Autotrader sale - Car is far away
Discussion
Greetings PHers,
I'm a first time car buyer here in the UK and i wanted to have more clarity on how quick you'd be able to buy a car that is listed on Autotrader and is far away (I'm in London, car is in Newcastle).
How much time would it be needed, let's say after you see the car, to do all the necessary paperwork, pay and get away with it? Couple of days?
Thanks for any help on this matter!
I'm a first time car buyer here in the UK and i wanted to have more clarity on how quick you'd be able to buy a car that is listed on Autotrader and is far away (I'm in London, car is in Newcastle).
How much time would it be needed, let's say after you see the car, to do all the necessary paperwork, pay and get away with it? Couple of days?
Thanks for any help on this matter!
If it's from a dealer, call in advance and put your deposit down and ask them to have the car ready for inspection. View and agree to buy it, they'll usually take a few days to prep the car but the paperwork can easily be done same day that you view.
If it's private, walk up with your money, pay it, sign the V5, insure, tax, drive home the same day.
If it's private, walk up with your money, pay it, sign the V5, insure, tax, drive home the same day.
Unless its a proper main dealer - with strong reviews and a long trading history - I would not be buying unseen from "Autotrader" - they're just an agent who hold no responsibility if you send money to a dodgy dealer/scammer.
In reply to the rest of the questions, it depends.....some cars are listed before prep, others when ready to go. Some cars may be drive away same day, others may need a week and it depends on whether they have a driver/transporter free and ready to take you the car immediately, or a few days later.
In reply to the rest of the questions, it depends.....some cars are listed before prep, others when ready to go. Some cars may be drive away same day, others may need a week and it depends on whether they have a driver/transporter free and ready to take you the car immediately, or a few days later.
If it's a dealer, check you can reserve it with a refundable deposit. Then find the cheapest train/coach and hop up there to view it. The problem with post Covid is that many dealers are not properly prepping cars for sale other than a wash and vac, because they know they can sell to chumps with all the bodywork defects and kerbed alloys etc.
I find the journey up /down is as exciting as the destination. Prep with a backpack full of drinks, snacks, books etc. And if it all works out and you can take the car away same day, then just bin the return ticket.
I find the journey up /down is as exciting as the destination. Prep with a backpack full of drinks, snacks, books etc. And if it all works out and you can take the car away same day, then just bin the return ticket.
from memory there are a few choices to get to Newcastle (from Essex in my case) - after leaving a holding deposit with the trader I ended up driving up with Mrs DG to the dealer paying the balance after the car inspection proved satisfactory. The drive back was fun 
What I would say though is that (IMO) it all depends on the car: a Mondeo Vignale (for example) would be pointless, something a little more special/rare then you're talking. If you're not sure of condition get the AA/RAC to give a once over and if that works out then pay for the car to be delivered down...
The furthest I've gone with a private seller to buy a car was to Stranraer, luckily the car was better than advised!
What I would say though is that (IMO) it all depends on the car: a Mondeo Vignale (for example) would be pointless, something a little more special/rare then you're talking. If you're not sure of condition get the AA/RAC to give a once over and if that works out then pay for the car to be delivered down...The furthest I've gone with a private seller to buy a car was to Stranraer, luckily the car was better than advised!
Thanks all for the replies.
Car is an Audi S3, dealer is https://www.davidjameslimited.co.uk/
From I understand I indeed have to go there and see the car, but then the paperwork can be done on the same day.
I guess it's going to be more in the case of me applying for a HP, correct?
Again, thanks all for the quick replies and interest, really appreciate it!
Car is an Audi S3, dealer is https://www.davidjameslimited.co.uk/
From I understand I indeed have to go there and see the car, but then the paperwork can be done on the same day.
I guess it's going to be more in the case of me applying for a HP, correct?
Again, thanks all for the quick replies and interest, really appreciate it!
SimSer said:
Thanks all for the replies.
Car is an Audi S3, dealer is https://www.davidjameslimited.co.uk/
From I understand I indeed have to go there and see the car, but then the paperwork can be done on the same day.
I guess it's going to be more in the case of me applying for a HP, correct?
Again, thanks all for the quick replies and interest, really appreciate it!
If you have perfect credit, you can get much cheaper unsecured personal loans from your own bank or any other provider, say Tesco Bank, than HP.Car is an Audi S3, dealer is https://www.davidjameslimited.co.uk/
From I understand I indeed have to go there and see the car, but then the paperwork can be done on the same day.
I guess it's going to be more in the case of me applying for a HP, correct?
Again, thanks all for the quick replies and interest, really appreciate it!
You need to be clear on the warranty before you pay any money. It will be a pain if you have an issue and the dealer says “no problem, bring it back to us and we’ll sort it”.
You don’t want to be fighting over the cost of recovering the car back to the dealer so make sure you’re clear in your expectations in advance.
You don’t want to be fighting over the cost of recovering the car back to the dealer so make sure you’re clear in your expectations in advance.
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