buying a car in Glasgow

Hi everyone! This is my first post although I have been reading a lot of yours for the last month or so. Let me say, THANK YOU, you all have already helped me more than you'll ever know!!

My husband and I are moving to Scotland (more specifically, the Isle of Lewis) in less than a month. We want to fly into Glasgow, buy a car, drive to Ullapool, and board the ferry to Stornoway. Does that sound crazy to you??

We are just a little worried about how we'd find and pay for a car before we actually fly into Glasgow. Has anyone done this before?? We were thinking, if necessary, we could stay for a couple of days in Glasgow and find a car then, but we'd really just like to get it done before we arrive. Do you think this is even possible? Is it just way too risky??

Opinions? Experiences? Thank you in advance!

Hi everyone! This is my first post although I have been reading a lot of yours for the last month or so. Let me say, THANK YOU, you all have already helped me more than you'll ever know!!

My husband and I are moving to Scotland (more specifically, the Isle of Lewis) in less than a month. We want to fly into Glasgow, buy a car, drive to Ullapool, and board the ferry to Stornoway. Does that sound crazy to you??

Its possible....but you have given too little info for people tobe able to judge and help. E.g Are you moving to settle or just as visitors? if visitors hiring a car is perhaps better.

We are just a little worried about how we'd find and pay for a car before we actually fly into Glasgow. Has anyone done this before?? Can be done. We were thinking, if necessary, we could stay for a couple of days in Glasgow and find a car then, but we'd really just like to get it done before we arrive. Do you think this is even possible? Is it just way too risky??

Can it be done ? yes. is it risky? yes could be...you are buying something you haven't physically seen or test driven..
-Do you know what type you want to buy? new/second hand. Whats your budget....etc
-Funnily, the impression i get from your question is like teenagers wanting to run away from home and go on a holiday.
-Perhaps you are really serious...Its possible

Yes, we are moving to the Isle of Lewis for at least a few years, so we'd like to have a vehicle of our own.

I guess we should just plan on staying in Glasgow for a couple of days to find a car...I don't know.

Sure, it is possible. But wouldnt it be good for you to settle abit then buy a car, rather than simlpy barging in and getting one in two days of landing. In any case lots of documents would be required for you to be able to buy a car. Things such as:
-your UK address
-Drivers Licence (presuming you have one)
For more on how to own a car here go here: http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers.asp


ETA: this link is more useful for owning a vehicle: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSellingAVehicle/index.htm

Congrats on the move!  Hope you'll enjoy Lewis.  You'll definitely need a car.

If you are planning to buy a car in Glasgow and then drive it out to Lewis (which, for the record, doesn't sound crazy to me, nor to my bf who lives in S. Uist), you should look into booking your ferry ticket well in advance.  Like, 3-4 weeks in advance.  So, pretty much now.   They've been filling up like crazy.

Good luck.

I guess we should just plan on staying in Glasgow for a couple of days to find a car...I don't know.

It's not a great hardship, is it?!  
Glasgow's a fantastic place.  Have you been here before, on previous visits?

-Funnily, the impression i get from your question is like teenagers wanting to run away from home and go on a holiday.
-Perhaps you are really serious...Its possible

What is wrong with you?!

What is wrong with you?!

Q-G.. ...nevermind..... 

It was for the OP. There are noumerous sources from which you could buy a car, ranging from, private dealerships to manufacturer's own dealerships. There is also the second hand car market. A good source to look at would be autotrader (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/).
You may be interested in considering the following:
-What type?: saloon, hatchback, coupe, convertible
-Make/model of car you would like. BMW..
-The engine size- Affects insurance and tax rates. See here for mone on this:http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTaxYourVehicle/DG_172916

PS: To the OP, please pm me if you took any offence with the post QG is alluding to thanks  .

No, staying in Glasgow would definitely not be a hardship! Neither of us have been there before, but it looks gorgeous.

I suppose I did not give enough details? We would like to buy a used car. As to the make and model of the car, we don't really care, we just wanted something to get us around, nothing fancy. My question wasn't really so much about certain types of cars and the legalities of owning them, it was more about if anyone has successfully purchased a car in the UK before actually arriving there...then, if they were able to make the journey from Glasgow to Ullapool without any major difficulty and board the ferry to Stornoway. We have been told by our contact in Stornoway that there is a far greater selection in Glasgow (obviously) and it would be better if we could secure a car there. Thank you all for your advice, didn't know the ferry filled up this far in advance so that is a good bit of info!!

As far as teenagers running away from home on holiday...we are actually moving there because we have offers of employment. It is a wonderful opportunity, wouldn't you agree?

No, staying in Glasgow would definitely not be a hardship! Neither of us have been there before, but it looks gorgeous.  

You'll like it!

My question wasn't really so much about certain types of cars and the legalities of owning them, it was more about if anyone has successfully purchased a car in the UK before actually arriving there...then, if they were able to make the journey from Glasgow to Ullapool without any major difficulty and board the ferry to Stornoway.

I think that *most* of us understood that! 

I suppose I did not give enough details? We would like to buy a used car....

Yes hence the jest.So after all its serious stuff, not holiday.

As far as teenagers running away from home on holiday...we are actually moving there because we have offers of employment. It is a wonderful opportunity, wouldn't you agree?

. Having an offer of employment before moving is great. It certainly makes things alot easier for you before moving, getting a car i'd like to think would be considerably easier.

I have not bought a car before arriving, so to speak. But i'd imagine that this would be possible. However, you would be better off buying it when you are here, as you do have the option of viewing/test driving the car. So overall it should be possible to buy one before arriving.

Well I have no advice on the buying a car part, but it is absolutely stunning drive up to Ullapool and I'm really jealous that you get to go live on the Isle of Lewis!  

I think buying a car in Glasgow (either before you move or after you've settled a bit) would be a great option.  Also, you can always come to Inverness. The options in Inverness (pretends its a city- which compared to Stornoway is, hahah ) aren't as great as Glasgow - but a quicker drive (I think??? never done Ullapool to Glasgow) from Ullapool if you decide to come off the island.