Hints and Tips
ADVICE FOR BUYING A 2nd HAND CAR
(PRIVATE)
Buying a Car Privately
Buying privately should be cheaper than buying from a dealer, however it is also riskier. The car may have been stolen or may have been used as security for a loan or hire agreement and actually belong to a finance company. You also 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 afford a lawyer and if you can find the seller again!Some 2nd hand car dealers pretend to be private sellers to avoid their legal obligations and to get rid of faulty or over priced cars. They may advertise in local newspapers and shop windows.
Warning signs to look for include:
Ads which give a mobile phone number or specify a time to call. It may be a public phone box, not the sellers 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 sellers home.
Always check the registration plates and VIN (Vehicle identification Number) numbers against the V5 Vehicle Registration Document. Also past and current MOT certificates. These also help give you a mileage history to verify your current mileage. These should be supplied by the seller. Be very suspicious if these are not available - is something such as clocking being hidden from you?
An investment to consider is to take the second hand car you are considering buying to get an RAC or AA inspection. These are highly regarded and can help give you peace of mind.
2nd Hand Car Auctions
You can pick up a bargain at a car auction but be careful as once you have made an offer you are generally stuck with your ‘Bought as seen’ purchase. Cars can be put in privately, by a garage, fleet car firm or private company. Although auctions can be quite exciting and some real bargains can be had you really need to know what you are doing. Go as a spectator and watch what the other regular buyers do. f you don't know much about cars, take someone with you who does. Decide the maximum you can afford and stick to it. The entry form attached to the windscreen will give you an idea of the car's history. In auctions, your usual legal rights may not apply if the seller issues a disclaimer, such as the term 'sold as seen', which excludes all or some of those rights. Before you buy, read the auctioneer's conditions of business carefully to check whether this is the case.
Stolen Cars
It can be hard to tell whether a car is stolen. Its identity may have been changed. For example, the VIN identity number and number plate of a legitimate car may be transferred to a stolen one. V5 Vehicle registration documents can be forged or obtained by fraud.
Be aware that if you buy a stolen car, the police can take it from you to return to the original owner or the insurance company if a claim has been paid. You will not get any compensation even though you bought the car in good faith. If you bought the car on credit you may still have to pay off the loan. It depends on the type of credit card agreement you have.
Always ask to see the vehicle registration document (V5). The safest policy here is if the seller can't produce this document, be suspicious and don’t buy. A common excuse given is that it has been sent to the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) for updating. It means you can't check the cars ownership and identity details. Wait for it to come back before buying.
The seller should have a green slip if the car was bought very recently and the V5 is with the DVLA for the change of ownership to be recorded.
Check the car’s V5 for any spelling mistakes, name ‘rub-outs’ or alterations. All legitimate V5s have Watermark so check for colour photocopies and other forged methods.
Check the seller’s name and address on the V5 against other proof of identity such as their driving licence, passport, recent gas or electricity bill.
It is also worth checking your second hand car V5 documentation against the three main identifying features of a car:-
The vehicle registration mark:- (the number plate). The vehicle identification number (VIN):- this can be found on a metal VIN plate, usually in the engine compartment. As a security measure some cars have the VIN etched on there windows or lamps or below carpets at the side or below the driver or passengers seat. The engine number:- is shown on the V5 itself. The numbers on the car engine should be the same.
Check that the identification numbers have not been tampered with or that the engine and VIN numbers have been interfered with. Areas of glass may have been scratched off the windows, or stickers may cover up etching which has been altered.
Another thing to seek to reassure you that the car is genuine is to ask the seller to show you the insurance certificate for the car. Cross-reference their name and address and the cars particulars from it.
Clocking Low mileage is a good 2nd hand car selling point but remember dishonest sellers may have turned the clock back to reduce the number of miles shown. If the mileage is low but wear and tear on the car looks heavy, the car could have been clocked.
Clockers sometimes change pedal rubbers, steering wheels and gear knobs to hide this. Another sign of ‘Clocking’ is that the mileometer numbers don't line up correctly.
Use MOT certificates and service documentation of the car to show you the mileage readings taken by mechanics over its history. Some dealers use trade-only database companies such as IMVA and VMC to check mileage. Ask whether this is the case.
The mileage reading forms part of the description of the car. Sellers sometimes protect themselves by covering up the mileometer or issuing a disclaimer saying that the mileage may be wrong. To be valid, such a disclaimer must be at least as noticeable as the mileage reading and as effectively brought to your attention. It may be worth contacting previous owners named on the V5 to ask what the mileage was when they sold the car. You could also ask what it was used for, for example, short trips or regular motorway driving. Short trips mean more wear and tear of many components. Long trips explain excessive stone chips and high mileage.
Compass Stolen Cars
It can be hard to tell whether a car is stolen. Its identity may have been changed. For example, the VIN identity number and number plate of a legitimate car may be transferred to a stolen one. V5 Vehicle registration documents can be forged or obtained by fraud.
Be aware that if you buy a stolen car, the police can take it from you to return to the original owner or the insurance company if a claim has been paid. You will not get any compensation even though you bought the car in good faith. If you bought the car on credit you may still have to pay off the loan. It depends on the type of credit card agreement you have.
Always ask to see the vehicle registration document (V5). The safest policy here is if the seller can't produce this document, be suspicious and don’t buy. A common excuse given is that it has been sent to the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) for updating. It means you can't check the cars ownership and identity details. Wait for it to come back before buying.
The seller should have a green slip if the car was bought very recently and the V5 is with the DVLA for the change of ownership to be recorded.
Check the car’s V5 for any spelling mistakes, name ‘rub-outs’ or alterations. All legitimate V5s have Watermark so check for colour photocopies and other forged methods.
Check the seller’s name and address on the V5 against other proof of identity such as their driving licence, passport, recent gas or electricity bill.
It is also worth checking your second hand car V5 documentation against the three main identifying features of a car:-
The vehicle registration mark:- (the number plate). The vehicle identification number (VIN):- this can be found on a metal VIN plate, usually in the engine compartment. As a security measure some cars have the VIN etched on there windows or lamps or below carpets at the side or below the driver or passengers seat. The engine number:- is shown on the V5 itself. The numbers on the car engine should be the same.
Check that the identification numbers have not been tampered with or that the engine and VIN numbers have been interfered with. Areas of glass may have been scratched off the windows, or stickers may cover up etching which has been altered.
Another thing to seek to reassure you that the car is genuine is to ask the seller to show you the insurance certificate for the car. Cross-reference their name and address and the cars particulars from it.
Clocking Low mileage is a good 2nd hand car selling point but remember dishonest sellers may have turned the clock back to reduce the number of miles shown. If the mileage is low but wear and tear on the car looks heavy, the car could have been clocked.
Clockers sometimes change pedal rubbers, steering wheels and gear knobs to hide this. Another sign of ‘Clocking’ is that the mileometer numbers don't line up correctly.
Use MOT certificates and service documentation of the car to show you the mileage readings taken by mechanics over its history. Some dealers use trade-only database companies such as IMVA and VMC to check mileage. Ask whether this is the case.
The mileage reading forms part of the description of the car. Sellers sometimes protect themselves by covering up the mileometer or issuing a disclaimer saying that the mileage may be wrong. To be valid, such a disclaimer must be at least as noticeable as the mileage reading and as effectively brought to your attention. It may be worth contacting previous owners named on the V5 to ask what the mileage was when they sold the car. You could also ask what it was used for, for example, short trips or regular motorway driving. Short trips mean more wear and tear of many components. Long trips explain excessive stone chips and high mileage.
Compass Vision Ltd
Tel: 0141-402-7978
Fax: 0141-775-3767
