Our guide to buying a pre-loved car

What better blog for the most romantic month of the year than a guide from Dumfries MOT Centre on buying a pre-loved car? With credit crunches, crashes and all manner of financial what-have-you in the last few decades, we can’t all afford a brand new set of wheels, and this has pushed up the prices of used cars. All the more reason for no missteps.

And once you do make a successful purchase, you know to come to Dumfries MOT Centre for MOT, servicing, and repairs.

Here are a few tips from us to you…

 The last thing you want is to buy a car to then discover that it’s damaged, illegally altered or stolen, which is why it’s worth doing your homework folks.

Is the trader trustworthy?

A good word-of-mouth reputation goes a long way, as will your car if you make this your starting point. Likewise, look for any trade association signs (like the Retail Motor Industry Federation or the Scottish Motor Trade Association) or a sign that tells you that they follow The Motor Ombudsman’s code of practice. All of this means that you can act through one of the above if you are sold a clanger.

Check the car’s history with the DVLA

The seller must be able to supply you with the car’s reg, MOT test number, mileage, make and model. Then you can use the DVLA’s free online vehicle information checker to make sure what the seller tells you matches its records.

The seller should be able to clarify any minor detail mismatches because mistakes happen, but if you’re at all suspicious that the seller gave you fake details, steer clear.

Check the MOT and history

Dumfries MOT Centre is a DVSA (Driver and Vehicles Standards Agency) approved, and all vehicles need regular MOT tests to make sure they’re roadworthy. You should therefore check that MOT tests have been done regularly throughout the car’s history (most cars over three- years-old need a yearly MOT).

Check the MOT history of a car on GOV.UK.  It’s free. There might be gaps in the MOT history if the car remained unused and was registered as SORN (statutory off-road notification), and it’s your right to question all of them.

Get a private history check

It’s a good idea to get a private history check or date check on the car by simply Googling for a company that provides this service. It will tell you if the car has ever been reported stolen if the seller owes money on the car, its mileage, and whether it’s been involved in a serious accident or been written off, repaired and then driven again.

Inspect the car and take a test drive

Sounds obvious in the cold light of day, but ideally you should arrange to view the car in daylight and on a clear, dry day. This is also a good opportunity to ask about the car’s service history. You should of course check to see if you’re insured before taking it for a test drive.

 Buying a used car privately

You won’t have the same legal protection as you would if buying from a dealer when you buy a used car privately and that’s why the onus is on you to ask all the right questions. You should also question if a private seller wishes to meet you anywhere other than at their home, or if their name is not on the V5C registration document. A dealer pretending to be a private seller is illegal.

Legally, the seller must have the right to sell the car, it should match the description given by the seller, and the car must be roadworthy – it’s a criminal offence to sell an unroadworthy car. An MOT certificate from a test several months ago is no guarantee that the car is still roadworthy.

Buying a used car at auction

Buying a used car at a live auction affords you very little by way of legal protection. But you can check the specific terms and conditions of the auction before bidding – if your rights under the Sale of Goods Act are excluded then you’re buying ‘sold as seen’ and should check the car over thoroughly before bidding.

Generally speaking, the auctioneer won’t be liable if the seller doesn’t have the right to sell the car in the first place – like if it is stolen for example. Any comeback you may have will be against the seller.

Some auctions offer ‘guarantees’ or ‘insurance’ for an extra sum, but any rights are limited, so check the wording on any paperwork carefully. There may be a cooling-off period too but this is likely to be a very short window.

Sources:

Citizens Advice

The AA