Family friend selling car
Family friend selling car
Author
Discussion

wantacar

Original Poster:

78 posts

176 months

Wednesday 8th March 2017
quotequote all
I rang up about a Lexus and the seller says he's a family friend selling the car for the owner. So straight away I am a bit wary, but:

1. I'll meet the owner.
2. Transfer the funds to the owners account.
3. I've seen the car service history & V5 (photos)

Any concerns? Its a big chunk of money over 20k......

ZX10R NIN

29,297 posts

141 months

Wednesday 8th March 2017
quotequote all
There's nothing wrong with this you're actually buying it from the owner.

eldar

24,078 posts

212 months

Wednesday 8th March 2017
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
There's nothing wrong with this you're actually buying it from the owner.
...from the owner's address.

TJC46

2,184 posts

222 months

Wednesday 8th March 2017
quotequote all
wantacar said:
I rang up about a Lexus and the seller says he's a family friend selling the car for the owner. So straight away I am a bit wary, but:

1. I'll meet the owner.
2. Transfer the funds to the owners account.
3. I've seen the car service history & V5 (photos)

Any concerns? Its a big chunk of money over 20k......
Meet the owner at his home address.

Make sure its the same address on the log book.

Full HPI Check on the car...............YOU DO THIS ! DONT TAKE THE SELLERS WORD FOR IT, OR GO WITH A REPORT THE SELLER MAY SHOW YOU.

If main dealer history ring them and enquire about the service history.

Explain you are interested in purchasing the vehicle.

They will not disclose any personal details but give them the vehicle registration and they will usually tell you the cars service history.

You can purchase any kind of ink stamp you wish nowadays, so a stamped up service book means nothing at all.

If over 3 years old then DVLA M.O.T History online.

You could do a cash transfer but do it within your bank or his.

I have done this in the past where i have paid monies into the sellers account and he hands the keys, log book etc over there and then.

WHY........because everything is on security cameras.

People may think all this is a bit O.T.T but look at how many threads are posted on Pistonheads of people being scammed.

20k is a substantial sum.

If i was a genuine seller i would expect all of the above as normal, especially for a 20k car.





wantacar

Original Poster:

78 posts

176 months

Thursday 9th March 2017
quotequote all
TJC46 said:
Meet the owner at his home address.

Make sure its the same address on the log book.

Full HPI Check on the car...............YOU DO THIS ! DONT TAKE THE SELLERS WORD FOR IT, OR GO WITH A REPORT THE SELLER MAY SHOW YOU.

If main dealer history ring them and enquire about the service history.

Explain you are interested in purchasing the vehicle.

They will not disclose any personal details but give them the vehicle registration and they will usually tell you the cars service history.

You can purchase any kind of ink stamp you wish nowadays, so a stamped up service book means nothing at all.

If over 3 years old then DVLA M.O.T History online.

You could do a cash transfer but do it within your bank or his.

I have done this in the past where i have paid monies into the sellers account and he hands the keys, log book etc over there and then.

WHY........because everything is on security cameras.

People may think all this is a bit O.T.T but look at how many threads are posted on Pistonheads of people being scammed.

20k is a substantial sum.

If i was a genuine seller i would expect all of the above as normal, especially for a 20k car.
Thank you! That is really good advice, especially the bit about exchanging the funds and the keys at the bank, where it's on security camera.
I really appreciate that.

steve-5snwi

9,514 posts

109 months

Thursday 9th March 2017
quotequote all
If your buying it from the owner and you visit his house just make sure you go inside, have a look around too, look at any post to see if it's addressed to the same person, look at photos on the wall etc. Ask to see a driving liecence too.

anonymous-user

70 months

Saturday 11th March 2017
quotequote all
steve-5snwi said:
If your buying it from the owner and you visit his house just make sure you go inside, have a look around too, look at any post to see if it's addressed to the same person, look at photos on the wall etc. Ask to see a driving liecence too.
Really?

Perhaps you could ask for DNA test whilst you're there.


Shore

412 posts

104 months

Sunday 12th March 2017
quotequote all
If you are wary about it which you seem to be just abort the transaction and wait on another one coming onto the market. For all you know the owner could be on holiday and his mate is trying to steal from them. They could sell you the car and then when the owner realises the car is gone he cluld report it stolen.

jjr1

3,027 posts

276 months

Sunday 12th March 2017
quotequote all
lord trumpton said:
steve-5snwi said:
If your buying it from the owner and you visit his house just make sure you go inside, have a look around too, look at any post to see if it's addressed to the same person, look at photos on the wall etc. Ask to see a driving liecence too.
Really?

Perhaps you could ask for DNA test whilst you're there.
I totally agree but feel you should also require a polygraph test under threat of beheading of a close member of his family.......


You can never be too careful.

ZX10R NIN

29,297 posts

141 months

Sunday 12th March 2017
quotequote all
OP did you get the car?

steve-5snwi

9,514 posts

109 months

Sunday 12th March 2017
quotequote all
lord trumpton said:
Really?

Perhaps you could ask for DNA test whilst you're there.
So if you purchased a car privately you would hand the money over on the drive and not want to go inside ? The post and pictures obviously you don't need to ask for you just be observant and make sure the person you are handing a large sum of money to does actually live there and isn't the cleaner selling the owners car while they are on holiday.

TJC46

2,184 posts

222 months

Monday 13th March 2017
quotequote all
ZX10R NIN said:
OP did you get the car?
This..........you cannot post questions and not tell us the outcome.

egor110

17,510 posts

219 months

Monday 13th March 2017
quotequote all
Also get a return train ticket when you pick the car up , that way if somethings not quite right your tied into.

wantacar

Original Poster:

78 posts

176 months

Monday 20th March 2017
quotequote all
alright chaps....

we couldn't agree on the final price in the end....so gave up on it....

admittedly the factor of the family friend contributed to that....

am in no rush anyways, so keep on looking.

Casa1862

1,108 posts

181 months

Tuesday 21st March 2017
quotequote all
wantacar said:
alright chaps....

we couldn't agree on the final price in the end....so gave up on it....

admittedly the factor of the family friend contributed to that....

am in no rush anyways, so keep on looking.
What Lexus was it? I'm selling a 2015 15 reg IS300h Exec met grey with 24k miles fsh £17750.00 next week.

Shore

412 posts

104 months

Friday 24th March 2017
quotequote all
Casa1862 said:
What Lexus was it? I'm selling a 2015 15 reg IS300h Exec met grey with 24k miles fsh £17750.00 next week.
£2500 and I'll come tonight