Contacting the seller

As with selling your car, this is an important part of the process.

Small-scale traders are known to pass themselves off as private sellers so when phoning about a vehicle, don’t mention the specific car for sale – if the vendor asks which car you are interested in, you know he has more than one to sell! An old but simple trick. Be wary of any seller that wants you to view a car away from their home address – unless there is a very good reason for this, exchanging your cash for a car in a layby or car park can mean the seller has something to hide.

Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions and try to get as much information as you can before agreeing to view the car. Ask about the history of the car, any faults or damage it may have, and any features that weren’t covered in the advertisement. A genuine seller will be happy to answer your questions.