Why buy at a distance?
The right car isn’t always down the road. Buying from a dealer further away widens your choice and can save you money, and with a good dealer it needn’t mean more risk. The key is to replace the walk-around you’d do in person with checks you can do from home, and to know your rights before you pay.
Get a proper virtual viewing
A few photos aren’t enough. Ask the dealer for a live video call or a detailed walk-round video that shows:
- every panel in good light, close up, including the lower edges and bumpers;
- the wheels and tyres, including the tread on each one;
- the interior, seats, roof lining and boot, including under the boot floor;
- the engine starting from cold, and the dashboard with no warning lights after start-up;
- the mileage on the dashboard, and the service book and paperwork.
A good dealer will be happy to show you anything you ask to see, and to answer questions on camera.
The checks to make yourself
- MOT history: free on GOV.UK. It shows past tests, the mileage at each one and any advisories, so you can see the car’s mileage has gone up steadily.
- Vehicle details: the free GOV.UK vehicle enquiry shows the make, colour, tax and MOT status, which should match the advert.
- History check: ask whether the car has had an HPI-type check for outstanding finance, write-offs and theft, or pay for one yourself.
- Clean air zones: if you drive in Birmingham or London, check the car is compliant.
Questions to ask the dealer
- What has been done to the car since you bought it, and is there a report of the checks?
- How long will the MOT be when I get it, and has it had a fresh service?
- What warranty comes with it, who provides it, and can I extend it?
- How many keys are there, and is the V5C logbook present?
- What does delivery cost, and what happens at the handover?
Reserving and paying
Before you pay a deposit, ask what it secures, how long the car will be held, and when it would be refunded. Pay the dealer directly using a traceable method, never cash sent by post or to a third party. Get everything that’s been agreed (price, extras, delivery date) in writing.
Delivery and the handover
Find out how the car will reach you. A car delivered on a trailer arrives without extra miles on it. At the handover, walk round it with the driver, check it matches what you saw on the video, start it, and check the paperwork and keys before you sign.
We deliver our cars ourselves, on our own trailer, and record every handover with photos, checks and your signature. How our delivery works.
Your rights
When you buy from a dealer without visiting, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 usually give you 14 days from receiving the car to cancel. That’s on top of your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which say the car must be of satisfactory quality for its age and mileage, fit for purpose and as described. See your rights explained.