Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice is:Q: I
need a new car for work but I can’t afford to buy a new one so I’ve been
looking at second-hand options. I’ve heard so many horror stories about people
buying cars that turn out to be faulty. I’m worried that I won’t know what to
check, especially as I know very little about cars. How can I make sure I don’t
buy a dud car?
A: For
many people, buying a car is a major purchase and whether it’s new or
second-hand, the process can seem daunting and complicated. But don’t worry,
there’s lots of information on the steps to take when buying a car and what you
can do afterwards if something goes wrong on the Citizens Advice website.
First
of all, where are you going to buy the car? If you’re buying from a trader,
choose a trustworthy one with an established name with a good reputation.
Ideally, they will be part of a trade association or follow the industry’s code
of practice.
If
you’re buying via an auction, this is much riskier as you’ll have fewer legal
protections like the right to returns or refunds so carefully read the terms
and conditions before you bid.
If you
buy from a private seller, there’s a few extra steps to take. For instance, try
to inspect the car at their home address so if something goes wrong later, you
have a record of that.
Make
sure the car’s details are correct by using the DVLA’s free online vehicle information checker. You’ll
need the registration number, MOT test number, mileage and make/model of the
car to do this check. Also, check the car’s MOT history for free on gov.uk
Keep a
copy of both these results (take a screenshot or download the information) as
well as the original advert or description of the car. You might also consider
getting a private history check to see if the car’s been reported stolen, still
has money owing on it, or has been in a serious crash. This will cost about
£20.
Before
buying a car, it’s good to check if it meets emissions standards as it could
mean paying extra charges when driving through London’s ULEZ or clean air
zones across the UK.
Inspecting
the car is crucial before buying. Ideally, do this during the day when it’s not
raining (scratches are harder to see on a wet car) and take it for a test drive
for at least 15 minutes and on different types of road, if possible. Check you
have the appropriate insurance for a test drive (either your own or the
seller’s policy might cover you).
Once
you’ve decided on a car, don’t be afraid to negotiate on the price. If you take
out a loan or finance to buy it, make sure you can afford the repayments over
the lifetime of the contract. If you pay with cash, you will have fewer
protections than other options like debit.
Often,
despite doing all these checks, you might find something wrong with the car
after you’ve bought it. You may have a legal right to a repair, the cost of a
repair or some money back but it’s on a case-by-case basis and some examples
might be the car’s mileage is wrong or the car keeps breaking down.
* For
more information, check out the Citizens Advice website or call its consumer
helpline on 0808 223 1133.
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