A car offered on consignment looks like any other dealer listing: photos, a price, a spec sheet. The difference lies elsewhere. The garage sells on behalf of someone else, and that person still controls several decisions that affect you directly. This article takes the buyer's side. It covers what you need to know before you view the car, negotiate and pay.
A consignment car still belongs to a private owner
The owner hands the car over to the garage. The garage presents it, answers enquiries and arranges viewings. Until the sale goes through, the car remains the property of the person who consigned it.
For you, this changes three things:
- you deal with the garage, acting on the owner's behalf, not directly with the owner;
- the final price, the full history and the car's availability depend on someone you may never meet;
- some answers require a back-and-forth between the garage and the owner.
There are two formats. Either the car waits in the showroom, or it stays with its owner until it is sold. The rest of this article covers both cases. For how consignment works from the point of view of the person handing over the car, read how consignment works for the owner.
Who signs as the seller, and why that is the first question
Before you commit, ask to see the draft contract. Read the heading and the name listed as the seller.
There are two possible cases:
- the garage sells in its own name: it is then your seller;
- the garage acts on behalf of the owner: the owner is named as the seller, and the garage is only an intermediary.
The difference has practical consequences. It decides who you turn to if a defect appears after the purchase. It also affects how likely you are to find a clause saying "sold as is, without warranty". A contract signed in the name of a private individual often includes one.
The legal framework is explained in the article on what the law says about defects, for private and professional sellers alike. It also explains what an exclusion clause is really worth.
If the heading is unclear, ask in writing: "Who is the seller named in the contract?" The answer should fit on one line.
The warranty: what the listing says, what the contract says
Three different warranties can overlap:
- the statutory warranty against defects, set by law, which the contract can restrict or exclude within certain limits;
- a commercial warranty, if the seller grants one, with its own terms;
- the remaining manufacturer's warranty, if the car is recent enough.
The article on defects mentioned above explains how they differ. What matters here is proof. The word "warranty" in a listing, or a verbal promise during the viewing, carries little weight if the contract says something else.
Have the contract state:
- what is covered, component by component, or what is excluded;
- for how long, or for how many kilometres;
- who provides the warranty: the garage, the owner or a third-party insurer;
- any excess you would have to pay.
For the manufacturer's warranty, note the date of first registration and ask whether it is still running. In principle it follows the car, not the seller, but its terms depend on the brand, sometimes on whether the scheduled services were carried out. Ask a brand dealer to confirm.
Negotiating when the owner is not in the room
The garage cannot accept any price on the owner's behalf. Above the floor price agreed with the owner, the garage can usually conclude on its own. Below it, your offer is passed on to the owner, the garage waits for the answer, then comes back to you. Depending on the owner's availability, this can take some time.
You do not know this floor price, and the garage is under no obligation to tell you. There is no point trying to get it out of them. An offer below it is not turned down automatically: it simply goes to the owner, who decides.
What works better:
- a written offer, with a precise amount;
- factual reasons: tyres to replace, a service coming up, visible defects, comparable listings on the Swiss market;
- a requested response time, so you know when to follow up or look elsewhere.
To find these technical arguments, use the points to check before buying a used car.
Keep one thing in mind: an accepted offer is in principle binding. Do not offer a price you are not prepared to pay in the hope of a counter-offer.
Viewing and test-driving a car kept at the owner's home
When the car is not in the showroom, the garage arranges the appointment. Before you travel, ask them to confirm:
- the exact place and time;
- who will be there: someone from the garage, the owner, or both;
- which plates and which insurance the car will use during the test drive;
- what you will be asked to bring: driving licence, ID, sometimes a copy sent in advance.
The insurance question is not a detail. If there is a scrape during the test drive, you need to know in advance who covers what, and whether you would have to pay an excess. If the answer is vague, ask for it in writing.
For the test drive itself, ask to start the engine from cold. Drive long enough and on several types of road: in town, on country roads, on the motorway if possible. The detailed method is in the article on points to check, mentioned above.
The history, as passed on by the owner
With consignment, the garage passes on what the owner has given it. It cannot produce a service book that does not exist.
Ask for copies of the following, ideally before you travel:
- the service book and invoices;
- the report from the last vehicle inspection, with its date;
- any information on the number of previous keepers.
Then check that everything adds up. The mileage on the invoices should rise with the dates and match the odometer. A gap of several years deserves a question.
If a defect is known, ask for it to be written into the contract. Anything missing should be requested in writing, and its absence should be noted. "No invoices before 2021" is better than silence.
Who to pay, and when the car changes hands
Pay into the account stated in the contract. As a rule, the garage collects the money and then pays the owner. Do not pay anything directly to the owner outside what the contract provides, even if they suggest it during a viewing.
Before any transfer, check that the account holder matches the party collecting the payment under the contract. An IBAN in someone else's name, or a change of bank details announced by email, should stop you. The most common schemes are described in the article on avoiding payment scams.
If you pay a deposit, insist on a receipt. Have it written down what happens if the sale falls through: whether the deposit is returned, within what time frame, and on what conditions.
The keys, the vehicle registration document and the paperwork are handed over once the funds have arrived. The handover time and the list of what goes with the car are set out in the contract: see what a sales contract should contain.
Financing a car offered on consignment
How to choose a financing method, total cost included, is covered separately: read the comparison of cash, credit or leasing to finance the purchase.
What is specific to consignment is the timing. The owner is waiting for their money, and a financing application takes time. Before you commit, ask the garage whether financing is possible for this specific vehicle, and how long it would take. Better to know before you sign than after.
To get an idea of your budget, you can estimate a monthly leasing payment. The result is only an estimate: approval depends on the lender and on your application.
Your current car: selling it as part of the same process
Many buyers already have a car to sell. Mention it from the first contact, because each transaction has its own timeline, and those timelines overlap. Ask yourself three questions:
- when will you collect the new car?
- how long can you keep the old one?
- can you manage a few days without a vehicle?
If you plan to transfer your plates to the new car, the date also matters for your insurance.
You can also consign your current car, just as the owner of the car you are buying did. The guide to consigning your own car explains the two formats, how the price is set and how the sale unfolds.
Asking your questions before you travel
Five questions to send before a viewing:
- Who signs as the seller in the contract?
- Which warranty applies, in writing, and who provides it?
- Where can the car be seen, and what insurance covers the test drive?
- Which documents are available: service book, invoices, inspection report?
- Which account should the payment go to, and when is the car handed over?
You can start by viewing the available vehicles, then ask a question about a vehicle using this list. Written answers can save you a wasted trip.
