Is it safe to buy a used car privately?

It can be, but private sales carry more risk than buying from a dealer, because you lose the legal protections that come with a trade sale. Under UK consumer law, private sellers only need to describe the car accurately — they aren't required to guarantee it's fit for purpose or of satisfactory quality, unlike a dealer.

To reduce the risk:

• Meet at the seller's home address, not a neutral location, and confirm it matches the address on the V5C
• Run a vehicle history check yourself rather than relying on anything the seller shows you
• Pay by bank transfer with a paper trail — avoid cash for higher-value purchases
• Never pay a deposit to "hold" a car before you've seen it and checked it

Private sales aren't inherently unsafe, but they put more of the responsibility for due diligence on you.