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