16/01/2025
🚙Looking to buy a used car? We have some tips to help!🚙
🚘Clocking:🚘
Clocking is the illegal practice of winding back the odometer on a high–mileage car to increase its apparent value and asking price. Every 1,000 miles removed increases the value substantially.
🚘Car cloning:🚘
Sometimes one car is given the identity of another by replacing the number plates with those from an almost identical vehicle - same make, model and colour.
🚘’Cut–and–shut':🚘
This is when the remains of two or more cars, which have usually been accident–damaged and written off by insurers, are welded together, then illegally given the identity of one of the wrecks. The cosmetic work is often outstanding, and it's usually very difficult to spot a 'cut–and–shut' from the outside. For absolute confidence, invest in a Car Data Check to unearth the car's history.
🚘Don't view a car in the rain, in poor light or at night:🚘
You won't be able to check the condition of the car properly if it's wet water hides scratches, dents and other problems. Make sure you can see the vehicle clearly and from all angles.
🚘Ask about service history:🚘
Most cars require some work during the year so the owners of a car a few years old should have amassed quite a sheaf of garage bills for work or parts as well as previous MOT certificates, and records of regular servicing.
* If there's no history then ask why
* Does it look like there might be a persistent fault that still may not have been fixed?
* Does the history tell a consistent story
🚘Check for outstanding finance:🚘
Buying, leasing or hiring a car on finance is more popular than it's ever been. This means that a large proportion of vehicles on the road are actually owned by finance providers until their customers, the driver or keeper, pay off the finance agreement in full. If you buy from someone who's not paid off their finance agreement, the finance provider could recover the car, potentially leaving you out of pocket and without a car. This makes it more important than ever to carry out a Car Data Check, particularly if you're buying from a private seller or online auction/advertising site. Most reputable dealers will have carried out a vehicle check before putting the car on the forecourt, but we'd advise you to check with the dealer that it's been done.
🚘V5C registration document:🚘
Insist on seeing the V5C vehicle registration document - this shows the registered keeper and not the legal owner. Is the present keeper the person selling you the car? If not, then why are they selling the car for someone else?
🚘Handbook:🚘
Make sure the handbook is in the car as they can be expensive to replace if not. Look to see how the security system works and check that it does. Find out what keys were provided when the car was new. Modern car keys can cost £100+ to replace so if you need more than one key and there's only one available you'll need to bear that cost in mind.
🚘Test drive:🚘
The test drive is your only opportunity to check the car's general mechanical condition and to find our for sure that it meets all your needs:
* Is the driving position comfortable?
* Can you reach/operate all the controls easily?
* Do the child seats fit?
* Does the golf bag or pushchair fit in the boot?
🌟 If you do not feel comfortable or would like that extra peace of mind we will happily come along with you to view a car you are interested in buying. That way you can have the satisfaction the car is in good working order before parting with any cash. 🌟
🚗If you would like to arrange this please give us a call on 07766317092. 🚗
