How it works | Outside Lane | The alternative car buying service

How it works

At Outside Lane we believe in offering our clients a hassle free service, with significant choice and less risk than buying from a private seller. We have quite a new concept so we thought we should explain how we work. In short it’s very similar to how your favourite online retailers work. So if you’re used to ordering online from stores like John Lewis or Mark’s & Spencer’s then you will soon feel at home using Outside Lane.

Firstly you tell us what car you want either by browsing the vehicles on our site or by completing a ‘Tell us what you want’ form. The vehicles we display on our site are soon to become available to the used car market. Our expert team of buyers look at the make, model, mileage and age of the vehicle and from that provide an estimated price. This is the price that we think we can buy the car for which offers significant savings compared with more traditional car buying methods.

Once you’ve told us what you want we locate any suitable vehicles and start to undertake our UCQ process. Once we have found the very best vehicle we’ll let you know. We will also take some pictures of the vehicle so you can see what you could be buying. Finally we will offer you some further details about the car such as the date when we need to be ready to purchase the vehicle and the full specification of the car.

If you like what you see then you commit to placing an order which acts as an intent to purchase. This bit is just like ordering that sofa from your favourite online retailer.

Once we have your order we then go to the trade and purchase the vehicle at trade price. In some instances vehicles can sell for more than we think you should be paying in which case we won’t buy it. If you really like a specific car and don’t mind paying a little less than retail price for the car then you simply tell us you don’t want to lose the car.

Once we have successfully acquired your next vehicle we ask for prompt payment** before your vehicleundergoes the remaining elements of our UCQ process. This unique process is where Outside Lane really stand out from the crowd. Not only are we experts at buying great quality cars at trade prices but we also prepare used cars to a retail condition. Of course, this is indicative of the cars age and mileage. So not only will you’re next used car provide you with great savings, a hassle free service - delivering to your door, but the vehicle will also be in a great condition.

To see what condition you can expect your car to arrive in please click here »

Finally, 10days after we have purchased your vehicle you can expect delivery. In some instances you can expect deliver a little quicker however we find that 10 days gives us enough time to ensure your used car is prepared to an excellent condition and ready for the roads. What’s more we’ll even give you 7 days insurance cover for FREE.

**IMPORTANT: It is important that we inform you about our payment terms. Much like purchasing a television from John Lewis, you are required to pay for the product when you order it online. At Outside Lane we don’t expect you to pay when you place your order, however once we have successfully purchased your used car we expect prompt payment (within 24 hours). We then use your money to purchase your car. It’s that simple. You might be asking – “What if my car is delivered and it’s not up to scratch”. Well if this is the case then we will refund your money. * For full details around or terms and conditions please click here »

"The process couldn't be easier. I had a dedicated personal shopper on hand at all times and I was presented with a range of suitable cars. Once I had decided which was my favourite the vehicle was secured and delivered all within 5 days. A great service and one I would happily use again."

Former England rugby captain
Kyran Bracken

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Questions & answers

Q) Is part exchanging an option when using you service?

A) Yes. We do offer a part exchange service. Please refer to the �Sell my car� page for more information or call one of our representatives on 0845 519 2566.

Q) Can I add my own vehicle to my basket?

A) Yes. Feel free to browse our website and add as many vehicles as you like. There is no up front fee or commitment so why not?

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