Cars Online – Where To Buy A Car Online
Whether you actually make the purchase online or offline, there is still a huge benefit to be gained from finding a car online.
It allows access to many more cars than would be available in local dealers without the inconvenience of searching around various locations.
You can search instantly through thousands of new and used cars of all types and you can search for cars of any model across any specific area, with any specification, at the click of a button absolutely free.
“You can search (online) for cars of any model”
Even if you need to make the purchase offline, an online search can help narrow down possible choices. Instead of visiting ten places to find one car, you can narrow the choices down to two or three matching cars which you then look at in more detail.
(i) The Manufacturer
The most obvious place to view and buy a car from is the manufacturer itself (or its network of authorised dealers). A few manufacturers (such as Ford) allow you to purchase cars directly online, usually giving you complete choice over the specifications and options available. The authorised dealers normally operate sales only on an offline basis, although a number of their cars will be advertised in online listings.
Several manufacturers have Approved Used dealers, which sell good condition used or nearly new cars (mainly of the specific manufacturer). e.g. Network Q – Vauxhall Approved Used Dealers. These also operate mostly offline sales, but will normally have a number of cars advertised online.
When buying online (even a used car) from a manufacturer or approved dealer, your rights are the same as when you buy in person. Any car that is wrongly sold or faulty will be covered in the same way as any other product bought on or offline.
Buying directly from the manufacturer will normally cost a bit more, but will give you a better back up in the event of future problems.
(ii) Online New Car Sites
One of the fastest growing ways to purchase a new car is directly through an online store. Sites such as Jam Jar and Virgin Cars have or can order almost every new car available. They are usually sold for less than the price a manufacturer or authorised dealer would charge.
“your rights are the same as when you buy in person”
Most online car sites operate online only, although a small number have dealerships as well. When buying from an online car site, your rights are the same as when you buy in person.
Buying a new car from an online car site will cost you less than most other sources, however if you wish to view a number of cars first then it will not be suitable until after you are certain of the one you want.
(iii) Independent Dealers
Buying from third-party dealers is probably the most common way of purchasing second hand cars. It provides better risk cover than private buying, but is cheaper than buying from a manufacturer / authorised dealer or approved used centre.
Many of the cars advertised in online listings are those for sale from smaller or independent dealers.
That does not mean that all third-party dealers are cheap or completely honest; but the majority are, and they are also covered by far tougher regulations than private sellers.
Buying (even a used car) from a dealer gives you the same rights as when you buy other new goods. The law says the car must be of satisfactory quality, as described, and fit for any normal purpose (unless sold as otherwise). If the car goes wrong in the first 6 months after purchase, the dealer must prove it was not faulty at the time of sale, or fix the faults as needed.
(iv) Private
Most of cars advertised in online listings are private cars, where an individual wishes to sell their car to another person rather than to a dealer, and has paid for the car to be listed for a certain period of time.
Buying a used car privately is normally cheaper than purchasing a car from a dealer, but it also presents more risks to the buyer as cars are not covered by the same rights as with dealer bought cars.
The only legal obligation of the seller is to describe the car correctly. If the car is sold in a worse condition than described, you can sue for your losses. This means however that you have to trace the seller, and go through court proceedings to get any money back.
If you buy a car over the internet in a private sale, then your rights are the same as buying privately in person.
In most cases sellers are genuine; however there are still a large number of sales that are not. A minority of people try to offload stolen or unsuitable cars cheaply.
A small number of dealers try to sell dubious cars privately to get out of their legal obligations; the Office of Fair Trading suggests several warning signs to look out for:
- Giving a mobile number only, or suggesting a specific time to call. (They could be using a callbox rather than their home phone.)
- The same phone number appearing in several adverts.
- When you ask about the car, the seller asks “Which one?”
- Instead of you going to see the car at their home, the seller wants to bring it to you.
“(online) private buying is riskier”
Private buying is riskier, but if you are careful, you can get good quality cars at much cheaper prices.
(v) Auctions
Auctions can be the cheapest way of buying used cars; however it is also the riskiest. Once the hammer has fallen you cannot get out of the purchase, and pursuing any faults ranges from difficult to impossible, especially in online auctions.
Many auctioneers may refuse to be responsible for the goods that are auctioned. This means that your only method of redress is with the actual seller. However, if the seller has added a disclaimer (e.g. Sold as seen) then your legal rights will normally not apply.
Cars that are up for auction will not normally be advertised in listings sites, they are usually listed only on the auction site itself.
Before participating in any auction, you should always ensure that you are aware of the sale conditions, and that you know (and stick to!) your spending limit. If you know the approximate values of the items you are bidding for then you will be less likely to overbid.
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