Classic and vintage cars: the French are fond of them, but so are scammers

There's no need to visit your dealer... If you're looking for a classic or vintage car, most of the time you can find one privately! French collectors are snapping them up! Unfortunately, these rare items are also a godsend for scammers, who use fraudulent techniques to cheat you out of your property or your money.

In France, there are no fewer than one million registered classic cars and 200,000 owners! The market is doing well, and there are numerous events taking place all over the country, including one of the industry's biggest, the Salon Rétromobile.

In any case, even if the prices of certain models or categories of vehicle are falling and remain fairly affordable (under €25,000) for what they represent, the prices of collector vehicles from certain world-famous manufacturers are soaring to new heights! Some Porsche and Ferrari models have seen their prices triple in less than a decade. But in France, it's a French manufacturer that's at the centre of collectors' mad desires: Citroën. For example, in ten years, the value of 2CVs and DSs has tripled.

Apart from a few exceptional models, driving a classic car is no longer just for the very rich. The sector is increasingly opening up to the general public, with a number of models that may not always be exceptional, but that allow you to join the circle of owners of these very special vehicles.

Beware of classic car scams

This craze is also attracting interest from people of questionable honesty! So watch out for classic car scams, because there are plenty of them out there, especially on classified ad sites such as Leboncoin and La centrale. Here are a few tips to help you avoid them:

If you are a buyer

Make sure that the information provided by the seller is accurate. Many crooks are actually neophytes who will make mistakes about the date of manufacture, the date the vehicle was put up for sale, its origin and history, and so on.

Beware: they usually demand payment in cash and arrange to meet you. Many victims fall into an ambush and are robbed of the cash they were supposed to use to pay for the transaction. You should be very careful and never carry large sums of cash when meeting a seller. This age-old method continues to claim many victims every year, with buyers blinded by seemingly excellent offers that turn out to be ploys that can even put them in danger.

Always pay using a secure payment solution such as Obvy, to ensure a safe and secure transaction with no nasty surprises.

If you are a seller

There are no genuine collectors who will make you an offer to buy without having seen your old vehicle. Any method that tries to pay you without meeting you beforehand can, in 99% of cases, be classed as a scam. Insist on secure payment, with Obvy, to ensure the solvency of the buyer and guarantee you the funds in the event of a transaction.

There are many money transfer and bank cheque scams on the market, and these can lead to disastrous situations where not only does the seller lose the vehicle, but also the money from the sale. So it's vital to protect yourself to avoid any problems related to the payment of funds linked to the transaction.

Driving vintage or classic cars is no longer as restrictive

The good news for enthusiasts is that, as well as prices tending to fall, parts for renovating or repairing these vehicles are also more available than ever before. And the impact is immediate: in my majority of cases, the cost of maintaining these vehicles varies between €500 and €1,000 a year. In addition to the fact that some manufacturers, such as Germany's Mercedes and Porsche, have their own parts remanufacturing departments, new technologies, led by 3D printing, mean that it is relatively easy to access parts even if they are no longer on the market. Moreover, collectors are no longer so fussy about this point, given the rapid improvements in this technology and the fact that 3D-printed products are proving to be increasingly high-quality and affordable.

A passion that shouldn't drive you into the arms of crooks

Staying vigilant is the key to making the most of your passion. There is simply no such thing as a bargain, especially when it comes to classic cars and other classic vehicles, which are mostly owned by connoisseurs. Never be in a hurry when it comes to concluding a sale or purchase, and make sure you use tools that allow you to approach the matter with as much distance and security as possible. Our transaction experts and services are designed to provide you with these absolutely essential safeguards.