How to Buy a Car Secondhand in Ireland

Buying a used car in Ireland can be done in one of three ways: through a dealer, through a private seller or by auction. Advertisements can be seen online through car sales websites, in newspapers or on dealer lots. Documentation that should be provided with the car are the registration documents, a National Car Test (NCT) certification (cert) for cars over four years old and registered before January 1980 and a motor tax certificate. Sellers should complete a change of ownership form at the time of sale.

Instructions

1

Choose which route to take to buy the used car. In Ireland, secondhand cars can be bought from private sellers or from dealers. Private sellers are generally cheaper but buying from car dealerships is safer as any defects with the car not pointed out at the time of sale can be rectified through the dealer during their warranty period. Private buyers are not covered by consumer laws to the same extent as people who buy from a dealer. Another route is buying via auction, but in this case there is little legal protection if you buy a lemon.

2

Choose a budget. Impulse buys can be costly. Take into account maintenance costs of a particular model. Tires and other regular outlays vary from car to car. Also consider fuel costs. A Sports Utility Vehicle with a large engine may cost much more day-to-day in fuel than a smaller car.

3

Use online car websites such as Autotrader to compare car prices and use this to judge whether a car is overpriced. Cheap cars may have defects, damage or high mileage that the seller has taken into account so before visiting the seller or dealer, ask about defects or mileage. This could save you a trip.

4

Visit the seller to see the car. Check for damage and mileage. Check that all electrical components are working, along with wipers, windows, defoggers, radio and air conditioning, if present. Different shades of paint on the bodywork could have been used to conceal previous damage. Check for rust. Open the hood and look to see if the engine compartment is clean, which indicates the car has been taken care of. Check the oil dipstick to see if there is enough oil and the oil is clean. Look under the engine to see if any oil leaks are present. Take the car for a test-drive. Before starting the engine, check if the engine is warm. Sometimes cars are "warmed up" so they will start the first time for potential buyers. Bring a mechanic or mechanically minded friend with you to inspect the car if you are not comfortable doing it yourself.

5

Check that the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in the engine compartment matches the registration documents the seller provides. Look at the NCT expiry, or expiration, date. Every car in Ireland more than four years old and registered after January 1980 needs an NCT to be driven on the road legally. Cars without an NCT may be unfit for road use. Cars must undergo an NCT every two years at least so the further into the future the NCT expiration date the better. Check for the same with the road tax. Road tax is payable every year on cars in Ireland so one on which this tax is not due for several months will save you money.

6

Use any defects such as scratches to haggle down the price. Both private sellers and dealers are usually amenable to haggling. Ask the dealer what type of warranty he offers and what, exactly, it covers.

7

Ask the seller to give you the registration documents for the car. For cars last sold after 2004, this will be a single Vehicle Registration Certification. For cars last sold between 1993 and 2004, there will be both a Vehicle Registration Certification and a Vehicle Licensing Certification. For older cars, there is a Logbook.

Fill in a change of ownership form. For pre-1993 cars, this will be an RF200 form. The seller should send this, along with the logbook, to their local motor tax office. For newer cars, the seller should send the Vehicle Licensing Certification or the Registration Certification with the appropriate section filled in, to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Computer Services Division in Shannon, County Clare. Car dealers also require form RF105 for change of ownership. The updated certification will then be mailed to your address.

8

Choose a method of payment. Dealers may offer finance deals, or trade-ins of your old car, to offset the price of the new buy. Checks may not be accepted by private sellers, but be careful when paying in cash. Always get a receipt. A bank draft may be acceptable to private sellers in lieu of a check. Get a written statement signed by the seller that the mileage on the car is genuine. If it's determined the odometer was altered, this will help you get your money back. Ask for both sets of keys, if the seller has them. Be sure you have insurance before driving the car.