When looking at a vehicle, you should always ask to see important documentation about its history. You should look for:
V5 Document – This is the most important piece of paperwork for a vehicle, it is illegal to sell a car without a valid V5 document. It states the registered keeper of the car, you should check the name and address with that of the seller; if you suspect something is wrong you are probably best to walk away. It also lists the VIN number, which you should check against those on the car thoroughly.
MOT certificates - These also record mileages, allowing you to check whether the current mileage on the car is genuine. A current MOT certificate also helps to show that the car should not be too faulty; as it has been passed safe to drive in the last year. Seeing old MOT certificates can help to prove that the mileage is valid.
Logbook / Service History – This is important in establishing whether the cars history is genuinely as described. There should be a dealer stamp in each entry, and they should be signed by an engineer. If all the stamps are from the same garage, check that any other registered owners have been in the local area.
Occasionally people will get unscrupulous garages to back-stamp past services that have really been missed, in which case you should walk away from the car. Although several missing service history logs are nothing to get worried about on their own; they do mean that you should be cautious when looking at the rest of the car.
Tax Disc – You should be sure of seeing a registered tax disc, and if possible you should see the relevant documents to back it up.
HPI / Car data checks
When buying a second hand vehicle, you can help to make sure the car you buy is legitimate by conducting an HPI or similar background check. This puts together all the financial, mileage and condition data that is known about the car by the government and insurers to provide a reliable reading of whether the car is a safe buy.
A check can reveal many problems; including:
Outstanding Finance – This could mean the car is repossessed even though you have paid honestly for it.
‘Clocked’ Mileage – This means that the mileage has been changed, and the car is more worn out than claimed; it could also be older than stated.
Theft – The car is stolen, and you could end up losing the car when it is return to the true owner.
Write-Off – This means that the car has been in a serious accident, and then repaired. If these repairs are badly done, the car could be dangerous; and even with good repairs the car is likely to be less reliable, and is certainly worth considerably less money than a perfect equivalent
Many garages and dealers (particularly larger ones) conduct HPI checks on vehicles before they sell them. This can save you money in checking them, but you need to see written proof that the check has been done; and that it showed no problems with the vehicle
Each HPI check costs around £40, but is guaranteed in several areas (as long as you have provided specific information); so will provide you with some compensation if the car turns out to be stolen, a write-off, or if certain aspects of the car were incorrect. The mileage and value shown in a check is not guaranteed in the majority of cases.
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