NORWICH USED CARS
Info@norwichusedcars.co.uk
Telephone 01603 469976
Email info@norwichusedcars.co.uk
Our website www.usedcar-buyer.co.uk gives you all the hints and tips you need regarding what to look for when buying your next used car .
Top 10 tips when buying privately
1. Set a realistic budget including running costs
Build in the cost of insurance and servicing when working out how much you can afford to spend, bearing in mind that older used cars can be cheap to buy but more expensive to run and repair. Compare prices of equivalent models from different sources - dealers, ads, auctions, and websites - and get some estimates of typical repairs.
2. View the car in daylight, at the seller's address
Arrange a daytime viewing at the seller's home so that you can confirm that their address is the same as in the vehicle's V5 registration document. You should be suspicious when:
· the seller's advert only gives a mobile number or specifies a time to call a land line, as it may be a public phone box
· the same phone number appears in several different ads
· the seller insists on meeting you away from their own home
Ideally, take a friend for security and to act as another pair of eyes.
3. Look for signs of clocking
Lowering the mileage of a car by turning back, or clocking, the odometer is a common trick used to increase the perceived value of the car. Excessive wear on the steering wheel, gearshift, seats, and foot pedals are all clues to a car that has been driven for a long time. Contact the previous owners in the V5 registration document to ask if they remember the car's mileage when they had the car, to help you check the current mileage. However, remember that the first owner usually has the highest mileage and UK-issued V5 registration documents only show the last two keepers; you may be able to find the original owner's details in the service book.
4. Check that all the documents match up
Make sure you validate the details in the V5 registration document. Check that the service and insurance records, MOT certificate (if applicable) and receipts match up, and also check the service history. Use the V5 registration document to contact previous owners to confirm the car's history. If the car turns out to be stolen or is being used as security for a finance agreement, it will not belong to you - even though you bought it in good faith. And you may have to go to court to prove that you had no idea there was anything wrong. If it is proved that you had reason to be suspicious, you could end up losing your money.
5. Check for forged documents
Check the V5 registration document issue date and serial number, as well as those on any MOT certificates. Compare the date of any keeper change in the V5 registration document with the results from your HPI vehicle registration check to ensure the documents haven't been forged or altered.
6. Beware of false car keys
Separate keys for the driver's door and boot may indicate prior damage or theft.
7. Take a test drive on a variety of roads
Make sure you are properly insured and then test drive the car for at least 10-15 miles on different types of road. Watch for smoke when you start the engine and listen carefully to ensure that it's running smoothly. Also, pay special attention to the steering, checking to see if it pulls under braking. Ideally, take a friend with you for a second opinion.
8. Get a mechanical inspection
An independent inspection by organisations such as the RAC can help to identify potentially expensive mechanical problems and signs of major accident repair. The results will either reassure you that the vehicle is a good buy, tell you to walk away, or give you greater bargaining power.
9. Check with HPI before you buy
Avoid handing over any money until you've checked the car's history and status with HPI. Make sure the information we supply matches the vehicle and the documentation in every respect for total peace of mind and to ensure that you're covered by HPI’s guarantee.
10. If you feel something's not right - walk away
Try not to get emotionally attached to a car or let the paintwork or price blind you to other aspects that don't feel right. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
8 things you should about buying from a dealer
1. What should you expect?
Dealerships must abide by the law and sell good quality vehicles that are correctly described. They should offer some kind of warranty and be using services such as HPI and the National Mileage Register to check the vehicles they are selling. Before you buy, ask to see the dealer's HPI certificate. If they can't provide this proof, then get a check done yourself to be on the safe side.
2. Codes of practice
For added reassurance, find out which of your local dealers belongs to a trade association that requires the firm to abide by a code of practice. Contact the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) or Scottish Motor Trade Association (SMTA) for a list of members.
3. The laws
Dealers have to comply with a whole range of legislation, some of which is specifically targeted at the motor trade, including (links open in a new window):
· The Trade Descriptions Act 1968
· The Consumer Credit Act 1974
· The Supply of Goods and Services Act
· The Data Protection Act 1998
· Distance Selling Regulations
4. What is 'satisfactory' quality?
Sale of Goods legislation rules that the car must meet the standard that a reasonable person would regard as acceptable, bearing in mind the way it was described, how much it cost, and any other relevant circumstances. Apart from usual wear and tear, a used vehicle must be free from defects - except ones pointed out to you and those which should have been uncovered by an inspection (but only if one has been done). Legislation also requires dealers to sell cars only where they have good title.
5. What does 'as described' mean?
Under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, all descriptions applied to a vehicle must be true. For instance, a car cannot be advertised as having had one careful owner if it has actually had three.
6. What does 'reasonably fit for the purpose' mean?
If you have said that you will be using a vehicle for towing a caravan, for example, it must be fit for that purpose - unless the dealer has specified otherwise. Ask for written confirmation of the purpose as proof. For extra reassurance, HPI offers a unique outfit matching service to ensure the car you want to buy can legally tow your caravan. For a fee, you can check the match at www.towsafe.co.uk.
7. Does a car have to be roadworthy?
It's not illegal for a dealer to sell you a car that has been a total loss, provided that you have been made aware of the fact. However, the Road Traffic Acts provide that any vehicle sold for road use must be in roadworthy condition. If the seller cannot provide a Thatcham-approved inspection report, copies of most inspections are available from HPI at an additional cost.
8. What should you do if you are unhappy with the vehicle you have purchased?
Return to the dealer and, if he refuses to take action, contact the following organisations for advice (links open in a new window):
· Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF)
· Society of Motor Manufacturer And Traders (SMMT)
· The Institute of Automotive Engineers and Assessors (IAEA) (for a fee, they will provide an independent assessment)
· The National Caravan Council (for CRiS)
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Used Car Buying Guide
