? How do I actually get it registered in my name? I feel so silly not knowing this 😳🙈😂 thanks!

Please go on a comparison web site and do a quote for insurance BEFORE you pay for the car.
Also ring insurance companies for help if you are stuck.
Insurance can be high at the moment and if recently arrived in the UK a direct debit may not available so you may be looking at an extra £1000 upfront or more for insurance.

You can check online to see if it has a valid MOT (this is needed by law once car reaches 3 yrs old.. so the MOT must be valid)

Google MOT checker online and you can pick up the details online of when the MOT is due next

You will need a slip from owners to change the owner to yourself and send off to DVLA.

You can insure it immediately online before you drive off. You'll complete change of ownership documents (the log book) that get sent to DVLA for updating the record. The log book will give you a history of the vehicle so worth giving it a good check before you send the money over.

It's really straightforward, but I do understand your apprehension - it seems too easy.

Forgot to mention the car tax too - again check that online. The DVLA is the best place for directions on how to do things

@Bigslippers @LubaLuca
Thanks so much!

Are you sure about buying a car from a private person, as you have no come back at all.
at the very least I’d get a mechanical check from the AA or the RAC

it May cost more to buy a car from the big second hand car people but at least you have some comeback if it stops on the first corner.

Even if it shows as taxed, that now doesn't transfer on change of ownership, so technically you'll need to do that before you drive off too... the car must be MOT'd in order to be able to tax it.

Yes you have to tax it before you drive it off. Same with insurance etc.

Always check the chassis number of the car matches the log book, I say this as I had the police knock on my door one day to check just this as the make of my car with my number plate had been used in an armed robbery, fortunately it was only the number plate that had been cloned.

If you go to a dealer - Ford, Vauxhall etc they will do all the paper work for you and arrange the insurance and tax and you will be able to be confident that the car is their’s to sell and is in good condition.

You have no come back against a private seller.

At least with a garage you have guarantees and trading standards could intervene.

I would never buy from a private seller. Anything could be wrong with the car and you wouldn’t know. It could fall to bits in a fortnight and you have no recourse at all. Your £5k will be gone and you will not have a leg to stand on.

Don’t buy it.

I've only ever bought from a private seller when DH has come along with me and checked the car over, as he knows a decent amount about cars. I wouldn't contemplate spending £5k on a private sale unless you know someone who will check it for you.

The only cars I have never had a problem with are ones that have been bought privately
Check out the MOT history using the reg number. Check the service history

I just bought my car £10,500 I went with cash to the owners house
and just got insured in his street online before I drove off.. oh and you need to tax it too online before driving off

Thanks for all the help. It's all gone great! It's a fab car. We insured it online for 24 hour cover to drive it home and will tax it tonight. I did a bank transfer in his home but with it being a Sunday - and from a foreign bank - it bloody didn't transfer ... 😳
But the guy was so nice - and we only live 15 mins from his house - he said take the car - I'm sure it will be fine - you seem trustworthy enough 😂. Sure enough Monday morning the transfer completed and all was good!

Now take it to a garage to get it checked out. Just in case.

You need to do four checks before buying a used car.

1. Car history. Any debt on the car? Insurance write off?

www.theaa.com/vehicle-check

1. Hire a mechanic to inspect the car with you. Really worth it if you don't know much about cars.

www.theaa.com/vehicle-inspection/

1. Go on autotrader to find out the value of an average car in the country, same model and year. It is free.

1. Go on comparison website, e.g. compare the market, go compare, money supermarket, to find out how much insurance you would pay for this car. Again, it is free.

Go to a dealer. Safer and more protection.