{"id":1980,"date":"2017-04-24T15:51:50","date_gmt":"2017-04-24T15:51:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ccpc.ie\/consumers\/?page_id=1980"},"modified":"2024-09-06T09:51:42","modified_gmt":"2024-09-06T08:51:42","slug":"buying","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ccpc.ie\/consumers\/cars\/buying\/","title":{"rendered":"Buying a car"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Buying a car<\/h2>\n
\n\n

When buying a car, you generally have the option of buying from a trader or a private seller.<\/p>\n

Traders are often called \u201cdealers\u201d and sell cars as part of their business. Private sellers generally have only one car to sell and are selling it in a personal capacity, not as part of their business.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • If you buy from a dealer<\/strong>, you have some protection under consumer law. Learn more about your rights when you buy goods<\/a> and when you buy second hand goods<\/a>.<\/li>\n
  • If you buy privately<\/strong>, you do not have the same consumer rights. If you decide to buy from a private seller, make sure you have an expert examine the car for you before you buy. It is advisable to bring a mechanic or someone who is experienced with cars or buying cars.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    What to check before you buy?<\/h2>\n

    Before you buy there are some checks you should do to make sure you know what you are buying. You can also use our printable car buyers checklis<\/a>t to help you compare cars.<\/p>\n

    \n\t\t\t\t\t

    \n\t\t\t\tQuestions to ask the seller\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n
      \n
    • Has the car ever been crashed?<\/li>\n
    • Is the mileage correct?<\/li>\n
    • Is there any outstanding finance on the car?<\/li>\n
    • Have you carried out the appropriate checks on the car and are you satisfied that the car has no major faults?<\/li>\n
    • Has any bodywork been done to it (by you or by others)? This may have been done to cover up serious issues such as rust or damage from a previous crash.<\/li>\n
    • Has any major mechanical work been done on the car (by you or by others)? For example, has the engine been replaced? Ask if this is unusual given the age and mileage of the car.<\/li>\n
    • If it\u2019s a private sale, ask if the car belongs to the person selling it or if they are selling it for someone else. If it is someone else\u2019s then you need the name, address, and contact details of that person so you can contact them to ensure everything is in order.<\/li>\n
    • Is it an import? If so, ask for the original registration number and do an online check.<\/li>\n
    • Check that the car has all the features that you would like. If the car was an import, it may have different safety features to what you would expect.<\/li>\n
    • What features does the car have?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      <\/p>\n
      \n

      Undercover Dealer – Used Cars<\/h4>\n

      This video explains what you need to consider when buying a used car.<\/p>\n

      Please accept functional cookies to watch this video.<\/i><\/p>\n


      \nChange Cookie Settings<\/a><\/div>\n