Have you carried out a used car check

Few homeowners would ever consider buying a property without carrying out a full survey on the building. Surprisingly, however, many motorists will buy a second-hand car without prior checks.

New research by motoring organisation RAC has found 70% of used-car buyers have bought a car without delving into the background history of the car.

It’s now easier than ever to look into the history of a second-hand car. In fact, a simple MOT history check can be performed online within minutes, helping you to build a picture of the life of the vehicle.

According to the RAC Car Passport study, which interviewed more than 2,300 motorists, second-hand car buyers are still relying on gut instincts to make purchasing decisions which could later hit them in the pocket.

The research showed only 8% of motorists who have bought a used car decided to pay for a professional inspection to be completed before parting with their hard-earned money.

Even more worryingly, 34% of motorists said they recruited a friend or relative to complete a vehicle check for them instead. And just 10% of those interviewed said they had paid for a history report to be carried out.

The study showed that one in four motorists proceeded to buy a car on ‘face value’ alone and almost half (45%) said they had later felt deceived by the seller. One in five said they felt they had paid too much money for the car – a problem which could have been avoided if they had carried out an independent valuation.

Around 2.7m second-hand cars are sold privately in the UK every year. However, buying a used car can be a risky business. Buyers sometimes end up with overvalued vehicles whose have been tampered with or worse, a written-off vehicle which has been illegally rebuilt.

In other situations, second-hand cars have been stolen before being resold or sold on with an outstanding debt, both situations leaving the buyer with neither a car nor their money.

Many organisations, including the RAC, now offer a vehicle check service to provide buyers with more confidence of the background history of their intended purchase.

Such a scheme not only checks whether the car has any outstanding debt or whether it has been written off, but in many cases provides a valuation that motorists can cross check with the current advertised price.

Buyers often spend hours or days comparing car prices and mileage details to ensure they are receiving value for money before buying their used car. More homework is needed to ensure the vehicle stands up to scrutiny with a thorough history check.

We hope you found this article on ‘have you carried out a used car check’ of interest. If you would like to discuss this article in more detail or would like to book your vehicle in for a service, then please call us here at M&BM Motors on 01375 379401.