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Would you buy a car without a test drive? More than one-quarter of us have, according to the AA. We're still a nation of tyre-kickers – 70% of us still buy in person – but online sales are growing fast.
There are some big benefits to buying online, especially when it comes to price, choice and convenience. As James Hosking, director of AA Cars, says: "Dealerships that offer the option to buy online and a user-friendly experience can expand their customer base across the UK, making it easier for consumers to find the right car without being limited by location."
For dealers it’s often cheaper to sell online than through forecourts, so they can charge less for their cars and sell more of them. Intense competition keeps prices down too, and you’ll have access to a wider pool of cars to choose from. But there are also risks. Read on to discover how to buy a car online and the best ways to dodge the scams.
Not all websites that list cars for sale are actually selling them directly. Sites such as Auto Trader and Motors.co.uk list thousands of cars, but aren't retailers: they help you find cars being sold by dealers or private sellers. Similarly, most listings you'll see on eBay Motors are "cash on pickup" from private sellers and small independent dealers.
Platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree also list cars for sale from private sellers. It’s worth being aware that recently published UK-wide scam data from the Payment Systems Regulator shows that in 2023, Facebook was the platform most likely to be used for purchase scams.
Big car brokers such as Carfile and Drive The Deal enable you to search their dealer networks, but don't handle the actual sales. If you want to do the whole purchase online, you can choose from online car showrooms such as Carwow, Cinch or Sytner Select (formerly Carshop), car supermarkets such as Motorpoint, and traditional dealerships such as Arnold Clark or Lookers Click&Drive.
Arnold Clark is typical of the big car sellers. You can search its entire UK stock of new and used cars and buy online, as well as trade in your existing car, arrange finance and book home delivery (where available) or collection from a nearby collection point.
With used cars you can reserve a specific car for a refundable deposit of £99 and then get a personalised video or a live video call so that you can get a good look at it and ask questions.
Some cars aren't honest. High mileage cars can be clocked to report far fewer miles, number plates can be cloned to disguise a stolen or written-off vehicle, and some sellers conceal serious problems.
If you're looking for older, more affordable cars the big-name dealers don't stock, or are buying privately, then you need to be especially careful. Be very wary of listings with poor quality photos that don't let you see the car in detail, and be extremely wary of any seller that tries to rush you into making a purchase.
What Car magazine says it sees lots of car scams, including entirely fake car websites. It's really important to check the credentials of any website, and to look for online reviews of it. And be especially wary of people advertising cars on social media: many are fraudulent and will demand deposits before disappearing.
There's a dedicated Facebook vehicle scam alerts group with examples of many such scams. The RAC provides helpful tips for online car buyers, and the most important one is that you should trust your gut: if something feels wrong or too good to be true, it probably is.
Before committing to an online car purchase, there are several checks that can help protect your investment:
When buying a car online, you can protect yourself with these payment practices:
"It’s important that dealerships provide the necessary reassurances, such as high-quality photos and videos, warranties and return guarantees," James Hosking says. The AA found that 44% of online buyers were reassured by dealers offering warranties, and that warranties mattered even more to buyers than detailed inspections or flexible return policies.
All new cars have a manufacturer's warranty, which can be transferred to a new owner until it expires. Three to five years is standard, but some, such as Toyota, will extend that to 10 years if the car is always serviced by an approved main dealer.
Many car sites will offer their own warranty or a third party one. The offers may vary. For example, warranties for cars bought through the Heycar website are a minimum of 30 days for sales via a "trusted dealer partner" but are at least three times longer if you're buying directly from Heycar itself.
Like many dealers, Motorpoint can sell you an extended warranty (its standard warranty is three months) with breakdown cover and an MOT test guarantee. Prices start at £349 for a year to £1,099 for a four-year warranty on a car valued over £10,000. Warranties are also available from independent third-party providers.
Warranties don't usually cover "consumable" items such as brakes, batteries or clutches, and they'll typically mandate regular servicing in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines. Always check the small print: many have maximum pay outs or limits on what they'll cover.
If you're buying from a car dealership or car supermarket, you'll often be able to part exchange your existing car. If the website is an advertising platform such as Auto Trader you can get an estimated trade-in value and ask the dealer if they'll match it. Alternatively, you could sell your car to a dealer through a third-party site such as Motorway.
Be aware that when a website gives you a valuation, it's only an estimate. If the would-be buyer decides that it's in poorer condition than expected, or you can't provide evidence of regular servicing, they'll usually revise their offer downwards, sometimes drastically so.
Most large retailers offer home delivery within mainland UK. Delivery timeframes can vary, so find out what to expect. Don’t forget to factor in any delivery costs to the purchase price – and to find out what the return costs will be if you need to return it.
Make sure you inspect the car when it arrives, or when you collect it if you’re picking it up. Try to ensure you can do this in good lighting and with enough time to do it properly. Never sign for the vehicle until you've completed a thorough inspection.
Document any damage immediately with photos. Don’t forget to also check that registration documents and all keys are present.
The Distance Selling Regulations give you 14 days from delivery to reject a vehicle for any reason and receive a full refund.
The Consumer Rights Act (CRA) says that a car must be fit for purpose, as described, and in acceptable quality for its age and miles – although the Act doesn't apply to private sales or auctions.
Your right to a full refund for a faulty car ends after 30 days, but you can still ask for compensation, repair or a replacement vehicle after that deadline if you can prove that the problem was present on delivery.
However, while the CRA gives you the right to reject a faulty vehicle, the dealer may not agree; if that’s the case you may need to involve the Motor Ombudsman service or even take the retailer to court.
| Aspect | Online purchase | Traditional dealership |
|---|---|---|
|
Price |
Often lower due to reduced overheads |
May have room for negotiation |
|
Choice |
Nationwide selection |
Limited to local stock |
|
Convenience |
Shop from home |
Requires travel to viewings |
|
Test drive |
Virtual tours only |
Full test drive available |
|
Inspection |
Limited to photos/videos |
Hands-on inspection possible |
|
Delivery |
Home delivery available |
Collection only |
|
Paperwork |
Digital process |
In-person process |
|
Negotiation |
Usually fixed price |
Face-to-face haggling possible |
|
Returns |
14-day cooling off period |
Varies by dealer |
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