Buying a car privately

It's usually cheaper to buy a used car privately but you have fewer legal rights. This article looks at points to consider before you buy.

The vehicle must still be 'as described' but that's where your legal protection ends. If the car has been described incorrectly, you may want to sue the vendor. Knowing where the private seller lives is therefore important and it helps if you can inspect the car at the owner's home.

Don't buy from a car park, motorway service area or general public area because it'll be harder, if not impossible, to contact the vendor if a problem arises. Some adverts in the local press are placed by dealers pretending to be private sellers in an attempt to avoid their legal obligations.

If you buy a car that breaks down the minute you get it home, you may not have any legal comeback - unless for instance, the owner described it as 'just passed MOT' when it clearly wouldn't have passed.

The content supplied on this page is based on the law applying on 1 January 2005. Please consult your own lawyer for further information regarding your rights.

If you need help gaining your driving licence you should consider driving lessons