Can you help with buying a MINI with outstanding finance?

Looking at at MINI One and the seller is emigrating back out of the country with some finance on her car I believe. How do I protect myself if I bought it off her and how do I ensure finance on the car is cleared?

Karen Greer (Dublin )

Aug 2014 Filed under: finance

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Expert answer

Hi Karen,

It depends. If you are buying the car after she says she has paid off the finance, then a history check from the likes of Cartell.ie will flag up if there is any outstanding finance to be paid. If you're buying it and she's promising to pay off the finance afterwards, then it's simply down to trust. The safest thing is probably to draw up a written document signed by the both of you (preferably with a witness signing as well) in which she undertakes to pay off the remaining finance on the car. 

If you have any doubts at all then walk away.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe