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• BUYERS GUIDE TO SECOND HAND CARS |
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Unless you are lucky enough to
afford a brand new car, then you will probably be looking for a second hand
vehicle. When buying your first car there are a lot of things to consider. The
key to making the right choice is research.
| If this will be your first car then you are bound
to be excited, but it is better to stay calm, be sensible, and take the time to
make the right choice. If you make a mistake, you could lose a lot of money or
have a nasty accident, or both! You can be ripped off in many different ways.
It is often difficult to distinguish between a disguised 'disaster car' and a
sound buy. This guide will help you to tell the difference. |
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| Before
you rush off to find your first car |
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| Research |
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Decide what make and model you are
interested in. |
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Set a budget and stick to it. |
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Find out what the insurance costs are
likely to be on the type of car you are looking for. |
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Think about servicing and repair costs.
Where would you take the car to be fixed and serviced? |
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Whether you
buy from a dealer or privately, there are many things to look out for and
check. Don't be in a hurry to buy, there are plenty of cars out there, and
plenty of people ready to take your money. Shop around and compare prices for
cars of the same age and condition. |
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| What to look for when buying a
car |
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Look for reputable dealers - ask the advice of friends.
Also look for a trade association sign which means that the garage should
follow a code of practice. |
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Take care when buying from private owners as you have
fewer legal rights than when buying from a dealer. Keep a copy of the
advertisement or write down anything the seller says. |
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If buying privately, make sure the
seller's name and address is on the vehicle
registration document. |
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Make sure the registration document correctly describes the car you
are buying. |
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Take along a mechanic friend. Examine the car in broad
daylight and also take it for a test drive. Alternatively get it looked at by a
professional or an independent qualified examiner. |
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Ask to see the service record, and if the car is more
than three years old, the MOT certificate. Does the car's condition
match up with the documents and records? |
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If you buy from a garage, check what any guarantee
covers and what it excludes. Is there a warranty of any kind?
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| Ask lots of questions about the car. If the vendor is genuine and honest,
he or she will be happy to tell you anything you want to know. Remember if you
are at all suspicious about the vendor or the car you are viewing, then walk
away! |
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| Buying any used car can be a gamble, but you can reduce the risk by
getting independent expert advice. |
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• DON'T BE A VICTIM OF CAR CRIME |
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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!
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following information should help you avoid buying a
stolen car. |
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| Your Research |
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Decide what make and model you
are interested in buying. |
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Find out where the vehicle's
identification numbers should be. |
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Consider taking an independent
qualified examiner along with you when viewing a car. |
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| When buying from a private
advertisement |
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Can you identify the vendor? Beware of mobile telephone
numbers which may not be traceable. |
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Beware of "between 5pm and 6pm" type adverts.
Is it a telephone box? Try calling the number outside the specified
hours. |
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Does the vendor hold the vehicle
registration documents and MOT certificate? If not, ask
why not. |
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Always arrange to view the car in daylight and at the
vendor's home. Make sure that it really is their home. |
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Never allow them to bring the vehicle to
your home or meet to meet you at another location. |
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| About
the vendor |
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Is he or she familiar with the car and its controls? |
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Question them about the sort of insurance premiums they have paid
on the car. |
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Is he or she the registered keeper? If not, ask
why not. |
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When looking at the registration document, it should have a
watermark when held up to the light. |
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| Registration Plates |
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Do the registration plates appear newer than
car? |
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Are there too many screw holes? |
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Do the registration plates appear to have
been taken off at any time? (Remember: Most registration plates display a
dealer's name!) |
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| Check Windows |
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Are there any dealer's stickers on the windows? If
there aren't, ask why not. |
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Check carefully to make sure stickers don't conceal
anything. |
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Are the windows etched with the correct
identification numbers? |
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Have any areas of glass been scratched off - including
head-lamps, tail-lamps and sunroofs. |
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Have any windows been broken and replaced?
Ask the circumstances. |
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| Vehicle
Identification Numbers - When looking at the VIN plate check: |
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Does the VIN number match the registration document? |
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Does it appear to have been tampered with? |
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Have any of the rivets been removed? |
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Has the VIN plate been removed? If it has, ask why? |
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| Find the
stamped-in vehicle identification number and check: |
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The surrounding area for signs of any alteration. |
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The 17 digit number should be evenly and levelly spaced and should
match the registration number and documents. |
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| Find the engine number and
check: |
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Does it match with the registration
document? |
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Has it been tampered with or has the whole engine been
changed? |
| Check
the locks and security |
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Does the car have a working security system? |
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Do any of the locks differ? |
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Do any of the door locks and surrounding areas look like they have
been damaged? |
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Check the locking petrol cap to see if it has been damaged or
replaced. |
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• GETTING YOUR CAR ON THE ROAD |
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There's a lot more to driving than
just passing your test and buying a car. Before you can legally drive on public
roads you must have ...
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A valid insurance certificate covering you for
3rd party liability |
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A valid Vehicle Excise Duty disc (tax disc) |
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An MOT Certificate (if your vehicle is more than three years old) |
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| These are just the basic
requirements. It is also your legal responsibility to ensure that your car is
roadworthy and safe to drive. Unless your car was bought from a reputable car
dealer you would be well advised to have it checked by a garage or a qualified
vehicle mechanic as soon as you can. |
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| INSURANCE |
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It is illegal and irresponsible to drive
without insurance. If caught you could face prosecution and a fine of up to
£5000. You can arrange vehicle insurance cover with an insurance company,
a broker or some motor dealers. The cost of motor insurance varies depending on
your age, the type of car being insured, intended use, power and capacity of
engine and whether you have had any driving convictions or accidents. Buy the
best insurance you can afford as it often works out cheaper in the long run.
There are three main types of motor insurance as follows:
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Third Party Insurance
Third party is the cheapest insurance cover and is the legal minimum. It means
that if involved in an accident, you will be covered against claims from anyone
you may injure and damages to property belonging to anyone else. It does not
cover damage to your vehicle or injury to yourself. |
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Third Party Fire and Theft
This insurance is the same as Third Party but also includes cover against theft
of your vehicle and damage by fire. |
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Comprehensive Insurance
This is the most expensive and the best insurance cover you can have. It covers
damage to other persons injured, property belonging to anyone else, fire and
theft. It also covers damage to your vehicle, replacement parts for your
vehicle if damaged in an accident and personal injury to yourself. |
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| ROAD TAX OR
VEHICLE EXCISE DUTY |
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Road tax must be paid either yearly or
half-yearly and the valid tax disc must be clearly displayed on your vehicle. A
tax disc cannot be transferred to another vehicle. You can obtain a Vehicle
Excise Duty Application form from any Post Office. Most Post Offices will deal
with your application, and on payment, issue you with a tax disc.
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| When you apply for a tax disc
you will have to provide: |
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A completed application form |
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A valid certificate of insurance |
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An MOT certificate if your vehicle is over three years old |
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The appropriate payment |
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| VEHICLE
TEST CERTIFICATE (MOT) |
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| The MOT test applies to all vehicles
which are three or more years old. The purpose of the MOT test is to check your
vehicle's safety and environmental systems, to ensure they meet the required
standards. The MOT can be carried out at any Vehicle Testing Station. An MOT
certificate lasts for one year and you can have your car tested up to one month
before the current certificate runs out. |
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| If your car fails the MOT you must
arrange to have the repairs carried out as soon as possible. You cannot use
your vehicle until it has been re-tested and passed,
except when ... |
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Driving it away from the testing station after failing an MOT test |
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Driving to have the repairs done |
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Driving to an MOT test appointment that has been booked in advance |
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| Remember that an MOT is not a guarantee that your car is roadworthy. It
just means that it reached the required standards for the certificate. It is
your responsibility to maintain your car and have it checked regularly. |
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• KEEPING YOUR CAR ON THE ROAD |
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So you have your car and at
present it's running smoothly. But what happens when something goes wrong? This
section will help you to keep your car on the road, whatever the
weather.
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When maintaining your car PREVENTION IS THE BEST POLICY.
Regular servicing and checks will keep your car in good mechanical order, but
minor problems can still spring up, usually at the least convenient time! Don't
ignore any minor faults in the hope that they will go away. If left, small
problems usually turn into much bigger ones which could result in an expensive
repair or a possible breakdown. |
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| Get into the habit of carrying out the following
routine checks on your car: |
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| WEEKLY
CHECK |
| Oil |
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Water |
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Battery |
| Tyres |
| Screen washer
fluid |
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| SEASONAL
CHECK |
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| Screen
de-icer |
| Antifreeze |
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| BEFORE ANY LONG
JOURNEYS DOUBLE CHECK |
| Lights and
windows are clean |
| All lights
including indicators are working |
| Fuel
level |
| Oil
level |
| Hydraulic
fluid levels |
| Water
level |
| Tyre
pressures |
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| Your car handbook should show you the correct fluid
levels and tyre pressures for your car, also what the car system warning
signals mean. Take some time to read through all this information so that you
are prepared for any problems that may arise. |
Another important point is to ensure you have enough FUEL for your
journey. This may seem obvious but the breakdown services record thousands of
instances of drivers running out of fuel every year! This situation is easily
avoided by keeping an eye on your fuel gauge and carrying a spare safety can of
petrol.
In addition to carrying out routine checks on your vehicle it is a good
idea to have an emergency kit in your car which should include: |
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| GENERAL
KIT |
| Battery jump
leads |
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Torch |
| Mobile phone,
phone card or small change for telephone |
| Money for
emergencies or parking meters! |
| Warm coat or
rug |
| First Aid
kit |
| Spare fuses
and bulbs for the car |
| Warning
triangle |
| Chocolate bar
or food item and drink |
| Fuel
can |
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| SUMMER |
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Water container
filled with
water + anti-freeze
(in case of
water loss) |
Drink
(in case you get
thirsty!) |
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| WINTER |
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| Spade |
Mat or sacking
(in case you get
stuck in snow) |
| De-icer
spray |
| Window
scraper |
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| By following the simple advice above you are much less
likely to break down, get stuck, or have problems with your car. It's well
worth the small extra effort to ensure that you can enjoy safe and carefree
motoring. |
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