Clocked and crashed cars
It is an offence under consumer protection law for a business to give false, misleading or deceptive information about the history of a car. It is also an offence for a business not to give relevant important information, such as if a car has been clocked or previously crashed.
Whether you are buying from a dealer or privately, check out our buying a car page to help you when buying a used car.
Clocked cars
Crashed cars
What do I do if I’ve bought a clocked or crashed car?
If you suspect that the car you bought has been clocked or previously crashed, it is very important that you get a mechanic or an independent assessor to check out the car and its history.
You should also report it to us as soon as possible. A delay in reporting it may affect our ability to investigate the trader. We cannot investigate a suspected clocked or crashed car if you have had it for more than three years. You should also provide as much evidence as possible, for example, invoices, correspondence, details of any adverts or descriptions given when you bought it. You can read our car crime consumer guide for more information on what to expect if you make a complaint about car crime to us.
