Ex Rental Car?

Question

I have just bought a "56" plate car from a franchised dealer for £11,000. Yesterday the log book arrived from the DVLA saying "congratulations, you are now the registered owner, instead of Hertz UK"

Nobody told me this was an ex rental car before I bought it, and I specifically asked the dealer before purchasing if it had been used as a taxi or private hire, and he told me no.

The car has given me no problems and seems fine, but when I come to sell it, surely a large chunk of its value would have been lost due to it being an ex rental.

Does anyone think I have a case to try and get a refund or some compensation, as I believe that I have been miss sold the car. I have only done 300miles in it.

Thanks, Paul

Answer 1

I don't think you will loose much on re-sale. Thats old-school thought and doesn't relate to modern cars.

At least with Hertz you can be sure it got regular servicing.

Mileage, service history and general condition are what counts really.

If you want to hand back a car that has proved to have no problems that is of course up to you.

The first point of call will be the dealer manager, that'll give you a clue if they are reasonable or not.

If the car is materially what you were told then its unlikley trading standards would want to get involved. They are more interested in trends of many reports rather than individual cases. And of course the log book would have been available before the sale if it really was that important to you, that will likely be thier defence.

You Vs the word of a car saleman - you might win, but it might give you more grief than you want. What happens if they give you a few hundred quid and the car DOES go wrong, who will you turn to then because they will not want to help.

Answer 2

That is a hard one. I am not sure. The fact is that they should have told you. It would be something to talk to them about, maybe talk to the better business bureau. But, you know a company here where I live did the same thing to my mother in law. The car was issue after issue. She talked to them and said she was out of luck.
She had no proof that the salesperson did not tell her about the car being from a rental company before. It sucks. She has paid more in repairs than in payments.
Good luck man, sorry to hear about this.
On a good note. Hertz does take excellent care of their rental cars. But, you know rentals are cars that are beaten by the drivers. Maybe you will get lucky though.

Answer 3

talk to the dealer
check the blue book price for the car
the dealer will possibly swap it for another car in stock
remeber the dealer has done nothing wrong it was up to you to ask if it had been a rental car
rental cars in the UK are typically worth 25% less than a similar private car

Answer 4

Depends what you class as a hire car.

Hertz lease as well as hire.

It could have been used as a company car with one careful driver against a rental car with several hundred.

Answer 5

get the lads in and pop down to this franchise and remind him that ten lads in a transit van can do a lot of damage by the time plod get there, be suprised when you walk away with your money back and a free magic tree and taxdisc holder

Answer 6

do your research BEFORE buying! Dealer has not done anything wrong.....CAVETAT EMPTOR AS THEY SAY IN LATIN(buyer beware)sorry but we all learn the hard way(i lost nearly 7k learning this lesson)also if you don't ask the right questions you wont get the right answers.

Answer 7

I HAVE HAD MANY CUSTOMERS BY VEHICLES THAT WERE RENTALS AND THEY HAVE NOT LOST ANYTHING ON THE RESALE WHEN IT WAS TIME TO SELL.

I BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU BUT AT THE SAME TIME I DON'T THINK THAT THERE IS ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN DO.

Answer 8

u been mugged

go talk to trading standards they are ther best people to deal with it