Awkward Negotiations for Car

celiotte on 30/08/2015 - 03:37
Last edited 30/08/2015 - 14:09

Hi,

As the title says…

After viewing the car, I was quite interested and called the owner a day after wanting to confirm additional details such as roadworthy/transfer costs and negotiate a price.

The owner refused to pay for any costs (I was told it is common for the seller to pay for the roadworthy certificate at least?) and was fairly rude and I did not manage to get to negotiating a price.

I am still quite interested in the car and also keen to get a car so I'm thinking of throwing out a drive away offer to the owner regardless of the awkward call.

I'm wondering if its too rude to send a text with an offer (I really do not feel like calling the owner again) and trying to cut the price by approximately 1/10 of the advertised price (is this too much?)

Additional costs for me
1) Apparently I will be paying for the roadworthy cert/transfer of ownership
2) Major 100km service coming up in about 6000km
3) I want to take the car for an inspection as if I were to buy the car, I'd be at least the 4th owner
4) Registration expires in november
5) ACT car, so yes the rwc is mandatory when the car is transferred to another owner (this car is more than 6 years old)

Automotive

Comments

  • UncommonName on 30/08/2015 - 05:18
    +11

    There is plenty of fish (car) in the sea…

  • ozhunter on 30/08/2015 - 05:52
    +5

    I'm assuming this is a private sale

    The owner refused to pay for any costs

    I didn't pay for anything when I sold my car and wouldn't have if the guy asked me too.

    Additional costs for me
    1) Apparently I will be paying for the roadworthy cert/transfer of ownership
    2) Major 100km service coming up in about 6000km
    3) I want to take the car for an inspection as if I were to buy the car, I'd be at least the 4th owner
    4) Registration expires in november

    1) The buyer does pay for transfer of ownership. If you want a roadworthy certificate(and he allows the car to be inspected), then you should pay for it.
    2) He likely took that into consideration when advertising the price of the car
    3) That's up to him if wants to allow you
    4) So?

    trying to cut the price by approximately 1/10 of the advertised price (is this too much?)

    Yes, he may just say agree, so I'd say it's worth a shot. It's not a dealership, sellers usually put the price they want to sell at.

  • Geewhizz on 30/08/2015 - 05:57
    +5

    Is it compulsory in your state to have a RWC prior to selling a vehicle? If so, that makes it his responsibility.

    • [Deactivated] on 30/08/2015 - 12:10
      +5

      It is mandatory in Victoria, that if you are selling a registered car that you must provide a roadworthy certificate at the time of sale.

      This is not the responsibility of the buyer.

      If you intend on selling a car without a roadworthy certificate, you must sell the car unregistered, remove the plates and surrender them to VicRoads.

      The buyer, however, is responsible for the fees associated with the transfer of ownership and also any stamp duty (which is generally collected at the same time as the transfer of ownership fees, as both need to be filled out on the same form IIRC).

      Again, this advice is for Victoria only.

  • verio on 30/08/2015 - 08:01
    +2

    Roadworthy certificate can mandatory depending on the state you live in. The sellers pays for it in QLD, google the other states.

    Everything else should be paid by you, the buyer. It is up to the seller if he wants to negotiate the price.

    If you believe that he is rude without any grounds, then just forget about that car.

  • [Deactivated] on 30/08/2015 - 08:07

    In the ACT (as per OP's profile state) the seller only has to provide the current registration certificate, not an inspection report. It's the new owner's responsibility to transfer the registration and pay the associated costs.

  • Austin 316 on 30/08/2015 - 09:44
    +1

    I just bought a used car in VIC. Literally a couple of days ago. According to the rules, the seller has to provide a RWC which is no older than 30 days so I will say if he is not happy to provide it, be wary of buying the car.

    I didn't ask him to pay any other costs as legally buyer has to pay stamp duty (4.2%) and transfer fees. And I managed to negotiate $3500 of he price.

  • oscargamer on 30/08/2015 - 09:59
    +5

    walk away and don't look back

    many many many more cars out there

  • try2bhelpful on 30/08/2015 - 10:44
    +1

    I agree with the "walk away" comment. Find an owner that is happy to work with you.

  • Cheeper on 30/08/2015 - 10:53

    If you have inspected the car and it IS what you want??? (sure you are not a time waster????) then "in person" / face to face… offer what you want to pay for it and at the same time explain how you will pay for it.. ie: cash now, bank cheque today, etc… If they reject your offer then go find another car.

    It looks like this is your first ever major purchase.. do you have friends/workmates/family that you could talk with about this? Texting the seller is usually an indicator of a time waster and I personally ignore them. If not in person then at least a phone call is the most courteous way to approach a seller…

    Buying from a private seller is a very different process to buying from a dealer.

    OP is in Canberra by the looks of it??

    • celiotte on 30/08/2015 - 14:11
      +1

      Yes it is what I want and yes it is my first major purchase and I have been getting advice/help from my parents slowly over text/phone.

      Has been quite the difficult process…

      • Cheeper on 31/08/2015 - 02:14

        Ok… I assumed that. Seeing as it is your first car purchase then don't fall for the usual trap in those circumstances… thinking you will not find another car as good as the one you have your heart set on…
        There is a glut of used cars these days so a better car and deal is always around the corner so don't panic or feel obligated. Rushing will only guarantee disappointment.
        Good luck with your task. Fire back with any questions… best to ask now than after the event.. :-)

        • celiotte on 31/08/2015 - 02:21

          Actually,

          I have two questions !

          1) This car is still in my head, I have decided I will not call/arrange a meetup again because of how unpleasant it has been but should I just send a polite text stating my price and the reasons behind it (service coming up, owner isn't paying for anything etc)

          2) What are the associated costs with buying a car inter-state and taking it to my state (From VIC to ACT)

        • Cheeper on 31/08/2015 - 14:29

          @kennethmzh:
          If you are sure that you want that car and you have definitely looked around enough to be sure it is good value then call and ask if you could come to see them. Don't go saying you want a discount because of xyz & abc…., that is pure beginner negotiation tactics.
          Just say that you do want to buy the car and you want to make your offer. If they take your offer all is good. Do not pay 1c until you have the signed rego papers and keys.

          If they say no then be polite and leave your contact details in case they change their mind.

          If you are hesitant to call them again then you must have really pestered them?? Need to get your act together.

          If you want to learn a lot more then get onto the auto forum in whirlpool and spend a few hours reading. It will become very valuable to you.

          As for how to t/f rego.. look up your rego office in act and have a read.

          Always have the car inspected if you know nothing about them… don't pretend.
          Always check for outstanding debt against the car.
          Always check that the seller is the owner.
          Always get the seller to sign the buyers portion of the rego paper.
          Get insurance before you drive it home. Very foolish not to do so.

  • tonyjzx on 30/08/2015 - 11:05
    +2

    Yep walk. If there's any uneasiness you know theres more surprises to come

  • jaybmate on 30/08/2015 - 14:32

    Despite everything Vic roads have on their website, you can actually sell a car without RWC (with rego) if you agree to do so with the buyer. But being a buyer I'd definitely not recommend it. I'd highly recommend making the seller get the RWC. I wouldn't dwell on that car too long, look at other options, dont get your heart set on the car or you will likely make a irration decision.

    Source: I sold my car without RWC, WITH rego. Guy didn't end up getting RWC, and therefore didnt hand in transfer papers. I had a copy of them so I sent them in to Vicroads after 2 weeks, they accepted them, to transfer the car out of my name. Had no problems since.

    • lgacb08 on 30/08/2015 - 15:37

      How did you know the buyer didn't get a RWC for it, just because you assume your name got transferred out of the car, didn't mean buyer can get it registered under his name, unless he's a dealer, in which case he'll have to sort out RWC anyway when selling it to end user.

      • jaybmate on 30/08/2015 - 15:56

        Young guy didn't look like he was going to, didn't know what he was doing, bought it on impulse, so I expected it would happen. And so when it went past the date for rego renewal I looked the car up on vic roads website, and it said rego was expired.

    • KaTst3R on 30/08/2015 - 15:56
      +1

      In order for the transfer to be successful and rego to be valid, RWC has to be done either before the transfer or within 14 days (or 30 days can't remember) after the transfer. Or else rego is cancelled.

      Cost of RWC can be paid by either party but usually paid by seller provided the buyer pays a deposit

      • jaybmate on 30/08/2015 - 16:02

        The transfer papers (with rwc) are meant to be sent in within 14 days of the car being sold. I called up vic roads to see if the guy had sent in the forms to tranfer the name. He hadn't, as it was still in my name. So I sent in the the copy of the form myself, along with a photocopy of agreement(of buying getting rwc) / reciept of sale. Then the car was transferred from my name to his. With rego still.

  • plmko on 30/08/2015 - 16:23
    +2

    I'd be at least the 4th owner

    And no RWC, here's an easy tip: avoid.

  • PissLUR on 30/08/2015 - 16:35

    Please inspect the Car before negotiating.

  • oscargamer on 30/08/2015 - 16:56
    +2

    why are you still asking?

    start walking….

    what's the link to the car? i'll find you a better one…

  • PurpleHippo on 30/08/2015 - 19:50

    Tell the seller how much you are prepared to offer, and if he says no, look elsewhere.
    When I bought my car, the seller wanted $15k, and I offered $12.5k on the road (ie including all transferrable costs and RWC, etc), so in other words, $12k cash. Seller said no, which is fine, and I walked away. A month later, got a call back asking if I wanted the car for what I offered. He wasn't very pleased about having to settle for my offer, but he needed to sell, and I didn't necessarily need to buy from him.

    Unless you are after something in particular, which is both rare and sought after, you hold all the advantage.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join