Buying a car is a big deal so you should perform some checks before proceeding with a purchase.
Look into the Sellers History
Do some research into the seller of the vehicle, obtain phone numbers and speak to them directly, also meet up in a safe place.
At TQ500 we pride ourselves in our quality of cars and ongoing customer support which has given us 5 star ratings on Autotrader and Google from our customers.
Fair Pricing
Private sellers will price their cars cheaper as they sell the car ‘as seen’ and do not give warranties or guarantees.
Traders will be priced higher, but will have performed a history check, will have beautified the car by removing any age related marks, will have performed multiple point inspections and give guarantees and warranties for your peace of mind for the future.
At TQ500 we price our cars at a ‘good’ or ‘great’ price as per Autotraders price ranges.
Beware, if the price seems too good to be true, there may be a reason it’s underpriced.
Vehicle History
By checking the vehicles history you can find out if it has been written off, reported stolen, has any manufacturers recalls outstanding or has outstanding finance against it. Some advertising platforms automatically check this before the car is advertised with them, but you can purchase a history check online.
You can check the mileage has raised consistently and if there are any mechanical advisories that may need addressing by checking the MOT history on the DVLA website https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/
Check all the documentation and the V5 document is in the name of the person selling the car if it is a private sale (this is not relevant for Trade purchases).
Check the service history in the Service Book to determine if anything is wrong, if there is no service book then check any receipts they have.
At TQ500 we do all this work for you by DNA and history checking all our cars and performing any mechanical requirements so you can be assured it is ready to go.
If you wish us to perform a check on a vehicle not in our stock that you are looking at we can supply this for £7.99
Mechanical Inspection
If you’re not confident in your mechanical knowledge, then it can be quite daunting. Try using a local garage or RAC to check you car.
https://www.rac.co.uk/buying-a-car/vehicle-inspections
If you are checking your car yourself then ensure you check the car for:
VINS match on all the documentation.
Body colouring – any major differences could mean it’s had a minor accident.
Hinges for rust
Locks work
Doors close and open properlyUnder car and the ground for oil spots or leaks.
Heater/AC at all speeds.
Dashboard lights all work and all buttons work, for headlights, indicator, wipers, central locking etc.
Carpets and boot floor for any leaks
Check spare tyre and does it have a locking wheel nut key
Starts well and does shake
Car restarts after turning off
Does the exhaust smoke on start up and high revs
Exhaust does not have a leak
Oil is at correct levels
Brakes correctly and evenly
Gears change well and don’t crunch
Bonnet opens and closes.
Tyre depths
At TQ500 we have done all this work for you and will supply your car having had a 100 point inspection, a minimum of 6 months MOT and if due a Service.
Try Before you Buy
Don’t buy any vehicle unless you have been able to test drive it for a while. The longer the test drive the better as the car will warm up and you will get a better feel for the car and feel if anything is wrong with it.
At TQ500 we ensure our test drives are as long and as far as our customers need incorporating many road types.
Payments
Always used a method of payment that you can track ie. Bank Transfer, Cheque, Paypal, Card. Be wary of transferring money to a private seller. Make sure the name on the account is the same as the V5 document. And do not give them your bank details.
For Trade purchases make sure you are paying into a verified business account. Do an initial transfer of £1 to check the account, most Banking apps will verify the name on the account matches the Business name you give.
Do not pay by website links, use a money transfer services or pay to foreign accounts.
At TQ500 when we purchase cars or sell them we prefer this to be by Bank Transfer.
TQ500 