Selling car abroad

[douggym]

Hi, I am selling my car to a Dutch person who called me after seeing my 'car for sale' advert. He said he wants the chassis number so that he can insure it in his own country. Is this usual or should I 'be careful' or suspicious about the request. He also said he wants my bank details so he can transfer money for the car but I will ask for cash.

[Euroanchor]

It's not unusual for someone from out of the country to buy a UK registered car, however, you should exercise caution. Your bank account should have an iban number, this is to allow transactions from foreign sources. You only need to give them this number. I dont think they will pay cash, but if you can get it, then insist that they have it converted to sterling or you may lose out on the exchange rate.
Regarding the chassis number, most european countries are covered by the 5th directive, this means that they can obtain insurance cover for a vehicle not registered in their country of origin for the purpose of transporting it back home (it's a complicated law, so let's not go too deep), so him asking for that is not uncommon.
Just remember to exercise common sense, make sure you have full payment before you release the car, if in doubt, walk away from the deal, better to lose a sale than lose the car.

[douggym]

Thank you Euroanchor.
I'm just being cautious.

[QueenOfAmber]

I would be cautious, why does he want to know this?.... :)

[douggym]

He is coming to UK next week to collect the car and wants to be sure the cheque/money transfer is cleared so he can take the car away.
I don't know the man or how dealing with tranfering money works having never sold or bought anything direct abroad.

[Hymie]

This con is only worth doing if you are selling a prestige car worth �10k or more. The way it works is that the money paid into your account from a bogus/fraudulent account. Once you are notified that the money is in your account, you send off the car � sometime later your bank notifies you that the money was transferred from a bogus account and take the money back.

The scammers normally agree to pay you the shipping fees up front, thereby gaining your car for free, shipped at your expense.

[Hymie]

Forgot to add � once you insist on cash payment, the buyer will loose interest in your car.