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Scanning a large selection of cars for sale is easy while surfing the worldwide web. However, you should take the same precautions that would ordinarily apply when buying a used car on the internet. Purchasing vehicles online is covered by the Distance Selling Regulations.
 You also have all the same rights buying a used car online as you would have if you purchased it in person. Always dig for as much information about the car as possible, and make sure to inspect the car in person first before buying.
You will need to learn the proper value of the car to know whether the seller is asking a reasonable price. You can use online car valuation services like ours or a company like Experian by entering information on year, make, model and mileage. If the seller is asking for a price that differs significantly from that obtained from a valuation service, you should ask about the discrepancy.
While searching for your car online, make sure to find out where the seller is geographically located. Do not depend on a .uk internet address since it does not always mean the seller is physically located in the United Kingdom. European Union countries will have similar car-buying rights as found in the UK, however you might want to double-check to make sure. Many internet buying scams involve international car-selling schemes.
Investigate the car dealer first before asking about any car. Check to see if they have the TrustUK logo indicating that the company abides by set standards. Try to find former customers, or search online for people with previous experience dealing with the company.
Make sure the seller is willing to provide you with complete contact information including business address, in case you a problem or questions, or wish to file a complaint. Ask about the condition of the car, whether it has ever been in an accident and why the owner is selling it.
When you inspect the car, check everything from the underside to the top, and all around the vehicle. Make sure to check the tyres and the engine compartment. If you do not know much about cars, you might want to bring a friend who does. Otherwise look for obvious signs of wear and tear like rust and dents. Always ask about anything on the car that looks worn or damaged.
You should also insist on a test drive. Make sure everything works including lights, signals, windscreen wipers, fan, air conditioning, heating and radio.
Now, if you are still interested after inspecting and test-driving the car, ask the owner to allow a car mechanic to inspect the vehicle. If the seller is hesitant, one should takes this as an indication that they have something to hide, and it would be better to continue your search elsewhere. Unless you have a mechanic friend, you will probably have to pay for the inspection yourself, but it's still a good precaution to take before making the final purchase.
Be sure to check the fine print before entering any deal. Make sure the dealer is ready to answer all your questions on warranties and other terms. And before paying, make sure that the website is secure. This is indicated on your web browser by a closed padlock symbol usually located on the bottom bar of the browser. Most browsers will also warn you before you load a secure page.
Finding online car dealers is no problem. Using any major search engine, you will easily turn up many search results. However, it may be better to check Desperate Seller, the online car classifieds website, for a selection of tens of thousands of new and used cars.
Buying a used car on the internet is often much easier than searching for cars in person at dealer lots, but you should follow the precautions outlined in order to avoid scams.
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