| Buying a used car can be a perilous | | | | concluded. If possible, take someone who is |
| experience for many because unfortunately | | | | fairly knowledgeable about cars with you when |
| there are fraudsters and conmen who seek to | | | | you go to view a potential purchase. They |
| profit from others naivety, and are quite | | | | might pick up something that you may miss, |
| unscrupulous when it comes to selling cars | | | | and they can always give you a second |
| that are not fit for the road, and in some | | | | opinion. |
| cases downright dangerous! | | | | |
| | | | Although whilst it is a good move to get |
| Horror stories abound of people purchasing | | | | cheap car insurance you shouldn't always go |
| second hand cars only to find they've | | | | for the cheapest car because another |
| actually bought a 'cut and shut' - two halves | | | | favourite trick of a fraudster is to sell a |
| of separate written off cars that have been | | | | car on which there is outstanding finance at |
| welded together to form a reconstructed | | | | a massive discount. Usually advertised at |
| vehicle. Needless to say such cars are death | | | | market rates, the seller will normally offer |
| traps, and people selling them are breaking | | | | a big discount for cash. It's easy for him to |
| the law. Buy a car such as this and not only | | | | be so generous because he doesn't actually |
| is your life at risk but every penny you | | | | own the car, it is the property of a finance |
| spend on it is likely to be unrecoverable. | | | | company who will seek to recover the car or |
| | | | the outstanding balance from anyone who |
| Stolen cars are often offered for sale along | | | | actually parts with cash and buys it in good |
| with the V5 log books. The first thing a | | | | faith. |
| motorist will know about the fact that it is | | | | |
| a stolen vehicle is when they send the buyers | | | | If you are in such a position motoring |
| portion of the V5 to the DVLA and receive a | | | | organisations such as the AA offer to check |
| visit from a police officer. If you have any | | | | whether there is any outstanding finance on |
| doubts you should abandon a purchase, even if | | | | the car. They charge a fee of £35, but as |
| you have paid a deposit. Go to a reputable | | | | they say if it appears too good to be true, |
| dealer, not a private seller who will be | | | | it inevitably is, and that upfront fee could |
| untraceable once the transaction has been | | | | save you a fortune in the long run. |