Don’t be duped by dodgy used car sellers

Leading vehicle information expert, HPI, is calling for consumers to conduct their own vehicle history checks when buying from independent garages. 

According to figures from Citizens Advice, complaints about used cars purchased from independent dealers continue to feature as the number one grievance lodged by people using its Helpline service. Don’t take a seller’s vehicle check at face value, buy your own for vital peace of mind, is the message from HPI.
 
“Too many people are buying cars at face value, leaving them vulnerable to attack from unscrupulous sellers, including some motor retailers and garages,” explains Nicola Johnson, Consumer Services Manager for HPI. “Once you’ve bought a vehicle, any problems that arise become much harder to resolve.”
 
Thankfully, the majority of car dealers and garages are legitimate and strictly follow Office of Fair Trading (OFT) guidelines to protect themselves and their customers. There is, however, a fraternity of villains that is all too eager to dupe buyers into parting with their cash.  Figures quoted by Citizens Advice suggest that, in total, the value of vehicles that were the subject of complaints logged with them exceeded £115m, equating to £4,500 per person contacting Citizens Advice. The innocent used car buyers can, at best, be left severely out of pocket if they need to fund repairs, or at worst, in danger of hurting themselves and their loved ones if they drive away in a vehicle that is unfit to be on the road.
 
Unscrupulous sellers have a bag of tricks and scams they use to bamboozle unsuspecting buyers. These include altering information relating to finance agreements or lowering mileage readings, to sell vehicles on at a higher price. Buyers also need to watch out for immaculate bodywork used to disguise badly repaired, written-off vehicles. Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said of its findings, “People save for years to update their car or buy one for the first time. If you’re not a motor head, stepping onto a used car dealer’s forecourt can feel like entering a lion’s den. But there are things consumers can do to protect themselves, like looking out for unusually low mileage on an old car, which could mean it’s been tampered with.”
 
Nicola Johnson supports this advice, “After their house, a car is likely to be the biggest household expense, but nobody would dream of buying a property without conducting the proper checks. Used car buyers need to think the same way and take responsibility for ensuring the vehicle they are buying is legitimate.”
 
An HPI Check is the best way for buyers to confirm whether their potential dream purchase is actually on outstanding finance, has been written off by an insurance company, recorded as stolen or has a discrepant mileage. 1 in 3 vehicles checked with HPI has something to hide, highlighting the scale of the problem. The HPI Check also includes a £30,000 Guarantee in the event of the information it provides being inaccurate, offering used car buyers added peace of mind.
 
“We wholeheartedly urge consumers to understand their rights when buying a used car from dealers and private sellers,” concludes Nicola Johnson.  “Buyers who are presented with an old history check certificate from a private seller or trade vendor, must carry out their own check to be sure the car is everything it appears to be.”
 
HPI’S top tips for buying from trade

Organise your finance so you know your budget

Decide on the make and model you want

Do your homework. Research the current values of the vehicle you want and be suspicious of any rock bottom prices

Check the VIN/chassis numbers match any paperwork

Does the mileage correspond with the condition of the car? If it seems low, it could have been clocked

Check the vehicle has a current MoT certificate, if it is over 3 years old

Ask to see the full service history, including receipts and check mileage readings

Beware of forged documents, such as V5s and don’t take any dealer history checks at face value

Conduct your own an HPI Check, using the registration number to confirm whether the vehicle has been stolen, clocked, written-off or if it’s on outstanding finance