Steps if you want to buy a car with outstanding finance

Purchasing a Car with Outstanding Finance on it

It shouldn’t be a huge surprise that around 86.5% of new cars purchased privately are done so with some type of financing, whether its bank loans or hire purchases: Stats recorded by https://uk.reuters.com

What may be a surprise is the fact that a financed car cannot be legally sold until the debt is paid in full. Even the smallest amount, such as £50, prevent a legal, binding private sale. This is illegal, whether you are or are not aware of the debt owed.

You need an outstanding finance check via this database to uncover possible finance issues.

If you decide to purchase through the dealership, the situation changes, thanks to dealer/ lender arrangements and Stockings Loans.

Does a Car Have Finance Outstanding?

If you are considering buying a car on outstanding finance privately, it is essential you check car finance online to learn if the car has money owed. In such cases, you need the items listed below in order to buy the car legally:

• The name of the finance company
• Type of financing
• Finance agreement number
• Finance company contact information

If the current owner offers you their own car history check, it’s okay to look at it, but you’ll still want to run your own. You never know when a seller may try to show you an outdated report.

Purchasing a Car with Finance Outstanding

Begin with a CarVeto vehicle check. If a finance marker is uncovered, you will be provided with the information needed to be the car safely. Here are the steps:

• First, you need to determine the exact amount owed. This is referred to as the settlement figure.
• Second, contact the finance company and make them aware of your plans to purchase the car. Ask them how much it would cost to settle the car, allowing you to legally purchase it. Also, ask about any terms, policies, procedures, and conditions you will need to follow.

• Be aware that most finance companies do require that the full amount owed be paid by the person named in the finance agreement.  Occasionally, you may find a company that will allow you to pay the finance outstanding and the rest of the purchase price to the seller. This is entirely up to the lender.Use the following link for information about stocking loan definitions and the steps needed when buying a car from a dealership with money owning form a lending company.

So, what happens if the selling price is less than what is owed on the car?

Negative Equity Car Finance

This is the term used to explain the situation when the car’s market value (or selling price) is lower than the amount owed on it.

For example, if a car has a selling price of £8000, but outstanding finance of £10000, the lender must be paid the full £1000. In this case, the buyer would directly pay the lender £8000 and the seller would directly pay the additional £2000 to the lender.

Watch this explainer video on handling outstanding finance correctly:

 Finance Settlement Letter

Regardless of who pays off the finance (you or the seller), the finance company will need to provide you with a settlement letter. This letter should include the car details and the fact that the car has no further interest owed on it. You should put this letter in a safe place just in case you were to need it in the future.