Buying a car???

Hello,

Moving to Oxford in Feb. and recently found out that my only option was to buy a used car as leasing is not possible without citizenship...is this true? If so what is the best way to purchase a car?

Please help!

Colin

I'm not sure if leasing is done over here... i've certainly never known anyone who has done it.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'what is the best way to purchase a car', but i've bought several cars since i have been here and have usually just found the cars by looking around car lots.   Salesman comes out, you talk, you buy the car.  What i found annoying initially is that they don't let you drive the car off the lot that day.... you always have to come back to pick it up several days later. 

My current car, i actually found on AutoTrader.co.uk, cos i was looking for something specific.    But it worked much the same way.  I phoned the dealer, said i'd seen the car online and do they still have it.... made an appointment to come look at it, took it for a test drive, discussed price, agreed sale, and then came back a week later to pick it up.

i'm here on a work permit, don't have citizenship.  i have a company car that is leased.  i am the named driver.  not sure if the company actually leases.

i would be really surprised if there was a rule about leasing and citizneship.  where'd you hear this from? curious.

I went to an Audi dealership in Oxford and the salesman said the leasing/new car buying criteria was a UK driving License and a citizenship among other things. Since i have neither, he told me my only bet was to purchase a used car. I have looked at Autotrader.co.uk and that is my number one option but didnt know if anyone had found a way to lease a car through a dealership or what not.

Thanks for your help guys,

Colin

The bit about citizenship is bollocks, im sure.
But i reckon you would need a full UK licence.

Leasing is done all the time in the UK.  Less often for private individuals than for businesses, but still I know quite a few people who lease their personal cars.  Our friends who direct a charity found it was easier to budget if they had one fee for vehicle costs, no surprise maintenance costs.

I've never heard of any official restrictions in this respect.  Maybe the particular dealer you went to, or his finance company makes such a stipulation.

I assume this is a lease as in just a long-term rental, not what would be called a "hire purchase" arrangement here (i.e. buying on an installment plan).    Not that there are any restrictions I'm aware of on that either, beyond whatever the finance company might have as its policy.

Awesome i'll run with that....how difficult is it to get a full UK license? is there a website with that info?

Thanks again

Here you go... good luck.

http://www.dvla.gov.uk/

if you're here for greater than 1 year, you'll need to get a UK license.