DEALER OR PRIVATE?
Buying from a dealer is usually the safest option because
you are dealing with an institution and, therefore,
theoretically you are better protected under the law.
However, not all car dealers are the same. Look for
dealerships that have a good and established reputation.
If a dealer is approved by the major finance houses,
this is a good sign. Some will also have a trade association
sign in the window, which means that the dealership
applies a code of practice.
Sales tactics
- “If you come back tomorrow, this car will
be gone/sold”
- Switching on the radio during the test drive
- “One old lady driver. Only used on Sundays
. . .”
- Before signing any documents, and before actually
taking delivery of the car, it is best to carefully
examine the car with the salesperson and point
out anything that is not satisfactory. He/she
may promise you that it will be fixed, or that
it will be taken care of at the first service
etc, but insist that everything is in order before
driving away, or at the very least, get the dealer’s
promises on paper and signed.
- Sales documentation is tedious to check, but
it really is best to read everything thoroughly
and ask if you don't understand anything. Take
a cynical friend along: everyone has one of these…
You can also tell a lot about a dealer by
the salespersons' attitudes, and also the kind of
people that visit the dealership. Buying from a private
individual usually is cheaper, but there are risks.
The car could be stolen, or, just as bad, still be
under a finance agreement, which means the seller
is not actually the owner of the vehicle, but rather
the lending house is. If a private seller lies to
you about the condition of the vehicle, you can sue
him if you have evidence… and if you can find
him… And, of course, a private individual is
very unlikely to give a written warranty.
 Run
for the hills . . .
Some dealers pretend to be private sellers to
avoid legal obligations and to get rid of problematic
cars to unsuspecting buyers. Here are some clues
to look out for:
- If an ad gives only a mobile number or specifies
a time to call, “Office hours only…”
- If the same number/number appears in several
ads.
- The seller wants to bring the car to you, or
meet you somewhere.
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