This is the ultimate nightmare for a new arrival: you find a great deal on a used car on AutoTrader or Facebook Marketplace. You transfer £15,000 to the seller. Two weeks later, a tow truck arrives at your house with a legal warrant. They take your car, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.
Not sure what applies to your situation? Get free, personalised advice in a 30-minute session — no obligation.
Why? Because the person who sold you the car didn't actually own it.
In the UK, when a car is bought on a PCP or HP finance agreement, the finance company legally owns the vehicle until the very last penny is paid. Unscrupulous sellers will illegally sell you the car, pocket your cash, and stop paying their finance bill. The finance company tracks the car to your driveway and legally repossesses their asset.
About to transfer money for a private car sale? Stop. [Book a free 30-minute session with WBAuto to verify the car's legal status.]
You cannot tell if a car has outstanding finance by looking at the V5C logbook. The logbook only shows who the "registered keeper" is, not the legal owner. The only way to uncover hidden debt is by running trade-level background checks directly against the central banking and finance databases.
Protect your hard-earned Rands. WBAuto runs comprehensive HPI and finance clearance checks before you ever transfer a penny.
