New to this game. Can afford about £11,000 quid for say a Peugeot Harmony type vehicle. Nervous about buying Private but it does keep the cost down (diff. seems to be about £3000 like for like). Wondering also about home traders who advertise their vehicles as "Private" and not Trade. Is this legit practice?
Looking for a small MH.
- Thread starter Happyhacker
- Start date
No, it's definitely NOT legit. Trading Standards take a very dim view of this kind of thing.
You have far mroe legal protection when buying from a trader, and if a "private seller" turns out to be a trader, you can still claim those same rights, even if it was sold "as seen."
For a genuine private sale, make sure you're seeing the vehicle at the private address shown on its V5. And find some excuse to go inside the house too (even if only to use the loo) so you'll know for sure the person you're dealing with lives there (and therefore IS the person named on the V5).
You have far mroe legal protection when buying from a trader, and if a "private seller" turns out to be a trader, you can still claim those same rights, even if it was sold "as seen."
For a genuine private sale, make sure you're seeing the vehicle at the private address shown on its V5. And find some excuse to go inside the house too (even if only to use the loo) so you'll know for sure the person you're dealing with lives there (and therefore IS the person named on the V5).
A tip I was given years ago by Trading Standards colleagues if you suspect a "private" sale may be a trader in disguise is to ring up and ask about "the car" rather than a specific model. If it was a trader selling several vehicles they would probably ask which one. I'm not sure if it would be as effective with a motorhome.
Another tip is to search using the contact details to see if you get several hits - probably using Google these days but in days gone by TS used to monitor phone numbers in local papers.
Graham
Another tip is to search using the contact details to see if you get several hits - probably using Google these days but in days gone by TS used to monitor phone numbers in local papers.
Graham
And always get an AA HPI check too, it costs around £12-15 but provides some safety too. Take a photo of the VIN inside the fron windscreen and the registration plate !
Good luck and hope you get what you are after !
Good luck and hope you get what you are after !
That's interesting about the VIN, good to check it with the V5C at time of viewing I guess. If one is going fairly long way could either stay somewhere where one can check on the internet overnight and conclude a deal the next day if all the checks come up OK?
Things that need to be checked:
1. VIN on V5C with windscreen (will VIN be on vehicle in c. 1997/8?)
2. Address same as on V5C.
3. DVLC MOT history ( I have noticed that the Peugeot harmony type MHs often need suspension bracket work after say 55k miles).
4. I assume that if the V5C states the address at which the vehicle is parked then there are no further related issues there?
Thanks.
Things that need to be checked:
1. VIN on V5C with windscreen (will VIN be on vehicle in c. 1997/8?)
2. Address same as on V5C.
3. DVLC MOT history ( I have noticed that the Peugeot harmony type MHs often need suspension bracket work after say 55k miles).
4. I assume that if the V5C states the address at which the vehicle is parked then there are no further related issues there?
Thanks.
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