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Summary
Avoid the pitfalls when you buy a second hand car in the UK. This article tells you how.
18 Tips for privately buying a second hand car.
• Do some initial homework. Find out about the type of car you are considering. Check out any known mechanical problems with that model.
• Check out the current second hand values for the car. A good place to start is www.what car .com. Also get your local paper and some of the specialist second hand car magazines and look up the prices of similar cars.
• How much will it cost you to insure the car? That's so easy to do on the Internet - get a quote or two. It'll just take a few minutes.
• Also check out the car's other running costs. ( cheap mortgages for uk residents ) Again www.what car .com will help. Make sure you can afford to run the car!
• When you go to see a car insist on seeing the registration documentation, including its MOT certificate if the car is more than 3 years old. < bad credit loans >This will also show the cars' chassis number. Check that the documents all tallies with the car. Be sure that the person selling the car does actually own it and always see it at the seller's own home or business premises.
• Make sure that the address on the Registration Document is the address where you are viewing the car - if not ask why. Be suspicious.
• Examine the Road Tax disc. Is it still valid and do the registration number on the disc matches the Registration document? < Cheap mortgages - great remortgage articles >
• Ask to look at the cars' Service Record. This will also show the cars' chassis number and details of the first owner. If the Service record is not available, has the owner kept any of the service or repair bills?
• Now look under the bonnet and find the VIN Number (it could also be on the chassis). Check out that the VIN number tallies with the number on the Registration Document and that the number stamped on the car has not been interfered with. ( life insurance specialist )This will help to ensure that the car hasn't had its identity changed.
• Take a friend with you who knows' about cars - not only to look at the car but also to be a witness for what is said and agreed.
• Never pay for a car on your first visit and don't be pushed into paying a deposit. You need to carry out some checks before you part with any money (see 17 below).
• Ask the owner if the car has outstanding finance. Take notes of what he/she says. When you get home check out the information with RAC Vehicle Status Check. Go to the RAC' web site. Click on Car Buying and then Vehicle Status Checks. The Status Check will cost you £24.99 but it will tell you if the vehicle has outstanding finance.