FAQ Friday: I want to buy a used car. How can I check if it is safe?
June 30, 2023
On the last Friday of every month, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) from the thousands of consumers who contact us. This month, we share our tips and advice to help you make sure the used car that you buy is safe and roadworthy.
How can I check that the used car I’m buying is safe?
Before you buy any car, you should know who you are buying it from. Are you buying from a car dealer or from a private seller? If you buy from a car dealer, you have strong consumer rights. Your car should be:
- Of reasonable, acceptable quality given its age, cost and history
- Fit for purpose and roadworthy
- As described by the seller, either verbally or in an advertisement
You do not have these consumer rights if you buy from a private seller.
Regardless of who you buy from:
- Bring the car for a test drive first
- Have it independently checked by a mechanic
- Get a full history of the car
There are companies that provide a full car history for a small fee. It shows whether the car was ever crashed, its true mileage, the number of previous owners, and whether there is any outstanding finance on it. You can also find out if someone else had recently bought the car, realised it had a fault and sold it again quickly.
This is my first car; what questions should I ask the seller before I buy?
One of the most important things to ask the seller is whether there is any outstanding finance on the car. If there is, it means there is still money owed on the car. You could find yourself liable for the outstanding amount, even after you have handed money over to the seller. Also, the person selling the car may not actually own the car, and may not have the right to sell it to you.
There are other questions you should ask too, including:
- Has the car ever been crashed?
- Is the mileage correct?
- Has any bodywork or major mechanical work been done on the car?
For a full list of questions to ask, check out our handy car buyer’s checklist. You can print it off, go through the questions with the seller, and ask them to sign it.
What are my options if something goes wrong after I buy a car?
If you buy from a car dealer, you have strong consumer rights if something goes wrong. You have a straightforward right to cancel for a full refund if a fault appears in the first 30 days after you buy the car. After that, you still have the usual redress options including repair, replacement, price reduction or refund. Just bear in mind that these rights may not apply if the issue relates to wear and tear that was pointed out to you before you bought the car.
But, if you discover a problem after buying a car from a private seller, there may be little you can do beyond taking a civil case through the courts.
If you think that the car has been clocked – this is where the wrong mileage is showing on the odometer – you should contact us immediately. This is a serious offence and the CCPC can investigate your complaint. For more information on making a complaint, check out our car crime booklet.
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