We pick up some top tips from David Bilsborough, of Cheshire Cars in Crewe, who’s provided the following advice when deciding whether or not to invest in a second-hand vehicle.
These tips should help you to stay reasonably safe and secure when making sure the vehicle you choose is genuine.
DO…
– Check the vehicle’s Vehicle Identity Number (or VIN for short) that it’s correctly positioned and unmarked, and that it matches up to that inside the Registration Document (V5)
– Look for the vehicle’s service record, making sure the dates and mileages tally up
– Check on the Gov.co.uk website for the vehicle’s MOT history – this will show the previous MOTs and any work done plus any future potential work to be done
– Complete your own inspection with either HPI, or similar providence check, for: accident write-off, outstanding finance, any mileage discrepancy
– If not confident, ask for someone to come along with you with the relevant experience, as a back up to check what you see and are told by the seller
– Ask questions of the seller (such as the reason for sale and how long they have owned the vehicle)
– Pay for an independent inspection if the seller hasn’t already had one carried out, only accept written proof of one having being completed
– Take a long test drive using a mixture of slow and fast roads with different surfaces
DON’T…
– Don’t be rushed take your time in making a decision
– Don’t take “I think so” as evidence of a spare key or missing service history
– Don’t take the answer “no, it’s not been a write-off” – use the companies that specialise in data to confirm that it isn’t
– Don’t be afraid to say “no” and walk away
