Any seller should not misrepresent the vehicle. For example if thecar was described as having just one previous owner and has not then the salehas been mis-described to the seller and a claim for compensation can be made.However unlike a dealer which is a registered trading business, a privateseller can be very difficult to gain any compensation from as there are usuallyno contracts and protection measures in place.

Your rights when buying a car are largely determined by who you havebought the car from. Buying from either a “trader in the course of theirbusiness” or from a “private individual” will largely effect this.

From a Dealer

Buying a car from a dealer means that the law provides maximumprotection and is regarded as the safest way of buying a car. Its important toremember though that you will only be protected against business’s that arestill in existence so if the dealer has gone bust or has vanished you wont becovered. So if you do purchase from a dealer go for a established, reputableestablishment.

Your Rights

Any car purchased from a dealer must confirm to the description ithas been given regarding its condition and history. If a misrepresentation hasbeen given such as the car has a complete service history and does not then aclaim for compensation may be made. The representation must have been madeprior to the sale and have been a factor in persuading the buyer to purchasethe car.

The car you purchase must be of “satisfactory quality and fit forthe purpose intended”. This means that the car should perform to the standardsexpected. For example if you have bought a used car which is used but only ayear old and it picks up a major problem within a few days of purchasing it thevehicle does not meet the standard. In these instances take the car back to thedealer and they should fix what ever problem the car has encountered. Failureto comply with this requirement is a breach of consumers rights and thereforecompensation or money back will be entitled.

Most cars bought from a dealers normally come with warrantybreakdown insurance. The terms can vary from dealer to dealer. However manyoften exclude “wear and tear” as well as limiting the value of each claim andthe number of claims in a warranty period. Before making any purchase it isbest to check the terms of the warranty so you know what you are getting.

There are numerous places to buy cars today, each with varyinglevels of price and service. Have a look at the different options and see whatsbest for you.

Main Dealers: Main Franchise dealers are often the most expensivebut should the best  the bestpossible customer service. Despite prices being quoted high you can alwayshaggle for a better deal. See our How to Hagle article.

Car Brokers: They can put you in touch with some great offers providedby dealers but you will often have to travel to pick them up.

The Internet: The internet has provided the latest medium to selland buy cars. You can quickly search and compare 1000’s of various cars fromthe comfort of your own home.

Car Supermarkets: Independent Car supermarkets provide a big sourceof most of the major makes and models.

Small independent garages: They often stock a wide range of cars butthese are normally older models than the main dealers would stock

Importers: Can often import cheaper cars and models which can bedifficult to source in your home country. Supply may often be irregular though.

Goinggreen is and should be on most people’s agenda in the 21stcentury. Compared to 10 years ago the range of fuels offered to us is so muchmore varied. We’ll have a look at some of the benefits and bad points of usingtraditional fuels and also some of the more recent additions to the market.

Petrol

The most popular fuel with motorists in the UK. Petrol offers the bestperformance for cars but is not the greenest of fuels.

+ve

-       Enginesare relatively cheap to repair

-       Quieterthan diesel engines

-       Fasterrevving

-       Bestperformance from fuels

-ve

-       Lessenvironmentally-friendly than diesels and other fuel types

-       non-renewable

-       Producesmore CO2 than other fuel types

Petrol has its own measurement called Research Octane Rating (RON). Thehigher the number the better the performance. There are generally 4 maincategories.

1. Unleaded
The most common type – Has a RON of 95.

2. Super Unleaded
Very similar to unleaded – 98 RON.

3. Leaded Four Star and Lead Replacement Petrol (LRP)
Leaded fuel was removed from sale in 2000 and replaced by LRP, which has about97 RON. There is also an additive added to these fuels to help give the valveseal protection which leads to better performance.

LRP is generally only used for older or vintage cars so is less common.

4. High Performance
A cleaner and more powerful than super unleaded but more expensive – Approx 102RON.

High octane racing fuels are available in specialist motor stores, withprices as high as £7 per litre for 110 RON types.

Petrol suites: Drivers who enjoy good performance with a quiet and smoothride.

Diesel

Diesel has become more popular over recent years because of its efficiency,benefits over petrol and lower CO2 emissions.

+ve

-       Increasedtorque enables the car to stay in a higher gear for longer

-       Increasedengine efficiency

-       Possibleto get a small amount of performance fuels in diesel

-       LowerCO2 emissions

-ve

-       Moreexpensive than petrol

-       Noisierthan petrol

-       Enginenot as smooth as petrol

-       HigherNitrogen Oxide emissions than petrol

Diesel Suites: Drivers, who are more environmentally conscience, drive longdistance and want to be more economical.

Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)

LPG is cheaper than petrol and it can be easy to convert a car to run on it.

It’s possible to get your engine converted to run on LPG. To find out moreabout conversions, and which petrol stations provide LPG, visit drive LPG http://www.drivelpg.co.uk.

+ve

-       Smalleremissions than petrol and diesel

-       Verycheap to run

-       Muchquieter than diesel

-ve

-       LPGis not available at every garage in the country

-       Theengine has to be converted to take the fuel

-       Notall cars can be converted to LPG

LPG suites: Drivers looking to make a long term saving in their wallet andon the environment

Bio-fuels

One of the fasting growing fuels, Bio Fuels are a renewable energy. Many ofthe vehicles that run it have flexi-fuel engines allowing convention fuels aswell as bio fuels to be used in the same tank

The type of bio fuel which exist are:

1. Bio-ethanol

Produced from farm crops Bio-fuels are very environmentally friendly. Theyalso have a high octane rating leading to better car performance

+ve

-       LowCO2 emissions

-       Ithas a high RON

-       Verylow fuel consumption

-ve

-       Canbe difficult to find

Bio-diesel

Made from vegetable oils, bio-diesels are an increasingly popular cheapalternative to regular fuels. Manufacturers use vegetable oils left over fromrestaurants and takeaways  tocreate bio-diesel leading to a fuel which is less toxic fuel than regular diesel.

+ve

-       Lowengine wear

-       LowCO2 emissions

-       Canbe used in most diesel engines

-       Canbe found at restaurants and takeaways

-ve

-       Notas readily available as normal diesel

-       Mayproduce a cooking type smell

-       Mayrequire modifications to the engine

View the Energy saving trust website for providing information on locationsof bio-fuel refueling stations across the country.

Bio-fuels suite: long distance drivers who like performance and being green.

Electricity

This source of car energy has not grown in popularity like bio-diesels havebut electricity has a lot of benefits including being able to refill your carwith energy from your very own garage.

+ve

-       Noemissions

-       Nocar tax

-       Exemptfrom London Congestion Charge

-       Extremelyquiet

-       Goodin acceleration

-       Refillelectricity from home

-ve

-       Theyhave indirect emissions from being charged at home or power station

-       Theyrequire a lot of electricity

-       Mosthave a short range of around 50 miles.

-       Theyhave a low top speed of around 50mhp

Electric cars suite: The ultimate green driver who lives in the city andmakes short trips at low speeds.

Hybrids

Hybrid vehicles combine the best of both. They have a rechargeable electricsystem as well as a fuel based engine. The car battery it normally charged bythe internal combustion of the engine and from energy absorbed from braking.Hybrids are generally very fuel efficient.

+ve

-       Lowfuel consumption

-       Quietto drive

-       Lowemissions

-       Quickacceleration

-ve

-       Veryexpensive

Hybrids suite: Green buyers with a big budget. Ideal for city and motorwaydriving.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen cars convert Hydrogen into an energy source to power the car.

+ve

-       Veryenvironmentally friendly

-       Noemissions

+ve

-       Hydrogenis highly flammable

-       Thefuel cells can be fragile

-       Veryexpensive

Hydrogen suites: Green conscience drivers who have a very large budget.

When buying a used car the single most important factor is makingsure your buying what the seller says it is. That counts for whether yourbuying privately or from a garage.

If buying privately or from a dealer you should ideally ask to viewthe car at the person’s house or dealers garage. This helps you be more certainthat the car is how it is described, it is not stolen and lets you assess it alittle closer.

A must before buying any used car is carrying out Vehicle HistoryCheck. This will give you a complete history of the car provided by the Driverand Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) records. The check will include suchinformation as whether the car has been written off, if there any outstandingfinance on the car, and how many owners the car has had. For quick conveniencethese can be bought and downloaded online in a matter of seconds. Go to our VehicleHistory Check page and by simply inputting the registration of the vehicle youwill be able to find a complete history in a matter of seconds.

Once you have your Vehicle History Check compare the data with thecars V5 form (vehicles logbook). If the information on the V5 does not matchwith the report then the car could have been stolen.

Its important to ask the seller questions about the car. Such as whythey are selling it, or if they are the owner. If they are not the owner thenyou should ask if they have the owners permission to sell the car.

Finally the service history should be thoroughly checked. Make surethe car has had all its appropriate services and MOT’s. Check the garages whohave carried out the services and see if this matches with your Vehicle HistoryCheck

Most importantly enjoy the whole experience. Buying a car ischallenging but exciting so get thoroughly involved and find the car you want.

As discussed in Used Car Precautions it is always advisable to carryout a Vehicle History Check first. However once you have established that thecar and its history is as the owner says it is, it is worth undertaking thefollowing spot checks:

-      Tyres: Check tread depths andmake sure they are road legal. Check the wall wear and make sure the generaltyre wear is even on both sides of the car. A car with uneven wear on bothsides of the car may suggest that the wheels are not aligned correctly.

-      Steering should rotate fromlock to lock smoothly and without any peculiar noises

-      All the gears should move intoplace easily when the clutch is pressed firmly down. A weak or stiff clutch canindicate worn parts

-      When the car is idle the engineshould run smoothly and rev evenly.

-      Check the oil dipstick. Nobrown sludge should be present on it. If there is then you could be looking ata damaged engine which could cost a lot of money to repair.

-      When the engine is revved thesmoke should not be blue. If it is this is a sign of engine wear.

-      Check the underside of the carand panels which are not easily viewable. There should be no rust present.Check the exhaust to see how worn it is. Does it look like it will needreplacing soon?

-      Have a look at the mileagecompared to the wear and tear of the interior. A car with low mileage but withwell worn seats and pedals may have had the mileage tampered with.

-      When taking the car for a testdrive, the brakes should be responsive in slow moving traffic or at speed.

-      Check all electricalcomponents, including driver’s side, dash, windows, lights, stereo and heatersystem.

-      If you are not fully confidantin undertaking these checks your self , the AA provide a service whichspecialises in undertaking independent inspections on cars giving youconfidence in your potential purchase.

When taking a car for a test drive there are some key things youneed to check and look out for. Our check list will help you go through eachone to make sure your car purchase is the right one.

Make sure you check the following

-      Gear change – easy and smoothto change between gears.

-      Steering –  smooth with no vibrations

-      Visibility – through the frontand side windows and mirrors

-      Acceleration – quick enough foryour requirements

-      Brakes – should be responsive

-      Overall size – does it fit yourrequirements. A 4X4 in a city may not be ideal for example

-      All-round legroom

-      Boot and storage space – Doesit meet your personal and work commitments

-      Ride comfort and noise

-      Seat adjustability

-      Entertainment systems (radio,CD, DVD etc)

Firstly you need to decide a realisticbudget and stick to it despite what the sales man or finance company encouragesyou to do.

To decide your budget you need to work outall your other costs including mortgage/rent, tax, bills, entertainment andother outgoings. How much can you realistically spare each month. Remember totake into account other costs for the car such as fuel, insurance, MOT’s andServicing

Look at all your options. If you had yourheart set on a new car do you really need a new car which depreciates heavilyin the first year or can you get some thing which is a year old at aconsiderable cost saving.

The following can be used as a sales agreement template when purchasing a vehicle.

1. THE PARTIES TO THIS CAR SALES AGREEMENT ARE:

1.1 THE SELLER:

First Name(s):

Surname:

Identity /Social Security or Other number (Specify):

Physical Address:

1.2 THE BUYER:

First Name(s):

Surname:

Identity / Social Security or Other number (Specify):

Physical Address:

The parties choose the above stated addresses as their physical addresses atwhich legal proceedings may be instituted.

2. THE OBJECT OF THE SALE IS:

2.1 Type of Vehicle:

2.2 Make and Color:

2.3 Model:

2.4 Year of Registration:

2.5 Registration Number:

2.6 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN):

2.7 Mileage at time of sale:

3. OWNERSHIP:

3.1 The Seller guarantees that he/she is the true and lawful owner of theabove-described vehicle and that it is free of all encumbrances and any and alllegal claims.

4. WARRANTY:

4.1 The Seller warrants that at the date of signature of this agreementthere are no licensing fees or fines or other penalties outstanding against theregistration of the vehicle sold in terms of this agreement.

5. NO WARRANTIES OR GUARANTEES:

5.1 The Seller or his/her agent gives no warranty or guarantee other thanthose specified in 3.1 and 4.1

6. DISCLAIMER:

6.1 The vehicle is sold “Sold as seen” and the seller shall not beliable for any defects, patent, latent or otherwise.

6.2 The Buyer admits having inspected the vehicle to his/her satisfactionand that no guarantees or warranties of any nature were expressed or implied bythe Seller or his/her agent regarding its condition or quality.

7. LEGAL AGE:

7.1 The Buyer is of legal age and legally competent to enter into thisagreement.

8. TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP AND COSTS:

8.1 The Parties agree to sign all documents necessary to transfer ownershipof the vehicle from the Seller onto the name of the Buyer within 7 (SEVEN) daysof signing this agreement of sale.

8.2 The Buyer shall be liable for all costs relating to the registration ofthe vehicle into his/her name and all costs relating to the RoadworthyCertificate.

9. PURCHASE PRICE:

9.1 The Purchase price is the sum of ______________________

(________________________________________________________)

9.2 The Purchase price is to be paid in full by bank guaranteed check or ina manner as agreed by both parties (specify) ___________________________________________

9.3 Ownership of the vehicle will only pass onto the Buyer once the bankhonors the check or other legal instrument of payment.

9.4 The vehicle will only be delivered to the Buyer once payment has beenreceived in full as per 9.3

10. POSSESSION AND TRANSFER OF RISK:

10.1 The Risk passes to the Buyer once the Buyer or his/her agent receivesthe keys to the car or takes possession of the vehicle.

11. JURISDICTION:

11.1 The parties consent to the jurisdiction of the magistrate's

(other ________________________) court for the district of

__________________________________

Signed at ______________________on this ______day of _________________20____

SELLER: ______________________________

1. WITNESS____________________________

2. WITNESS ____________________________

BUYER: _______________________________

1. WITNESS____________________________

2. WITNESS ____________________________

Note: As the seller of a vehicle youmay find a buyer who wants to pay a deposit to secure the sale, with thebalance to be paid later. In that case, you can add the following clause toyour free car sales agreement.

12. HOLDING DEPOSIT:

12.1 The Seller acknowledges that a holding deposit in the sum of_____________ was received on _____________20____.

12.2 The Buyer agrees that the balance of the Purchase price in the sum of________________ must be paid by ______________20____.

12.3 The Parties agree that the Holding Deposit is non-refundable. Theyfurther agree that should the balance of the Purchase price not be paid by thedate as in 12.2 above, the Buyer will have no further claims to the vehicledescribed in 2. and the Seller is relieved of all obligations in respect ofthis agreement.