Car Buying Advice from the RAC

Legal Rights – Private Sale
This option should be considerably cheaper than purchasing from a dealer but there is a higher risk element. The general rule relating to private sales is “let the buyer beware”. In other words if you are purchasing a vehicle from a private individual it is up to you to ask all the questions to determine the history of the vehicle, and to inspect the vehicle, or to arrange an inspection of the vehicle to confirm its condition. It is recommended that a history check is performed on the vehicle to avoid difficulties at a later date.

Do you know the car’s history?
A History Check offers peace of mind when buying a used car. Visit www.rac.co.uk/carbuying/ and they will check the history of the vehicle you wish to purchase against Equifax’s vehicle information database and provide you with a full report.

For extra security, why not book a RAC Vehicle Examination? One of our accredited inspectors will perform a comprehensive visual examination on the strucutural, mechanical and safety aspects of the vehicle you wish to buy.

RAC Members
RAC members are entitled to discounts on these and a range of other services. Visit www.rac.co.uk to find out more about the benefits of RAC membership.

Your Rights
The seller must not mis-describe or misrepresent the vehicle – to this end if the car is described as having had just “one previous owner” and this should turn out not to be the case then the car has failed to conform to its description and a claim for compensation or rejections might follow. As above the description must have been made prior to the sale and must have been a factor in deciding to buy the car.

As you can see the usual rights that you expect from a dealer are not applicable and there is usually little that can be done about a car that has developed a defect after the sale unless the sale was prompted by a mis-description.