'Check it, don't regret it' when you buy a used car

A question about : 'Check it, don't regret it' when you buy a used car

The Citizens Advice consumer service gets over 80,000 calls a year with questions about used cars.

As one of the most expensive purchases we make - but with scope for things to go badly wrong if there are problems - it's an area worth genning up on before buying.

Check out the Check it, Don't regret it tips and share your used car catastrophes to warn other drivers below.

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Best answers:

• Just bought a used car. Did an hpi check (think they're called car data checks now) with RAC - 10% off code for members gave a price of Ј13.95.
  Worth it to check there is no finance registered.
• Only for private sale cars, surely? A trader must have a valid HPI check to advertise a car on a forecourt as far as I know. And, as far as i know, this campaign is all about eliminating rogue traders? Private cars are all sold as seen.
  Happy to be proved wrong?
• Can't see the point in paying for one when buying from a legit trader. Ask to see the checks they have done, otherwise Solera are getting two bites from the same cherry.
  If you do feel the need to get a standalone HPI check on a car from a dealer, don't. You obviously have twitched about something else you don't like about the car or the trader, so move on, there's plenty of choice out there.
• Buying a car with finance on it is one thing. It's sometimes possible you can keep the car if purchased in good faith. Buying a car with a dreaded Log Book Loan on it is a whole new ballgame.
• The phrase:
  'Check the MOT - it shows the car was roadworthy when the test was passed.'
  Isn't true, the MOT checks that testable items met the minimum standard at the time of test, not everything that makes a car roadworthy is checked during a MOT.
  Examples of this are tinted front side windows, not testable, but will get you a VOSA prohibition, prop shaft security is another one, it can be about to fall off and potentially cause a serious accident, but it isn't testable.
• Care also needs to be taken with adverts on places like gumtree and autotrader. There are plenty of scams to look out for.
  A few things to be wary of -
• Sellers who are abroad (or somewhere else, where they claim it makes it difficult for you to view the car). They will tell you that they will have the car delivered to you for evaluation and that you can pay by PayPal (or similar), who will hold the money in escrow while you test the car. There is no car and paypal (or whatever other company the scammer uses) don't offer an escrow service for car approval. See this site for an example of the type of emails received.
• Phished dealer accounts on autotrader (and probably other sites). Fake adverts will be posted on autotrader using stolen dealer accounts. The adverts will stear you away from contacting the dealership by saying it is a private sale or that the office is closed and to contact a specific email address (either in the description or one of the images). This is a prolific scam at the moment, with many fake adverts being posted daily on AutoTrader alone (particularly at the weekends). If in doubt, or the deal looks too good to be true, find the dealer's details from directory enquiries and phone them about the car.
• Fake websites. Scammers will set up fake websites claiming to be a dealer. Do some groundwork, before you send them the money. Check the registration of their domain - if it is recent, or the registrant details look strange (or are hidden) then take caution. Don't be tempted to pay money (even if they promise it is refundable) unless you have physically seen the car.

Google any email addresses that are used. Use Google's reverse image search or TinEye to see where the images used were stolen from.
If you get an email claiming to be from PayPal or some other payment provider, click reply-to and take a look at the domain (the bit after the @) that the email is going to - does it look legitimate (check the domain registration)?
Be wary if the seller wants you to send funds by Western Union or Moneygram or bank transfer - all of which are unreversable.