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You bought a car from a dealer posing as a private seller

Dealers sometimes pretend to be private sellers, by using the small ads or a private address and telephone number. They do this because you have fewer rights when you buy a car from a private seller than from a dealer. Posing as a private seller is a criminal offence.

This page explains your rights and options if you find out you bought a car from a dealer posing as a private seller.

Top tips

You can avoid buying a car from a dealer posing as a private seller by looking out for these warning signs:

  • adverts which give a mobile phone number or specify a time to call
  • cars advertised for sale in car parks, roadsides or other public spaces
  • the same phone number in several adverts for different cars
  • when you phone about the car, the seller asks "Which one?"
  • the seller doesn’t want you to go to their home to view the car
  • you get to the seller’s home and there are a lot of cars for sale on the street
  • the seller’s name isn’t on the registration certificate (V5C) as the last registered keeper.

If there is no problem with the car

If you buy a car from a dealer posing as a private seller, this does not cancel your purchase. If there is no problem with the car, you cannot make a claim against the dealer. However, the dealer has broken the law and you should report them to Trading Standards.

If there is a problem with the car

If you buy a car from a dealer posing as a private seller and there is a problem with the car, you still have the same rights as when you buy it from a dealer in the normal way. You can still make a claim for your money back, repair or replacement as appropriate.

The dealer has broken the law and you should report them to Trading Standards.

Is the dealer a member of a trade association?

Check if the dealer is a member of a trade association that follows a code of practice and use their complaints procedure. Trade associations include:

  • Motor Codes
  • Retail Motor Industry Federation
  • Scottish Motor Trade Association
  • Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Next steps

Citizens Advice

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