Buying a used car

There aren’t many of us who can afford to go out and buy a brand new car, so often we buy a second hand one.

But don’t rush into that purchase before reading on …
a number plate

There are two big risks you face when buying a used car:

Firstly, the vehicle you are thinking of buying could have been stolen, in which case you probably won’t have proper title to the vehicle – which means that the vehicle won’t actually belong to you, regardless of the fact that you have paid for it.

In addition, stolen cars can be very dangerous, especially those that have been “cut and shut” – put together by welding two different cars together to hide their original identity.

The second risk you run relates to finance. Used car buyers risk taking on someone else’s debt as many second hand cars have “outstanding finance”. Here, a bank or finance company has a legal claim to a car and in some cases they can repossess the car leaving you with nothing.

Take a few simple precautions to protect yourself, such as requesting proof of the seller’s identity and address, such as an official letter or driving licence. Collect the car from the seller – a good way of confirming their address, and never buy a car without a proper vehicle registration document (V5) – make sure it has a DVLA watermark and that it hasn’t been altered in any way.

One of the most important checks you can make is on the car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and make sure the number matches that shown on the vehicle registration document (V5). Previously known as chassis number, the VIN is a unique 17-character number issued to every vehicle by the car maker.

Places to look for the VIN on the car are on a manufacturer’s VIN plate under the bonnet or fixed to the post between the front and rear doors; stamped on the body chassis or frame; or on an additional plate fixed securely to the top corner of the dashboard where it can easily be seen through the windscreen, known as a visible VIN. Always check that the VIN has not been tampered with. If it has, don’t buy the car and tell the police.

Both the AA and RAC offer “vehicle status checks”. These tell you whether or not the car has previously been stolen, written off, or if there is outstanding finance. Vehicle status checks cost around £30, but with the amount you could lose buying a stolen car or one with outstanding finance it’s probably money well spent. These checks can be arranged or completed online.

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by nannetteturner

Buying a used car

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