Buyer and User Marketplace Terms
The terms that apply when browsing vehicle adverts, contacting an advertiser, arranging a viewing or test drive, or considering a vehicle or related service through CarZoon.
Plain-English summary: CarZoon is an advertising marketplace, not normally the seller. Check the vehicle, advertiser, ownership, history, documents, price and payment arrangements yourself before committing. Your legal rights depend particularly on whether you buy from a dealer or a private seller.
Fraud warning: Never treat an advert, account, badge, message or payment instruction as proof of identity or ownership. Do not send money until you have independently verified the vehicle, the advertiser and the payment recipient. CarZoon does not hold buyer funds or provide escrow unless an official CarZoon service expressly says so.
These terms form part of our Terms of Website Use and should be read with our Acceptable Use Policy, Test Drive Safety Terms, Privacy Policy and other service-specific terms that apply.
1. About these terms
These Buyer and User Marketplace Terms are issued by CarZoon Automotive Ltd ("CarZoon", "we", "us" or "our"), a company registered in Scotland under company number SC882384.
They apply to visitors, prospective buyers, registered users and anyone acting on their behalf who browses adverts, saves or compares vehicles, contacts an advertiser, requests a viewing or test drive, purchases a third-party service or otherwise uses CarZoon in connection with a possible vehicle transaction.
By using those features, you agree to follow these terms. If you advertise a vehicle, the applicable Private Seller Terms or Dealer Terms will also apply.
2. Eligibility and accounts
You must be at least 18 years old to create an account, contact an advertiser for the purpose of buying a vehicle, request a test drive, make a payment for a CarZoon service or enter into a vehicle transaction through a connection made on CarZoon.
- Provide accurate, current and complete account and contact information.
- Keep passwords, verification codes and sign-in links secure.
- Use your own identity and do not impersonate another person or business.
- Tell us promptly if you suspect unauthorised access or account misuse.
- Do not transfer, sell, rent or share an account without our written permission.
You remain responsible for activity carried out through your account, subject to applicable law.
3. CarZoon's marketplace role
CarZoon provides vehicle advertising, search, comparison, saved-item, enquiry and related marketplace tools. Unless we expressly state otherwise for a particular service, CarZoon:
- does not own, possess, inspect, buy or sell advertised vehicles;
- does not act as the buyer's or advertiser's agent;
- is not a party to the sale, deposit, reservation, finance, warranty, insurance, delivery, part-exchange, viewing or test-drive agreement;
- does not guarantee an advertiser's identity, authority, solvency or conduct;
- does not guarantee that a vehicle exists, remains available or matches its advert; and
- does not provide legal, financial, tax, insurance, valuation, mechanical or safety advice.
A badge, account status, dealer profile, advert review or moderation decision means only what the relevant page expressly states. It is not a guarantee or endorsement of a vehicle, advertiser or transaction.
4. Vehicle adverts
Vehicle adverts are supplied by private sellers, dealers, business users or their authorised representatives. CarZoon may review, format, supplement, reject, suspend or remove an advert, but we are not required to inspect every vehicle or verify every statement before publication.
Availability, price, mileage, condition, specifications, history, location, ownership, finance status, service history, warranty information, images and other advert details may change or contain errors. Contact the advertiser and verify all information that matters to you before relying on it.
Search rankings, highlighted adverts, promoted placements, recommendations and related vehicles may be influenced by relevance, recency, location, availability, commercial promotion or other marketplace factors. Prominence does not mean that CarZoon recommends the vehicle or advertiser.
5. Checks before buying
You are responsible for deciding whether a vehicle and transaction are suitable. Before paying a deposit or buying, take reasonable steps to verify:
Vehicle and documents
- registration, make, model, derivative and VIN;
- the original V5C details and issue date;
- MOT history, recorded mileage and advisories;
- service, maintenance and recall information;
- condition, faults, damage and write-off status; and
- outstanding finance, theft or other history markers.
Advertiser and transaction
- the advertiser's identity and contact details;
- their ownership or authority to sell;
- whether they act privately or in business;
- the full price and every compulsory charge;
- payment-recipient and bank-account details; and
- all written terms, promises and included items.
Important: A V5C identifies the registered keeper; it is not, by itself, proof that the person owns the vehicle or has authority to sell it. Consider an independent inspection and a reputable vehicle-history check before committing.
6. Buying from a dealer or private seller
Your legal rights and the advertiser's obligations depend on the true nature of the transaction, not merely the account label displayed on CarZoon.
Dealer or business seller
A consumer buying from a dealer or other trader may have statutory rights relating to vehicle quality, fitness for purpose, description, information, remedies and unfair commercial practices. The dealer is responsible for complying with those duties.
Private seller
A purchase from a genuine private seller generally carries fewer consumer protections. The vehicle must still match its description, and the seller must have the right to sell it. Complete additional checks before paying.
Nothing in these terms removes or restricts a statutory right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded. If a trader appears to be posing as a private seller, report the advert to CarZoon.
7. Vehicle data, valuations and digital content
CarZoon may display information obtained from advertisers, DVLA, DVSA and other public or commercial providers. It may include vehicle identity, MOT, mileage, tax, emissions, ULEZ, technical specifications, equipment, safety, valuation or history information.
- Data may be incomplete, delayed, estimated, incorrectly matched or affected by source errors.
- An MOT result records matters assessed at a particular time and is not a guarantee of current condition.
- A valuation or price indicator is an estimate, not an offer or guaranteed sale price.
- ULEZ, clean-air-zone, tax, range, fuel-consumption and running-cost information may depend on location, use, rules and vehicle configuration.
- AI-generated summaries may simplify source information and must not replace the original advert, documents or professional advice.
Check important information with the relevant official source, advertiser or qualified professional. Additional limits appear in our Vehicle Data Disclaimer.
8. Prices, deposits and payment
The advertiser is responsible for stating the vehicle price and any compulsory charges clearly. Confirm in writing what the price includes before committing.
Protect your money:
- Do not send money only because an advert or message appears on CarZoon.
- Verify that the named recipient is the genuine seller or an authorised business.
- Do not use gift cards, cryptocurrency or another unusual method because a stranger demands it.
- Be cautious if pressured to pay before viewing the vehicle or checking its documents.
- Use a traceable method and obtain a written receipt stating the vehicle, parties, amount, date and purpose.
Unless an official CarZoon checkout expressly states otherwise, deposits and vehicle payments are made directly between the buyer and advertiser. CarZoon does not receive, safeguard, release, guarantee or refund those funds.
A deposit's refundability depends on the agreement, circumstances and applicable law. Record all deposit and cancellation terms before paying. Payments made directly to an advertiser are not governed by CarZoon's Refund and Cancellation Policy, which applies only to eligible services purchased from CarZoon.
9. Finance, warranties and third-party services
An advert may refer or link to finance, leasing, insurance, warranties, inspections, history reports, delivery or another service supplied by an advertiser or third party.
- Check the provider's identity, authorisation, eligibility criteria, fees and contractual terms.
- A monthly-payment figure may be an illustration and not a personalised offer.
- Credit is subject to status and the provider's assessment.
- Interest rates, deposits, mileage limits, final payments and ownership outcomes may vary.
- A warranty may contain exclusions, claim limits, maintenance requirements and an excess.
CarZoon is not a lender, insurer, warranty provider or financial adviser. We do not arrange or recommend a regulated product unless the relevant page expressly identifies the service, provider and regulatory status. Your contract for a third-party service is with that provider, and its terms and privacy information apply.
10. Enquiries and communications
Use CarZoon enquiry and contact tools only for genuine, relevant and lawful marketplace activity. Be respectful and do not send spam, abuse, threats, discriminatory material, malware, phishing links or fake payment confirmations.
Do not ask another user for passwords, one-time security codes, full payment-card details or unnecessary identity information. CarZoon does not guarantee that a message reaches its intended recipient or receives a response.
Moving a conversation away from CarZoon may reduce the information available to investigate misuse. Retain your own copies of important terms, receipts and communications.
11. Viewings and test drives
Arrange meetings carefully and follow our Test Drive Safety Terms. Tell a trusted person where you are going, meet in a suitable place and do not proceed if you feel unsafe.
Before driving, the driver and vehicle provider must independently confirm permission, driving entitlement, insurance, MOT where required, tax or lawful trade-plate use, and roadworthiness. A CarZoon request or confirmation does not perform those checks.
Inspect and test the vehicle only with permission. Consider using a qualified independent mechanic or inspection provider, particularly when you lack the knowledge to assess condition.
12. The vehicle purchase contract
Any contract to buy a vehicle is made directly between the buyer and the advertiser or other identified seller. CarZoon is not a party to that contract and does not take title to the vehicle.
Before agreeing, ensure the written contract or receipt correctly records:
- the buyer's and seller's names and contact details;
- the vehicle registration, make, model and VIN;
- the agreed total price, deposit and balance;
- the mileage and disclosed condition or faults;
- items, documents, keys, warranty or services included;
- collection, delivery and risk arrangements; and
- any cancellation, return or complaint terms that apply.
Do not rely on an oral promise that matters to your decision. Ask for it to be included in writing by the seller.
13. Registration, vehicle tax and insurance
The buyer and seller are responsible for completing the required DVLA keeper notification and retaining the correct confirmation or new-keeper information.
Vehicle tax does not transfer with the vehicle. The buyer must tax the vehicle before using it on the road, even where the tax rate is £0 or the vehicle is exempt. The buyer must also arrange valid insurance before driving.
Do not take the vehicle until the agreed payment and handover conditions are satisfied and you have the documents, keys and information needed. The registered keeper and legal owner are not necessarily the same person, so ownership and authority must be checked separately.
14. Fraud and personal safety
Warning signs
- A price that is implausibly low without a credible explanation.
- Pressure to pay immediately or before viewing.
- Refusal to show the vehicle, V5C or identification.
- Payment requested to an unrelated name or foreign account.
- Claims that CarZoon is holding money or guaranteeing the transaction.
- Requests for security codes, remote-device access or sensitive financial information.
- Vehicle details, VIN, documents or history that do not match.
Stop communication and contact your bank or payment provider immediately if you believe money or account access is at risk. Contact the police or appropriate UK fraud-reporting service where relevant, and report the account or advert to CarZoon.
15. Reviews and user content
If CarZoon permits reviews, feedback, questions, images or other user content, it must be genuine, relevant, accurate where it states facts and compliant with our Acceptable Use Policy.
Do not publish defamatory, threatening, discriminatory, misleading or rights-infringing material, or another person's personal data without a lawful reason. CarZoon may moderate or remove content and may request evidence supporting a claim.
16. Prohibited conduct
You must not use CarZoon to:
- commit or facilitate fraud, theft, deception, money laundering or another offence;
- impersonate CarZoon, an advertiser, finance provider, courier or another person;
- make fake enquiries, manipulate marketplace activity or misuse another account;
- harvest contact details, scrape listings or send unsolicited marketing;
- circumvent security, moderation, access controls or eligibility requirements;
- pressure, threaten, harass or discriminate against another user; or
- buy, request or use a vehicle for an unlawful purpose.
17. Problems, reports and complaints
Raise a vehicle, payment, warranty, delivery or purchase complaint with the seller or relevant service provider first, because they are responsible for their contract with you. Keep copies of the advert, agreement, receipt, inspection, messages and supporting evidence.
Report suspicious adverts, accounts, messages or misuse to support@carzoon.co.uk. We may review marketplace conduct, but we do not determine legal ownership, decide liability or guarantee that a private dispute will be resolved.
Complaints about CarZoon's own service are handled under our Complaints Handling Policy. Consumers may also seek independent advice from the relevant UK consumer-advice service or pursue any available statutory remedy.
18. Account and feature restrictions
We may investigate suspected misuse and take proportionate action, including requesting information, limiting communications, restricting features, removing content, suspending or closing an account, preserving evidence or cooperating with regulators, payment providers and law-enforcement authorities.
We may act immediately where reasonably necessary to address suspected fraud, illegality, danger, security threats or serious harm.
19. Responsibility and liability
You are responsible for your decisions, checks, communications, meetings, payments and transactions. CarZoon is not responsible for the acts or omissions of an advertiser, buyer, dealer, finance provider or another third party, except to the extent that loss is directly caused by CarZoon's own breach of legal duty.
We do not exclude rights or remedies provided by law. Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of statutory rights, or another liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited.
If you use CarZoon for business purposes, the business liability provisions in the Terms of Website Use and any applicable service terms also apply.
20. Personal information
Use another person's contact, identity, vehicle or transaction information only for the genuine purpose for which it was provided and in accordance with applicable law. Do not publish it, use it for unsolicited marketing or retain it longer than reasonably necessary.
CarZoon's collection and use of personal data through the platform is explained in our Privacy Policy.
21. Changes to these terms
We may update these terms to reflect changes to CarZoon, applicable law, regulatory guidance, marketplace risks or operating practices. The current version will be published on this page with its effective or review date. Where a material change affects registered users, we may provide an additional notice where appropriate.
22. Applicable law
These terms and any non-contractual dispute or claim arising from them are governed by the laws of Scotland. If you are a consumer, the Scottish courts have non-exclusive jurisdiction, and if you live elsewhere in the United Kingdom you may also be entitled to bring proceedings in the courts where you live. Business users are subject to the jurisdiction provisions in the applicable CarZoon terms.
23. Contact us
CarZoon Automotive Ltd
Company number: SC882384
5 South Charlotte Street
Edinburgh, EH2 4AN
United Kingdom
Email: support@carzoon.co.uk
Website: https://carzoon.co.uk/