Buying a used car, quickly

January 23, 2020 9:37 AM

Tomorrow I want to buy a used car, from a private seller, in a city a few hours from my home (both cities are in Ontario, Canada). What do I need to bring, and do?

Inspection:
I'd like to meet the seller at a dealership to get the car inspected. I'll pay for the inspection (predicting about $200) and the seller can keep that paperwork if for some reason I choose not to buy the car- but I'll likely buy it.

The Car:
2012 Honda Fit with 180,000 km. Single owner, clean title, safety certification, full maintenance records, and zero accidents. $6000. I believe the ad is honest and the seller's reason for selling is credible. If so... this is a great deal, right?

Plates:
I guess the seller keeps their own license plates... I actually have one plate from my former car. It's still registered to me with valid sticker (my car, different make and colour, was totalled & reported as such last week). Can I use my old plate for the 2 hour drive home? Or do I need to buy new plates in that city before I come home? If so, what do I need to bring?

Documents:
What do I need to bring with me, for the seller and for the plates?

Anything else I should think of? I've never done this before, so no advice is too simple.
Thanks!

posted by nouvelle-personne to Travel & Transportation (5 answers total)

You need insurance on your new vehicle, and you need the permit (green slip) for your vehicle. The plates do move with you as the owner. This is what the Ministry site details:

Before buyers can put their own plates on their new vehicle, they must have:

Their licence plates validated
The vehicle portion of the permit issued for the vehicle
Their own licence-plate number recorded on the plate portion of the vehicle permit
A valid safety standards certificate
The minimum insurance required under the Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act
posted by warriorqueen at 9:58 AM on January 23, 2020

You don't need to bring much: mostly you need to figure out how everyone will be happy with payment. The gold standard is a certified check - a check you buy (~$10-$20) from your bank where the bank takes you money and makes the check from its own account to the seller. It doesn't take much time, but it slows things down. Cash also works, but $6000 is getting to the top of range I (and would guess most people) are comfortable with. I would also get a receipt that both of you sign. You can easily find them online or a handwritten note is fine: names; description of car (with VIN); dates; amount and signatures.

Once you get it, then you will have to deal with state registration and insurance. I would call your insurance company first to see how much leeway you have before you are need to send them a check.
posted by rtimmel at 10:38 AM on January 23, 2020 [1 favorite]

When you set up your insurance they'll give you new plates + sticker. Also don't forget either a blank check or direct withdrawal form from your bank.
posted by mannequito at 3:31 PM on January 23, 2020

As well as having it inspected for mechanical faults, take it for a test drive, preferably both on surface streets & freeways!

Does it FEEL right and comfortable? Can you adjust everything you want? Do all the knobs and switches work?
posted by lalochezia at 11:46 AM on January 24, 2020

The seller determines how the funds will be paid. Cashiers cheques/bank cheques are suss these days, last car I sold I got $7k cash for. Buyer set up withdrawal at local branch of his bank, withdrew cash, I counted it, trousered it, and signed car over there and then. You should check with seller what is required, and even then be prepared to find the cash if necessary (a phone call to your bank should be sufficient?).
posted by GeeEmm at 3:39 PM on January 24, 2020