Motoring News

Offering strong part-exchange deals could be key for car dealers looking to increase their sales among motorists.

With the motoring industry going through a difficult period and car showrooms also being challenged for sales from internet sites allowing used cars in particular to be advertised as ‘for sale’, it is easy to see why times may seem tough.

However, although there are strong reasons why a motorist may look online for a new vehicle, there are also many plus points of buying from a dealer and these are the areas that need to be focused on.

One of the main areas of strength, according to Netcars, is convenience, with showrooms allowing a motorist to sort out a number of problems in one location.

These include the warranty of a vehicle, finance packages and car insurance.

Also, there is the added incentive that a motorist should be guaranteeing themselves a car that is in full working order that can be used for a number of years.

Motorists have to research into the reasons why a private seller would be looking to offload a vehicle and then must decide if they are potentially buying a car in relatively bad condition that might cost a lot to repair in the near future.

Other risks facing motorists who buy from a private seller is that the car may have outstanding finance left on it, while some difficult-to-spot dents and rust may be present and the car could have been previously written off by an insurance company.

Speaking to the Times, Paul Hughes revealed the potential trouble he almost suffered with when considering buying a used Nissan Navara from a private seller.

He said: "I went to the seller’s house to view the car, which was in reasonable condition.

"The paperwork all seemed fine, so I made an offer. The seller insisted that I paid cash because he claimed to be having problems with his bank."

However, after carrying out a vehicle check before completing the purchase, he discovered that there was no issue number on the V5C, meaning that the documents were probably forged and that the car was a clone.