DRIVERS have been urged to ask five critical questions when buying their next motor to avoid being ripped off.
Ben Goodwin, the sales director of Big Motoring World, explained that unscrupulous dealerships could palm you off with a vehicle that isn’t worth the money if you forget to check some essential details.
Sharing his top tips for buying a used car, Ben advised being as thorough as possible, especially when it comes to safety.
First of all, it is vital to ask whether the vehicle has ever been involved in an accident.
Any good dealership should have at least some vehicle history and the past few years’ service documents will give an insight into any potential damage lurking under the body.
Even if it underwent repairs, a car that has been involved in a collision could be at risk of developing faults, especially if there was any structural damage.
For extra peace of mind, you can carry out an online HPI check.
These usually cost about £10 and will tell you if the car was ever in an accident, written off or reported stolen.
Likewise, Ben encouraged customers to check if any parts had been replaced which, again, could be indicative of previous damage.
And also be sure to ask whether any modifications have been made, especially those which could put any extra stress on the car like having the engine tuned or the exhaust swapped.
If major changes have been made, it’s probably best to steer clear.
Finally, Ben suggested making sure you know how many miles the car has covered and when the last MOT was carried out.
Both of these things can be checked online for free at gov.uk simply by entering the vehicle’s registration.
Just search DVLA registration check, enter the plate number and look at the MOT history section.
This will tell you when each of the car’s MOT tests were and what the mileage was at each one.
Importantly, it can also tell you if MOT and tax on the car are still valid, which could save you a hefty £1,000 fine.
Ben added: “No matter who or where you are buying a used car from, you need to ask the right questions to ensure you are making the correct decision.
“It’s also important to ask the right questions to protect yourself from some people out there who may be trying to rip you off.
“Be particularly wary of deals that sounds too good to be true from private sellers, as those transactions aren’t covered by The Consumer Rights Act.
“To avoid many common risks associated with buying a used car, we recommend buying from a reputable dealer.”
It comes after a car dealer of 43 years revealed the exact time to nab the best deal on a new motor.
