Can I buy a car during the Covid-19 lockdown?

Written By Lawrence Allan

Our guide to buying a new or used car during lockdown
Find out what dealers are doing to keep customers safe
Is buying a car online safe?

Can I buy a car during the coronavirus lockdown?

Dealers may have closed their showrooms to the public but you can still buy a car during the lockdown. In fact, it's never been easier to find a used car online - almost every dealer has a website and many will accept online orders, finance applications and payments.

Many of our listings include a picture gallery, spec sheet, information about the car’s history and - sometimes - a walkaround video of the car, too. You can also take advantage of free delivery, which means you can buy your car remotely and have it delivered directly to your door for no added cost.

What’s more, you may also qualify for a 14-day ‘cooling-off period’ with sales that don’t take place on the forecourt. This means you can get your money back if you are not 100% satisfied with your new wheels. But we’ll get more into that in a moment....

Are car dealers open?

Yes and no. Physical showrooms in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are closed to the public. But many dealers are open for business, offering contactless click & collect or home delivery services.

It's important to note that each part of the UK operates different Coronavirus lockdown rules. This means some dealerships may be closed, so always check your local government website and contact the showroom directly to check their opening hours.

Is buying a car online safe?

Buying online doesn’t impede your consumer rights. In fact, if you buy the car remotely and have it delivered to your door, you may get extra peace of mind from the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 - commonly known as the ‘Distance Selling Regulations’.

The dealer should make it clear if the sale falls under the Distance Selling Regulations - we'd always recommend checking this before you agree to the sale.

If you’ve placed a deposit on a new or used car online or over the phone, rather than in person at the business premises, the Distance Selling Regulations will give you the right to cancel the order within 14 days and receive a full refund of your deposit.

After you've paid for the car in full and accepted delivery, you also have the right to change your mind and reject the car within 14 days and receive a full refund - and you don’t need to give a reason either.

Remember, the Distance Selling Regulations will not apply if you visit the dealer's premises to collect the car, pay the deposit or sign any forms or documentation. The law also gives some dealers the right to make a single one-off remote sale, without the Distance Selling Regulations coming into force. But the dealer must inform you of this in advance of the sale.

In addition to the Distance Selling Regulations, the 2015 Consumer Rights Act gives you the theoretical right to reject the car within 30 days of purchase if any fault is found.

In addition to this, we offer a 10 day money back guarantee on all of our cars.

How can I see a car if I can’t visit the dealer’s showroom?

In many cases, you can view a video of the car, which means you can get up close and personal with the vehicle without leaving the comfort of your home. If you can't find a video, ask the dealer to supply one. Most will be happy to provide a personalised video or a virtual walkaround if you request it.

The majority of our listings already have videos included, though, and you can simply filter by ‘listings with videos’ to only see these options.

What are dealers doing to ensure car buyers remain safe?

Many dealerships are offering click & collect services. This means you buy the car remotely (either online or over the phone) and then collect it from outside of the dealership premises with a Covid secure handover - which includes complete sanitation of the car. If you’d like to do this, let the dealer know when you speak to them.

Many of our trusted dealers are currently offering free home delivery as well. Again, this means you buy the car remotely and then the dealer will arrange delivery, with a contactless Covid secure handover.

Digital signatures and paperwork will likely be sent via email, along with digital payments to issue the deposit or opening balance of the vehicle finance. The vehicle will then be delivered to your door, with the keys cleaned and posted through your letterbox in an envelope.