Is it illegal for trade sellers to pretend that they're private sellers to shift more cars?
What's the legal position over a car advertised as a private sale, but which appears to be from a trader? There's a car advertised on the local Gumtree as a private sale, but on closer inspection the same advertiser has over 50 vehicles up for sale, all allegedly private sales. This seems to be particularly common on Gumtree. I have raised the matter with them, but they don't seem to be interested.
Asked on 5 August 2017 by Will from the Pool
Answered by
Honest John
It's illegal. Trading Standards will prosecute. But a purchaser has the same rights against a trader posing as a private vendor as he does against a bona fide dealer. The trader remains liable for any fault that could have been present or developing in the vehicle on date of sale for six months from the date of sale. Pursuing these scumbags through the courts isn't so easy, though. Even if you get a CCJ and a High Court Sheriff's Order, they may claim the cars belonged to someone else and that they have no assets.
Dear Honest John,
Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:
Please help me choose my next car. I would like it to have:
Similar questions
I'm buying a secondhand Dacia (two year old) from a private seller. He says that it has five years warranty left from an original seven. How can I check that this is true?
My used car was advertised and sold to me as having metallic paint and climate control. Three months on, I've discover that it has neither. I took your advice and requested that the trader compensate me...
Do I have to return deposit if buyer fails to buy car, then asks for deposit back over a year later?
I advertised my Alvis 12/50 on EBay and a multi-millionaire said he wanted my car so we agreed on £36,000, so I finished the auction early on 26-10-14, he was difficult to contact after sale and ended...
Elsewhere on 
