Short answer: When buying from a private seller, you have almost no legal protection. The Consumer Rights Act does not apply to private sales. Your only defence is doing the right checks before you pay. Start with a free check on CarCostCheck (MOT, mileage, reliability), then run the £4.99 premium check (stolen, finance, write-off) before viewing. These two steps cost under £5 and protect you from the most expensive mistakes.
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Before you go: run the free V5C logbook check so you know when the current logbook was issued and whether the car is marked for export, and the previous owners check for the keeper history. Both take the registration from the advert, so you can do them before you travel.
The only things a private seller is legally obliged to do are: accurately describe the car and have the legal right to sell it. If the car breaks down, the engine blows up, or it needs £3,000 of work the day after purchase, you have no automatic right to a refund. This is why pre-purchase checks are essential.
Before You View: Online Checks
- Free CarCostCheck report
- Enter the reg plate on CarCostCheck
- Review MOT history for patterns (recurring failures, serious advisories)
- Check mileage timeline for consistency (no drops or suspicious gaps)
- Note the reliability score and the common faults in this car's MOT history
- Check running cost estimate against your budget
- Verify no outstanding safety recalls
- Premium CarCostCheck report (£4.99)
- Confirm no outstanding finance (PCP, HP, secured loans)
- Confirm not reported stolen
- Check for insurance write-off history (Cat A/B/N/S)
- Note the last 4 characters of the VIN on record, to match against the car
- Note keeper history and plate transfers
- Cross-reference the listing
- Does the seller's description match the data? (mileage, colour, year, spec)
- Are there any discrepancies between the listing photos and the MOT history?
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At the Viewing: Physical Checks
- Match the V5C to the car and seller
- The V5C (logbook) should be in the seller's name at the address you are visiting
- If the V5C is "in the post," walk away
- Check the VIN on the V5C matches the VIN plate on the car (dashboard/door frame)
- Cold start the engine
- Ask to see the car before the seller warms it up
- Blue smoke on startup suggests worn valve stem seals
- White smoke suggests head gasket issues
- Rough idle when cold can indicate injector or sensor problems
- Check body and paint
- Run your finger along panel gaps; they should be consistent
- Look for colour differences between panels (indicates respray after accident)
- Check for overspray in door shuts and boot
- Test drive
- Drive at various speeds and on different road surfaces
- Test brakes firmly (should stop straight, no vibration)
- Listen for suspension knocks over bumps
- Check all gears engage smoothly
- Test air conditioning, heating, all windows, and central locking
After the Checks: Completing the Sale
- Agree the price. Use your CarCostCheck data to negotiate. MOT advisories, high running costs, or a low reliability score are all reasons to offer less.
- Pay by bank transfer. Get a receipt signed by both parties including full names, addresses, the reg plate, agreed price, date, and a statement that the seller has the right to sell.
- Transfer the V5C. The seller tells DVLA you are the new keeper, ideally online together at the handover (or by post, using section 2 of a new-style V5C or section 6 of an older one), and gives you the green new keeper slip. If the seller does it online, your new V5C usually arrives within 5 to 7 working days; by post it can take up to 4 weeks.
- Insure the car before driving. You can get temporary cover in minutes from most insurers.