Is this a genuine buyer?

[David]

I have an enquiry from France for my car, apart from the fact that I'm not sue I want to sell it to someone who is taking it out of the country, does this seem genuine? I work in IT security so am very suspicious of 'too good to be true' setups! Obviously read from bottom up!

[stevejgreen]

Re: Is this a genuine buyer?

Why be suspicious?
I have purchased several vehicles from the UK and exported them to Spain.
This side of the channel, you need to have a little more information than a log book to prove that you own the car, and that it has been transferred out of the previous owners tenure. Even for cars registered in Spain being bought from a Spanish resident, taxes have to be paid.
But as a seller you can chose not to sell to anyone you like!

[David]

Re: Is this a genuine buyer?

It's the jump on a plane and pay cash that spooked me, who flies into the UK to by a kit car for a few thousand pounds?

Or is that quite common nowadays?

Just trying to ensure I don't get stung buy a fake buyer and counterfeit money! I suppose I could insist on a bank transfer and cleared funds before handing it over.

David.

[stevejgreen]

Re: Is this a genuine buyer?

It's the jump on a plane and pay cash that spooked me, who flies into the UK to by a kit car for a few thousand pounds?

Or is that quite common nowadays?

Just trying to ensure I don't get stung buy a fake buyer and counterfeit money! I suppose I could insist on a bank transfer and cleared funds before handing it over.

David.

Someone who can afford to spend £33 or thereabouts to fly from Paris area to London area, and take a chance?

Lots of ways to pay, it’s unlikely he will pay bank transfer sight unseen though. Bank transfers can take from minutes to a couple of hours, no big deal, he might even turn up with cash!

I’ve flown from Alicante to Nottingham, bought a car by bank transfer, then driven it back to Spain, and wasted a return air ticket, it’s not that rare around here.

For around €500 you can get a car picked up and delivered the same distance on a car transporter if you are prepared to wait for them to pick up a full load.

Not at all unusual, if it’s a vehicle you want at the right price.

Would you doubt a potential buyer if he was in Cornwall or Scotland?

[stevepritch]

Re: Is this a genuine buyer?

David

Why would you consider doing it any other way? I would however want to see any car I am buying prior to purchasing so its a leap of faith on his part as well.

It's the jump on a plane and pay cash that spooked me, who flies into the UK to by a kit car for a few thousand pounds?

Or is that quite common nowadays?

Just trying to ensure I don't get stung buy a fake buyer and counterfeit money! I suppose I could insist on a bank transfer and cleared funds before handing it over.

David.

[stevejgreen]

Re: Is this a genuine buyer?

This applies to every transaction wherever you are.

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/doc/fraud_warning

If he turns up, and you don’t like the deal, you can always say no, but, the vast majority of transactions are perfectly legitimate.

[David]

Re: Is this a genuine buyer?

OK thanks guys, I feel a bit happier now so will see what he wants to do next.

[Cameron F]

Re: Is this a genuine buyer?

Marlins are a big deal in France at the moment - the key is that they have to be over 30 years old to be registered as classics over there. They often get sold on for three times what the buyer will pay in the UK so it is a good investment for them. I sold my Berli to a french guy - I was very dubious at first - you know about it going out of the country etc but then thought I was being a bit precious. Why shouldn't they enjoy the cars as much as we do?
Do be aware that money transfers can take up to 48 hours though.

[stevejgreen]

Re: Is this a genuine buyer?

I have an issue with this thread. It’s in a public area of the MOC forum, consequently visible to many potential buyers, not necessarily being members of the MOC.

If this potential buyer reads this thread, which is essentially being cautious about his integrity, I, in his shoes, would immediately pull out of any transaction, unless it is very much in my favour, as Adminuser suggests.

Gone are the days of the UK being insular, though they may shortly return. I have imported cars from as far afield as France, Poland, UAE, Japan and Australia without sight of the vehicle except by photo or recommendation. I have never had an issue.

I can understand justified caution, but provided due diligence over the financial transaction is applied then there should be no problem.

For example, people have been caught out, without realising the differences between a Debit, Credit, Paypal, Bank Transfer or cash transaction. Each provides different levels of seller/buyer protection, talk to your bank! It is up to the seller/buyer to investigate, and agree to the relative risk of each option, in their perception.

I suggest this thread is moved to the Members Only section.

[Tony Stott]

Re: Is this a genuine buyer?

The registration of a 30+ year old car is quite complex here in France, photos, mot equivalent, engine numbers, chassis nos. etc then an application to the French Federation of Ancient Vehicles. That then takes over 2 months and up to 6 months to get a letter of conformity(attestation). Then a visit with all the documentation to the local Prefecture to get a reg number and at a cost. I had to jump thro' these hoops to get my Berly legal here, although I had another problem with the English documentation, the V5 engine no was different to that of the car engine so had to get the V5 amended which could also have been problematic. That also took about a month, so, as you can see, a little time consuming!

[stevejgreen]

Re: Is this a genuine buyer?

The registration of a 30+ year old car is quite complex here in France, photos, mot equivalent, engine numbers, chassis nos. etc then an application to the French Federation of Ancient Vehicles. That then takes over 2 months and up to 6 months to get a letter of conformity(attestation). Then a visit with all the documentation to the local Prefecture to get a reg number and at a cost. I had to jump thro' these hoops to get my Berly legal here, although I had another problem with the English documentation, the V5 engine no was different to that of the car engine so had to get the V5 amended which could also have been problematic. That also took about a month, so, as you can see, a little time consuming!

Agreed here in Spain, almost the same.
One of my transfers, of a car registered to my UK address, exported to my Spanish address, was allegedly due a VAT payment, and suffered from a bureaucratic nightmare. There were problems here in Spain that delayed the official export, totally out of my control.
Despite writing to the DVLA asking that any documentation be sent to Spain, they failed to do so, and proceeded to try to prosecute me.
Everything was eventually dropped, and the vehicle exported, but what a waste of time and money.

This thread should still be moved to a Members Only area.

[velovol]

Re: Is this a genuine buyer?

Previously I lived in Spain for 20 years and could fill several pages of breathtakingly pig headed and amusing encounters with Trafico and various helpers and fixers in that orbit.

However when I moved back to England I built a Lomax 3 wheeler which I had wanted to do for some time but is impossible in Spain. Great fun and a charming little car which I really enjoyed. However the lack of grunt encouraged me to advertise it on Cars and

Classics at what I thought was a rather fanciful price with a view to buying a Marlin.

The next day I received an e-mail from a man in Germany who said don't sell the car as I am coming tomorrow from Germany with a trailer and cash in sterling. So I replied that I would hold it for 24 hours as I had several other enquiries coming in.

Blow me at but at 6am the next morning the door bell rang and there was German and trailer. A quick test drive and a look at the paper work and I had a plastic bag with used notes for the full asking price.

Maybe I should have asked a higher price but it illustrates how desirable our kit cars are in the desert of beaurocracy that is Europe. So yes, in short it happens.

[David]

Re: Is this a genuine buyer?

I agree with Steve, I should have posted this in the members section.

[dogoncrazy]

Re: Is this a genuine buyer?

IF you wish to sell AND you're happy about it going abroad , then rack up the price knowing that it's in all probability going to be sold on at a profit. See if he's still interested at double what you'd get here .
Personally I have a problem with them going abroad and more so with those that profit from us!

[davidmartin720]

Re: Is this a genuine buyer?

I have been reading this with interest just having sold my Triumph Roadster to an E-bay buyer from Germany. What section on the Member's Forum should this go as I have a few comments to make? David.