www.learners.co.uk - Buying a Car




How sure can you be that the second-hand car you are about to buy is not a stolen vehicle? Nationally, cars are stolen at an alarming rate with about 30% of them never being recovered.
Cars that are stolen do not disappear for ever, they re-enter the second hand car market in a disguised form, and are re-sold to innocent buyers. The disguises will vary from a change of number plates to more definite changes to hide a vehicle's true identity. The worst of it is that if you do buy a car which is later found to be stolen, you will have no right to ownership of the car and it will be taken away from you. You could lose the car and all the money you paid for it!

The following information should help you avoid buying a stolen car.

Your Research

	Decide what make and model you are interested in buying.
	Find out where the vehicle's identification numbers should be.
	Consider taking an independent qualified examiner along with you when viewing a car.


When buying from a private advertisement

		Can you identify the vendor? Beware of mobile telephone numbers which may not be traceable.
		Beware of "between 5pm and 6pm" type adverts. Is it a telephone box? Try calling the number outside the specified hours.
		Does the vendor hold the vehicle registration documents and MOT certificate? If not, ask why not.
		Always arrange to view the car in daylight and at the vendor's home. Make sure that it really is their home.
		Never allow them to bring the vehicle to your home or meet to meet you at another location.

About the vendor

	Is he or she familiar with the car and its controls?
	Question them about the sort of insurance premiums they have paid on the car.
	Is he or she the registered keeper? If not, ask why not.
	When looking at the registration document, it should have a watermark when held up to the light.

Registration Plates

	Do the registration plates appear newer than car?
	Are there too many screw holes?
	Do the registration plates appear to have been taken off at any time? (Remember: Most registration plates display a dealer's name!)


Check Windows

		Are there any dealer's stickers on the windows? If there aren't, ask why not.
		Check carefully to make sure stickers don't conceal anything.
		Are the windows etched with the correct identification numbers?
		Have any areas of glass been scratched off - including head-lamps, tail-lamps and sunroofs.
		Have any windows been broken and replaced? Ask the circumstances.

Vehicle Identification Numbers - When looking at the VIN plate check:

	Does the VIN number match the registration document?
	Does it appear to have been tampered with?
	Have any of the rivets been removed?
	Has the VIN plate been removed? If it has, ask why?

Find the stamped-in vehicle identification number and check:

	The surrounding area for signs of any alteration.
	The 17 digit number should be evenly and levelly spaced and should match the registration number and documents.

Find the engine number and check:

	Does it match with the registration document?
	Has it been tampered with or has the whole engine been changed?

Check the locks and security

	Does the car have a working security system?
	Do any of the locks differ?
	Do any of the door locks and surrounding areas look like they have been damaged?
	Check the locking petrol cap to see if it has been damaged or replaced.

Final Advice when buying a second hand car

If you are unlucky enough to have bought a car which is later found to be stolen, you will not only lose the car but you will have to explain your actions to the police.
Remember: You will lose both the car and the money you paid for it - so be aware!
	Be sure before you buy.
	Never feel pressured into buying a car.
	Never pay cash.
	Always remember: IF IN DOUBT - WALK AWAY

Information reproduced with kind permission of the Greater Manchester and Bedfordshire Police.