Buying a Car Without Seeing It First: How to Do It Safely

Plenty of people now buy a car without visiting the dealer first. It’s perfectly safe if you do it properly. Here’s what to ask for, what to check and what protection you’ve got.

Check the dealer first

Before you look too hard at the car, look at who’s selling it. Read their reviews on Google and Auto Trader, the recent ones as well as the overall rating. Check they have a real address you can find on a map, and look them up on Companies House. If they offer finance, they should be on the FCA register.

Ask for more than the advert shows

• Close-up photos of the tyres, the wheels and any marks they’ve mentioned
• The service history and any recent invoices
• The MOT history, which you can also check yourself on gov.uk
• A history check showing it’s clear of finance, write-offs and theft
• A video of it running, if they can do one

A good dealer will be happy to send this. If they’re reluctant, that’s your answer.

Your rights when you buy from a distance

Buying from a dealer at a distance, you have the same legal protection as buying in person.

Paying and delivery

Get a receipt for every payment, deposit included. Never pay by bank transfer to an account in a different name to the business you’re buying from.

Agree the delivery date, the cost and who’s responsible for the car until it reaches you, and get it in writing.

How we do it at GT

You can reserve one of our cars through Auto Trader, or tick the reserve box on our enquiry form. We’ll then take a card payment over the phone or give you our bank details. Ask us for extra photos or the history and we’ll send them over, and we can deliver to your door anywhere in England, Scotland and Wales at extra cost.

Every car is HPI clear, serviced, with a 12 month MOT and 6 months’ warranty.

Why buy from GT →