Car history checking - Courtesy of firstcar.co.uk
Introduction
There are many genuine car sellers, who want to sell their car for an
honest price. But when shopping around for a used vehicle, it is important
to be aware that there is some less than respectable car trade taking
place. Whether it is the resale of stolen cars, or a previously
written-off vehicle making a comeback with new spare parts (‘cut and
shut’). It’s important to look closely at the vehicle before making
your purchase.
Do your homework
There are a number of checks that you can make to make sure you have an honest and safe deal:
· Location
You can tell a lot about the seller by where they want to go ahead with the deal. Most people will have no problem with letting you view the car outside their homes, so be wary of dealers who insist on showing the car in car-parks or service stations – it could mean that they want to be untraceable for some reason.
· Documentation
It is essential that you thoroughly check your paperwork (see later section on Checking the Vehicle). The car’s documentation will give you all the information about the car, so make sure you compare the details in the paperwork to the actual vehicle. The model, engine size and the year of registration should all be stated clearly. If these don’t match up to the vehicle you’re being shown, ask the seller why. If they’re unwilling to co-operate, walk away.
· Vehicle Identification Number
You should check immediately to see if the car has a VIN plate. This unique number is given to the car by the manufacturer and should never be tampered with. If the plate looks like it has been moved at any stage or is even missing, you should make your excuses and leave. A tampered or missing VIN plate may indicate a stolen car or a ‘cut and shut’ car. A motorist should never have any need to remove their VIN plate.
· V5 form or logbook
The logbook will detail the current owner and previous registered owners of the car from the day the car first left the showroom. The first thing you should do is ensure that the current registered owner is the person selling the car. If it’s not, you should be asking questions. Secondly, you should check that the registered address of the car is the same as where you’re viewing it. If it’s not (there could be a perfectly reasonable explanation), find out the reasons why. Always check the history.
You should never buy a car without the ‘New Keeper’s Supplement’ section of the V5 logbook. You should always send this straight off to the
DVLA. It takes no time at all, and this way you know the job has been done.
· Other Paperwork
If the car is over three years old, you will need the MOT papers (most cars under three years old will still be under warranty). If there is no MOT, it could indicate that the car is not fit to drive, or may have even been stolen. Check that the mileage on the latest MOT paper matches up to the current mileage on the car. It’s unlikely to be exactly the same, but it should be close.
Checking the vehicle
Once you’re happy with the history of the car, it’s time to take a thorough look around the car for signs of any deterioration or interference. There are a lot of areas where something can go wrong with a car, so it’s best to take your time and go through a checklist, like the one below, and tick off the areas when you are confident that they are in pristine condition.
Checklist
(source: BBC Motoring )
Bodywork
· Dents
· Scratches
· Rust
· Signs of respray
· Inconsistent paint quality
· Inconsistent panel grips
· Signs of repairs and/or welding
· Body filler
· Compressed chassis legs
· Crash damage in engine bay
· Crash damage in boot area
· VIN plate tampering
Engine
· Oil leaks
· Water leaks
· Oil condition (open filler cap)
· Loose belts
· Corrosion
· Rattles, knocks and screeches
· Engine number plate tampering
· Condition of hoses
· Excessive smoke
· Condition of exhaust pipe
Cabin
· Door trim
· Ripped or stained seat upholstery
· Condition of carpets
· Damaged fascia
· Excessively worn driver seat
· Excessively worn footwell carpet
· Excessively worn pedal rubbers
· Mileage reading
· Rips in roof lining
· Damp or wet patches on carpet/seats
Wheels and tyres
· Kerbed rims/wheel trims
· Uneven tyre wear
· Different tyre sizes
· Different makes of tyres
· Depth of tread
· Damage to tread
· Damage to sidewall
· Condition of spare
· Worn brake discs
· Scratched brake discs
Windscreen and windows
· Dents
· Scratches or chips
· Window operation
· Leaky seals
Electrics
· Headlights
· Rear lights
· Indicators
· Hazard lights
· Reversing light
· Interior light
· Windscreen wipers
· Electric windows
· Electric mirrors
· Audio system
· Heating/ventilation system
· Alarm
· Horn
Professional help
It’s worth getting a professional to do a check on the car before making that final purchase. It doesn’t matter how hard you look over it, something could have slipped past your eye.
A professional car checker, like Car Watch UK , will be able to look into details such as:
· Whether the vehicle is recorded as stolen
· If it has been written-off (total loss claim)
· The Vehicle Identification Number (the chassis number, or VIN)
· Whether the vehicle is recorded as an import
· The current registration
· The log book (V5)
Car Watch UK will run a thorough check on the car, verifying that the vehicle is above board, for about £19.95. They also work extremely closely with the
DVLA, the police and the insurance sector to ensure that the car you’re buying is perfectly legal and safe to drive.
There are also specialists who will run a complete check on the physical condition of the car, to make sure that the car is in fit condition for the road. The service will cost around £100 but, as always, look around for the most competitive price. If you’re with a breakdown company, ask them if they have a checking service – you may receive a discount as a member.
HPI Checking
HPI Checking is similar to car history checking but offers a more detailed service, including factors such as whether the car still belongs to an insurer, or whether the price you’re about to pay is too high. This costs around twice the price of a car history. If you really want to be fully covered, this is the check to go for.
For more information
The information in this resource was written by First Car Ltd and checked by
Car Watch UK
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