How to Avoid Being a Victim of Car Scams

As the old saying goes if something looks too good to be true it probably is! At

the risk of becoming a victim of a car buying scam, be wary of used Aston Martins that the Aston Martin dealer is selling off too cheaply. The market value of a car is a good indication of what you should expect to pay, and although not all cheap' used cars are dodgy you should watch out for the most popular used car scams.

Clocked cars

Generally the lower a cars' mileage the better the nick and the more money a seller can flog it for! Dodgy car dealers have been known to wind cars' odometers back using a computer and special software in order to claim low mileage.

MOT certificates and service history will show past mileage readings but there is no telling this is the actual mileage or when/if the odometer has been tampered with. In this case you will have to use your common sense, does that 10 year old Ford Fiesta look like it's done only 30,000 miles? Worn pedals and saggy driver's seat should give you a good idea!

Stolen Goods

Not all stolen cars are recovered and those unlucky enough to have bought a stolen car could find that their car is taken away by the police, with little chance of getting their money back from the seller!

You won't be able to tell from a superficial look that a car is stolen; criminals will always replace the original number-plate with a fake and may even re-spray the stolen car. Criminals selling stolen cars will be keen for a quick sale and bank on unsuspecting buyers not looking too closely.

Check that the VIN (vehicle registration number) on the V5C registration document matches all the VINs on the car (you will find stickers on door edges, boot lid and bonnet.) After which check with the DVLA that the V5C itself is not bogus. Do not feel pressured to sign on the dotted line until you are sure the car is legit!

Money Worries

It's not just the condition of the car you should be concerned about when buying a used car, many unsuspecting buyers have fallen foul of unpaid car finance.

When a buyer purchases a car on finance and later wish to end the contract an early settlement figure has to be agreed with the finance company. After the loan has been settled the owner is free to sell. But there are many unscrupulous sellers that are flogging cars with outstanding finance to new buyers who will then find they do not legally own the car.

What's more, although the poor buyer is protected by the Consumer Credit Act 1974, they will have to prove they did not know about the outstanding debt otherwise the finance company can repossess the car. A HPI check will show, amongst other things, if a car has any outstanding finance, an invaluable check before you buy!

Accident damage

If you can knock out the bumps and disguise faults, any write-off can be turned into a seemingly good car if you are a criminal. Cut 'n' shut creations, two cars cobbled together into one whole undamaged' car, can also look safe but are effectively death traps, especially if involved in another accident.

A vehicle history check will reveal if a car has been written off by an insurer, but not all are identified. A good mechanic, will be able to detect signs a car has been repaired, especially as the work is unlikely to be of a high standard! You can also find out if the cars registration document is fake or stolen by calling the DVLA.

How to Avoid Being a Victim of Car Scams

By: sara wright

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