Buying a companies vehicle - vat?

[Hugo Stiglitz]

I'm not employed by them but they are selling a vehicle owned by them and paid for by their business.

They say its a private sale but....

Would I be liable for any VAT post sale?

I'm private, strictly private use

[paulrockliffe]

If they reclaimed VAT on the purchase of the vehicle then they must charge you VAT on the onward sale. As a retail sale they also must advertise the sale to you as VAT inclusive, they will probably not do this and try to sting you for an extra 20% after you've agreed a price.

Technically you have contracted at the lower price and they should just wear the VAT themselves, but practically they will simply withdraw from the sale if you insist on that.

[bnseven]

Is this a commercial vehicle or a car? The rules on resale are different.

Commercial Vehicle will be sold +VAT as it has been a business tool

An ex fleet car will have no VAT unless it has been kept solely for business use, no private mileage, these cars come up for sale as "vat qualifying"
You can only reclaim VAT on a car in limited situations where no private mileage is allowed hence very few cars come up for sale as +VAT

[Mr Pointy]

If you are buying as a private individual then VAT isn't relevant to you - just ask them for the final sale price. If they forget to charge you VAT that's their problem, not yours.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

It's an estate car.

[Zetec-S]

Mr Pointy said:

If you are buying as a private individual then VAT isn't relevant to you - just ask them for the final sale price. If they forget to charge you VAT that's their problem, not yours.

^This

[Abdul Abulbul Amir]

bnseven said:

Is this a commercial vehicle or a car? The rules on resale are different.

Commercial Vehicle will be sold +VAT as it has been a business tool

An ex fleet car will have no VAT unless it has been kept solely for business use, no private mileage, these cars come up for sale as "vat qualifying"
You can only reclaim VAT on a car in limited situations where no private mileage is allowed hence very few cars come up for sale as +VAT

Not quite right, VAT qualifying vehicles are those where the present owner (and any prior owners) have been able to recover the VAT and VAT is charged on the sale.

Many cars are VAT qualifying due to the large numbers sold by leasing companies who were able to recover the VAT when they purchased them. However, when advertised by a dealer who has purchased the car from the leasing company it will be advertised at the gross price even if VAT qualifying.