Safer and easier buying

25/06/08

Buying a car is fun. Follow this guide to safer buying, and it should stay that wayDon’t feel daunted by car buying. Sure, there are risks involved, particularly when dealing with private sellers. But remember that most folk are honest. And, to keep on guard lest you meet a crook, follow our advice.

It’s based on what’s issued by VSTAG – the Vehicle Safe Trading Advisory Group. Motors.co.uk, in common with other responsible web-based car adverting sites, belongs to this organisation, which is also backed by the Metropolitan Police and other advisors.

First

Think hard about the deal. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Here at Motors.co.uk we scan adverts and remove any where we feel the sum asked is too low and where we can’t contact the seller to find out why.

Do your homework

Learn everything you can about the car you want: the specification, the equipment it came with as standard, and when that particular model had a facelift. Do that, and you’re more likely to spot one that’s been cheaply rebuilt following a crash – because it may have second-hand parts taken from several different models.

Also, a car may be ‘cloned’ – by taking the registration plate and other info from a genuine car and using it to make a stolen example of the same make and model appear legal. Sometimes crooks take the identity of a pre-facelift car and use it on a post-facelift model. If you know the difference between the two, you’re much more likely to spot what’s happened.

Take out a history check

It’s always best to carry out your own full history check, so that you know the car isn’t stolen, crashed or has someone else’s loan owing on it. Don’t accept checks carried out by the seller unless from an established dealer. They could be inaccurate or out of date. And remember that if there is a problem, the history checking companies pay compensation only to whver’s paid for their services. Motors.co.uk provides a basic history check for the cars advertised on this site – click here for details – and you can buy a full check from Experian by clicking here.

Private sellers

Check on the seller as well as the car. When you call, just say you are ringing about the ‘car?’ Don’t mention a make or model. If he or she responds by asking ‘which one?’ it is probable that you’re speaking to a small-time trader, perhaps pretending to be a private seller and so evading the extra responsibilities a car dealer has.

Always get a landline number and a home address. The golden rule here is you must be sure you can find the seller afterwards in case there is a problem. Use the free directory inquiries section of bt.com to see if the two marry up with the name you have. And if you decide to view the vehicle, always do so at the seller’s home. Take a friend or relative to witness what’s said.

Never agree to meet up in a pub car park or in a lay-by. Check that they really live there – crooks will ‘borrow’ an empty house to allay buyers’ suspicions. If anything makes you suspicious – if their manner is threatening or even your ‘sixth sense’ tells you that something’s amiss – politely make your excuses and walk away.

Ds everything agree?

Check that the registration number on the car is the same on the V5C registration document (the “log book”) and its MoT certificate (if needed). Also check that the vehicle has road tax and that the registration details shown on the disc match the car’s.

Next check that the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) shown on the registration document matches the car’s. You’ll find this within the lower edge of the windscreen on the passenger’s side. Open the bonnet and checking for the number there, too. It should be on a metal plate fixed to the centre cross-panel. If either looks suspiciously new or otherwise tampered with, walk away.

If all is good so far, look at the V5C document. Check to see if it looks original and hold it up to the light to check for a watermark.

Paperwork

If the seller cannot product the registration document of a valid MoT certificate (if needed), do not buy. If the car comes with a service history, ring one of the garages which have a stamp in the service book and ask if they’ve worked on the car. Check that the MoT certificate is valid at www.motinfo.gov.uk – you will need the certificate number to do this.

Inspection

Consider getting in an expert to look at it before you agree to buy. If you belong to a motoring organisation, they may be able to arrange this. Otherwise, use a reliable local garage or mobile mechanic to check it over. Be aware, though, that no inspection promises a fault-free car.

Paying

An immediate bank transfer can be made using the CHAPS system and typically costs £20-£30. You can do this at the seller’s bank, and the money passes from your account to his in minutes. Once it’s there, you can’t get it back.

Cash may seem the most convenient method, but we hardly need say that carrying large amounts is risky. Use common sense and always take a friend for protection.

Cheques and bankers’ drafts can ‘bounce’ or be counterfeit, and your seller may not wish to take them.

Never use a money transfer company such as Western Union or Moneygram – these exist for moving money between people who know each other.

Also, beware of escrow or shipping web sites as many are bogus. Indeed we haven’t been able to find a single legitimate escrow company operating in the UK that handles car transactions.

Three Golden Rules

If you just remember and follow these three rules, you will go a long way to protecting yourself:

1. Check the car: ds it have a hidden history? Is there outstanding finance?
2. Check the seller: get a home number and home address? Can you be sure you can find them again?
3. Check that the seller owns the car: check the V5C and MoT documents relate to the seller and the car

For even more information on how to keep safe when buying and selling, visit the VSTAG web site.