Negotiating:
As I mentioned in the ‘phone call’ section, forewarning them that you are the type of person who wants to negotiate is a good intro; ‘So you said on the phone that you were open to sensible offers…’
Hopefully you’ve now been able to make an educated decision and have concluded that the car is right for you and want to buy it. Don’t be afraid of bargaining here, the seller will be expecting it and it would be rude not to. Ask the seller what would be the lowest amount they would accept for the car, they will either ask you what you think it’s worth or they might lay their cards on the table and give a figure.
Either way, state all the faults that you’ve noticed which will need rectifying and make an offer with these things in mind. Be tactful here; listing off all the faults can sometimes put the seller in a bad mood and make them less inclined to negotiate...trust me.
Your offer should also reflect what other cars are on the market and at what price, so be realistic. Don’t be too afraid of insulting the seller as you can always increase your offer, but be realistic.
Once you have made your offer, keep quiet. Don’t feel the need to fill the silence with idle chat, it is time for the seller to consider it. Remember this is almost a bit of a game, keep a smile on your face and be amiable.
There may be a bit of back and forth where you will eventually meet in the middle and settle on a price but try and shake on the price as soon as you can.
One little trick I always use is as follows, but only works if paying in cash:
If the car is advertised for £1200ono then it’s a safe assumption that the seller will accept £1000, however it’s always worth trying to get that little bit more off.
I will have only withdrawn £1100 (just in case the car is fantastic and well worth the asking price) and will separate that into a £900 envelope and £200 hidden in my wallet. When bargaining I will produce the £900 along with ‘I’ve got this on me and we can do a deal right now’, if the seller accepts then great, if they want to push a little further then that’s OK.
Payment:
Hopefully this guide combined with common sense should let you determine that the seller is genuine and honest so you can relax slightly when it comes to the payment stage.
If you are paying by cash make sure to carry out the transaction in the sellers house away from prying eyes. This is another reason to bring a friend with you, for added security and of course a way to get the back if/when you buy it.
If you are paying by cheque then of course the seller will want that to clear before handing over the keys and they may also want a small cash deposit. Personally I like to complete the transaction and take the car there and then for obvious reasons.
You can also transfer the money from your account to theirs at a local bank or indeed using online banking, but again the seller will want that to clear first.
Some sellers will have made a small ‘sold as seen’ receipt to fill out along with the V5C. This form splits in two pieces where the seller keeps one half in order to post off and the buyer keeps another as proof of purchase. Once the seller posts off their half to the DVLA, the new owner will have a new document posted to them. Make sure you have all the relevant paperwork and keys (and of course insurance) and drive home in your new car.
Most of the points I’ve made here relate to a private sale so slight alterations have to made if buying from a trader but the main process of checking the car over should not change.