How to Buy High-End Cars from the UK

Since the vote on Brexit in May 2016, the pound sterling has weakened against most currencies. It has helped the British economy by making its exports more attractive, and if you are thinking about starting or enlarging your car collection, it is the perfect time to do so.

To source your next luxury car, there is a range of options.

If you want to buy new

If you have decided to buy a new car, your best bet is to go through car dealers specialising in luxury cars or supercars. The advantage is that they will stock vehicles from all the upmarket brands so if you are not set on a specific model, it will give you the opportunity to look at a variety of cars in one place. If you already know which one you want to buy, a dealership specialising in that specific make is your best bet.

To find them, a simple search online will return plenty of choices.

Remember that high-end cars may attract a luxury tax when you import them into Australia.

How to buy second-hand luxury cars

If you are happy with a second-hand car, your options widen. Most car dealerships sell both brand new and pre-owned vehicles so the same addresses as for new cars will work.

You can also try classifieds which advertise vehicles for sale from businesses as well as individuals. www.carandclassic.co.uk, for example, lists a vast range of vehicles for sale. Autotrader (www.autotrader.co.uk) is one of the biggest websites for car sales in the UK, and you can skip everyday cars by searching for specific makes and models if you already have some idea as to what you are looking for. The advantage of using that kind of website is that you will have access to both private and trade deals and you will also find out about dealers that may not have made it on the first few pages of a Google search but have nevertheless good cars to offer.

Buying classic cars at auction

Auctions are a good source for all sorts of classic cars, from recent ones to very old ladies. Auctions might once have been a great way to find bargains, but it no longer is true as they have been breaking records in sales figures in the recent past. They are still worth attending as they can include vehicles that are not often up for sale.

Artcurial (http://www.artcurial.com) has regular car auctions – among other things - and you can check their auction schedule as well as request to bid online.

Word-famous Sotheby’s need no introduction. Their automobile department (http://www.sothebys.com/en/departments/automobiles.html) offers an eclectic range of vehicles depending on the auction, from Hot Rods from the 1930s to Tommy Hilfiger’s Ferrari Enzo.

Buying a car at an auction can be very exciting, but it goes fast, very fast, so you need to be prepared.

Most auction websites will have description of the vehicles available online or on request for you to consult from the other end of the earth. It is essential that you research the vehicle or vehicles you are potentially interested in so that you can determine its approximate value and set yourself a budget

While you can bid online, we would always advise you not to. It is crucial to be able to inspect the vehicle you want to bid on to ascertain that it really is what you are looking for in terms of aesthetics or mechanical state. If it is your first auction, arrive early in the room so that you can get used to the process and the sometimes frantic pace.

You may be asked to register before you can bid and to leave a deposit.

Last, but perhaps the most important point: fix the maximum figure you are willing to bid and stick to it, no matter what. It is only too easy to get caught up in the atmosphere and spend too much.

Special cases

a) Purchasing seized vehicles at auction

The idea that you could find high-end cars in seized vehicle auctions may come as a surprise but it is definitely a channel to keep an eye on. Vehicles may have been seized by bailiffs as a way to raise money to honour a debt and you will of course find rust buckets, but you will also come across real finds that you can get for a bargain.

Recently, for example, a stunning collection of sixteen Ferraris, Rolls-Royces and Porsches with very low mileage belonging to a London-based Middle Eastern sheikh were auctioned off after being seized to settle a financial dispute. They included some very rare vehicles which were snapped up with a very attractive discount.

The police and the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) regularly run auctions with vehicles that were seized for various reasons, and they tend to be high-performance, luxury cars in perfectly good state so keep your eyes peeled.

It may also be that an owner bought their car on credit and can no longer afford the repayments. These vehicles are usually well-looked after and put on sale at a much lower price than they are really worth.

b) Companies and governmental bodies selling off obsolete fleet

Large companies often have contracts with car manufacturers to purchase all the vehicles they need in one place. Just like with phone contracts, they may have an agreement whereas cars are replaced regularly to make sure they never break down when the CEO uses them. You may therefore find such vehicles with all the luxury you can dream of, auctioned off.

Likewise, if you think of the police as driving run-down vehicles, you would be wrong! To be able to catch criminals, you need cars that can pack a punch and BMW or Mercedes are common in the police fleet.

If you are looking for a shipping company to import your car from the UK to Australia, Contact McCullough on +64 09 309 1163 send us an email or request a quote online.