What's the difference?

I mean, I know that one is sold as a business and the other by private owners selling their own cars, but what does it mean for the potential buyer?

Are there restrictions?

Is there a certain etiquette to buying/selling amongst the 'trade'?

I went to see a car today from a 'trade' seller, and he said, 'We don't do AA checks.........Ug' (bit of a neanderthal, you see), ie they wouldn't allow it on their cars.


So what's that all about?

 

potential nightmares buying from either if you're not savvy...

trade may offer you a warranty (sometimes not worth the paper they are written on!!)

more come back against a business (trade) than an individual (private) if something goes tits-up.

caveat emptor. bottom line is that you should cover all the bases yourself (background research, etc) if you want as much peace of mind as possible...

 

This trade guy said they don't offer any warranty.

They just 'ship in and ship out'.

Suffice to say I said goodbye.

 

Buy from a know and trusted private seller
Nice Omega!

Seriously though San, when buying at the lower end of the market, I always buy privately (from someone who lives in a nice house, in a nice area) my reasoning being that there are some pretty dodgy individuals dealing in these types of cars and even is the dealer is of the un-dodgy variety, they will naturally have put a mark-up on the vehicle which I would rather not pay.

 

Thanks Ian.

If only you or Drac had bought Elites!

I know what you're saying, and that's the ideal person to buy from. I just wondered if buying from 'trade' sellers required myself to be in the trade or something.

 

No, not at all San. It simply makes potential buyers aware that the seller sells cars for business.

Whether the law looks differently on a purchase from a 'trader' than a private seller I have no idea at all I am afraid.

 

No worries. Thanks Ian.

 

A car bought from a trader comes with a 3 month warranty by law (they may not tell you so!) This is why you get traders pretending to be private sellers, so that the buyer thinks they have no come back.

In reality you have to ask youself whether if something goes wrong with the car can you get money/repairs done by the "trader"?

 

Interesting. I didn't know that.

 

Good advice

A trade seller can say what he likes - he has additional liabilities

In practice these may offer no protection because he will operate as a fly by night

Any rights are only as good as your ability to enforce them

I try to buy privately - and only from a good area as Ian says

If the seller's name hasnt been on the reg doc for a year or more - suspect trade

Your biggest danger is trying to save a couple of hundred quid

Dodgy cars will usually be priced low

Pay the market rate and only for a car with unblemished history all round