BUYING
A USED CAR
To ensure that you do not fall
into the some of the pitfalls of the used car market, follow these
helpful guidelines:-
Research
the market place:-
Decide how much you can afford
to pay. Include the cost of insurance, MoT, road tax, petrol, repairs
and servicing. Don't rush into a decision. Shop around. Compare
prices from different sources eg. Car dealers, private adverts,
auctions and web sites. Use the HPI E-Check (see related links)
to decide if it's worth going to view any of the cars advertised.
Check that the seller actually owns
the car:-
Check all documentation - the
V5, service and insurance records, MoT certificate and receipts
where available to ensure everything tallies. If the seller cannot
provide the V5, walk away.
View
the car in daylight and at the seller's address:-
View the car in clear daylight
and take a friend. Do not arrange to meet at a service station or
lay-by and do not let the seller bring the car to you. Check the
seller's address is the same as that recorded in the logbook.
Find
out if the car is on finance:-
Ask the seller if the car has
any outstanding finance owing and check this out by completing an
HPI Check. If the finance has not been paid off, the car could still
be the property of a finance house.
Invest
in an independent inspection:-
An independent inspection (eg
RAC) will help to identify a 'cut and shut' - two 'written-off'
cars - the back end of one welded to the front end of another to
look like new.
Contact
the previous owner:-
Use the log book to contact
the previous owner to confirm the car's history.
Check
the car hasn't been 'clocked':-
Reducing the mileage of a vehicle
by turning back the odometer, or 'clocking', is a common trick used
by unscrupulous sellers to obtain a higher price. Check service
records confirm the mileage history.
Check
the car isn't a 'ringer':-
'Ringing' is when a car is
stolen and its identity changed using the documents of an identical
make and model. Check the VIN and make sure it hasn't been tampered
with. Upgrade your HPI E-Check to confirm the VIN matches the VRM.
Test
drive the car:-
Make sure that you test drive
the car on a range of roads for a drive of at least 10-15 miles.
Check you are properly insured and again take a friend with you.
Buying
from a dealer
This is the safest way of buying as you can get the maximum protection
of the law. But there are dodgy dealers, so look for an established
firm with a good reputation. Ask friends if they can recommend anyone.
A trade association sign may
mean that the firm follows a code of practice. The Retail Motor
Industry Federation's Motorline can tell you which local dealers
subscribe to a code of practice supported by the Office of Fair
Trading.
Look for a garage whose cars
have been part-inspected by the AA or the RAC. Ask to see the report
on the car you want to buy. It will not be as detailed as one you
pay for yourself, but will provide useful information. Or choose
a dealer with a quality checking scheme such as Ford Direct, Rover
Approved or Vauxhall's Network Q.
When buying a car from a dealer,
the law says that a car must be:
- of satisfactory quality:
It must meet the standard that a reasonable person would regard
as acceptable, bearing in mind the way it was described, how much
it cost and any other relevant circumstances. This covers, for
example, the appearance and finish of the car, its safety and
its durability. The car must be free from defects, except when
they were pointed out to you by the seller.
- as described: A car said
to have 'one careful lady owner' shouldn't turn out to have three
previous owners, all males under 22.
- reasonably fit for any normal
purpose: It should get you from A to B - and for any other purpose
that you specify to the seller - for example, towing a caravan.
These rights are not affected
by any mechanical breakdown insurance (often sold by dealers if
the manufacturer's warranty has run out), guarantee or warranty
giving additional protection. A dealer is not liable for any faults
that an independent inspection should have uncovered. It's a good
idea to get a description of the vehicle's condition from the dealer.
Ask whether there is a pre-sale inspection checklist.
Buying
privately
This should be cheaper than buying from a dealer. It is also riskier.
The car may be stolen. It may have been used as security for a loan
or hire agreement and actually belongs to a finance company.
You have fewer legal rights
if you buy privately. The car must be as described but the other
rules don't apply. If a private seller lies about the condition
of a car, you can sue for your losses - if you can find the seller.
Some dealers pretend to be
private sellers to avoid their legal obligations and to get rid
of faulty or over-priced cars. They advertise in local newspapers
and shop windows.
Signs to look out for include:
- ads which give a mobile
phone number or specify a time to call. It may be a public phone
box, not the seller's home;
- the same phone number appears
in several ads;
- when you phone about the
car, the seller asks 'which one?';
- the seller wants to bring
the car to you or meet you somewhere, rather than you going to
the seller's home.
What
To Do If Things Go Wrong
Go back to the seller straight away, explain the problem and say
what you want done.
If you aren't happy with the outcome, get advice. Contact your local
Trading Standards Service. Or go to a Citizens Advice Bureau or
consumer advice centre.
If a dealer is a member, one of the trade associations listed below
may be able to help. There is a code of practice dealing with complaints.
You can go to court or use a trade association conciliation /arbitration
scheme. A consumer adviser can explain the procedure.
If you are a member of the AA or RAC, they will help if you have
problems with buying a used car.
Contacts:
AA 0990 500 600
RAC 0990 533 533
DVLNI has a telephone hotline which enables
purchasers to check the information on the registration book against
the details held on the computer record for the vehicle. The
telephone number is 0845 6018574.
DVLNI will not be able to confirm if the vehicle
is stolen but will give advice on what to do if purchasing a used
vehicle.
For complaints about used cars and repairs/servicing in England,
Wales and Northern Ireland:
The National Conciliation Service
Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF)
2nd Floor, Chestnut House
9 North Street, Rugby CV21 2AB.
Tel: RMIF Motorline 0345 585 350
For complaints about cars still under a manufacturer's warranty:
The Consumer Relations Adviser
Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders
Forbes House, Halkin Street
London SW1X TDS
For information about a car's
history:
HPI Autodata 01722 422 422
AA Car Data Check 0800 234 999
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