Used car - private seller with dealer plate? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

TheSutterDynasty · 09-29-2019, 01:08 PM

Hey CP,

I've read through some old used car threads that have been very helpful in my search.

However I can't find an answer to this. The private (kijiji) seller has M##### plate which supposedly is a dealership plate? How would a private seller have a dealer plate?

I haven't done a carfax yet but I assume this might shed some light on it too.

Also, does rebuilt status affect insurance rates?

zamler · 09-29-2019, 01:11 PM

Don't buy a rebuild status unless you can see the specific invoice detailing the repairs made. Also google the VIN it's not as good as a paid report but sometimes doing that will show the car being listed for sale in many places over the months. Meaning they can't sell the car.

I don't know how a private seller would have a dealer plate, if it was me I'd run away.

transplant99 · 09-29-2019, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

Hey CP,

I've read through some old used car threads that have been very helpful in my search.

However I can't find an answer to this. The private (kijiji) seller has M##### plate which supposedly is a dealership plate? How would a private seller have a dealer plate?

I haven't done a carfax yet but I assume this might shed some light on it too.

Also, does rebuilt status affect insurance rates?

Dont know about now, but anyone used to be able to get a dealer plate and guys that "flipped" cars often did.

It allows for a blanket insurance/registration coverage and allows test drives etc without having to get new registration every time he buys/sells a new vehicle.

I would ask him where he purchased this car and get it checked out as these vehicles are often obtained at auction and auction cars can be very sketchy at times.

Ducay · 09-29-2019, 01:22 PM

I sold my car 4 years ago to a guy who flipped used cars and had a dealer plate. He also worked at the BMW dealership (used side), so he may have procured it/borrowed it from there.

So I wouldn't worry about the dealer plate; I'd be more concerned if its a rebuild. Unless you're getting huge savings off the normal price for the car, I'd avoid a rebuild like the plague. Sure they "can" be fine and well done, but unless you're saving 40%+, not worth the risk.

TheSutterDynasty · 09-29-2019, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zamler

Don't buy a rebuild status unless you can see the specific invoice detailing the repairs made. Also google the VIN it's not as good as a paid report but sometimes doing that will show the car being listed for sale in many places over the months. Meaning they can't sell the car.

I don't know how a private seller would have a dealer plate, if it was me I'd run away.

The problem is that they told me they bought it with a rebuilt status so wouldn't have access to the invoice.

Apparently he bought it from his work (he is ESL so some may have been lost in translation)? Which made it sound it was a commercial vehicle at some point OR he just bought it from someone at work?

The fact that it's a 2016 and they are the second owner already trying to sell it bothers me too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ducay

I sold my car 4 years ago to a guy who flipped used cars and had a dealer plate. He also worked at the BMW dealership (used side), so he may have procured it/borrowed it from there.

So I wouldn't worry about the dealer plate; I'd be more concerned if its a rebuild. Unless you're getting huge savings off the normal price for the car, I'd avoid a rebuild like the plague. Sure they "can" be fine and well done, but unless you're saving 40%+, not worth the risk.

Thanks for the info. It would be about a 20% savings. Getting some flags on it though so now I'm not so sure.

zamler · 09-29-2019, 01:27 PM

How much is the car worth? My advice is unless this is rare/hard to find vehicle don't buy it, get one without a rebuild status and not from a guy that may or may not be flipping cars.

Hevishot · 09-29-2019, 01:33 PM

Dont buy rebuilt status vehicles if you do not know what was the extent of damage or who repaired it. Run away and run fast. I have seen vehicles with severe structural damage put back together with bumper repair material. The discount on the price of the vehicle is not worth the headaches when you start to have issues later on.

TheSutterDynasty · 09-29-2019, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hevishot

Dont buy rebuilt status vehicles if you do not know what was the extent of damage or who repaired it. Run away and run fast. I have seen vehicles with severe structural damage put back together with bumper repair material. The discount in the price of the vehicle is not worth the headaches when you start to have issues later on.

Seeing this answer more and more as I'm googling.

He said it was cosmetic damage on the passenger door that insurance had repaired; but again this was the owner previous to them so I don't think I'd have a way to verify anything.

Fuzz · 09-29-2019, 01:40 PM

I don't think you get rebuilt status for cosmetic damage on a door. So now he is lying about it, too.

Hevishot · 09-29-2019, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

Seeing this answer more and more as I'm googling.

He said it was cosmetic damage on the passenger door that insurance had repaired; but again this was the owner previous to them so I don't think I'd have a way to verify anything.

Hes full of it. If insurance repaired it the vehicle would not be branded salvage. Likely it was hit on the door and had structural damage and insurance totaled it. They bought it back from impact and Billy Bob rebuilt it using whatever parts they could find for cheap.

afc wimbledon · 09-29-2019, 01:57 PM

Expensive cars often hit the rebuild limit on a minor repair, I has a Merc SL 500 and a wing dent cost so much it counted as a rebuild.

My concern though would be the combination of Private sale and dealer plate, he's a curber, buying cars and patching them up and selling them on, if the car is really cheap and you accept you will have to spend a chunk of change on it probably quickly and it will have no resale value then go ahead.

TheSutterDynasty · 09-29-2019, 02:29 PM

Thanks for all the great answers. He had also his own inspection done which I found a little sketchy too (I would have called the place to ask for details if we were going to follow up with him).

So it sounds like a good requirement to have is first time buyer with no accidents/damage. Luckily there are enough of these models out there that we can afford to be picky.

DownhillGoat · 09-29-2019, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

So it sounds like a good requirement to have is first time buyer with no accidents/damage.

Personally I wouldn’t be too concerned if it’s a single-owner if there’s good maintenance records - but definitely no accidents/damage.

Snuffleupagus · 09-29-2019, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

How would a private seller have a dealer plate?

He could be one of those auction rats and has no real idea of what he's selling.

browna · 09-29-2019, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

Thanks for all the great answers. He had also his own inspection done which I found a little sketchy too (I would have called the place to ask for details if we were going to follow up with him).

So it sounds like a good requirement to have is first time buyer with no accidents/damage. Luckily there are enough of these models out there that we can afford to be picky.

A guy who’s got enough access to get a dealer plate also has access to a guy who can provide an dubious and vague inspection report.