It is important to verify the car’s past history before you purchase a used vehicle. It should be on the top of your priority list.
Good news: It’s easy to get a car history report in today’s information age. The VIN (or registration number) of your vehicle is all you need. These details should be easily available from the seller. It’s a sign of serious trouble if they don’t disclose this information.
Recent worrying statistics from RAC show that over half (52%) UK’s used cars have a hidden past – something sellers want to conceal from you. This means that if you don’t do a history check on your car, it’s more likely that you will end up with a car which is going to cause you trouble than not.
They found that 27.5% had an issue regarding a number plate change and 17.6% had outstanding loans attached to them. The RAC also discovered that 14.2% of cars had been deemed insurance write-offs, 1.4% vehicles had been repainted a new colour, 0.2% was listed as stolen, and 0.1% had been scrapped.
Is it worth checking the car’s UK history?
Trends in the UK used car marketplace
Up to the first quarter in 2020, the UK’s used car marketplace was fairly stable with 8 million vehicles being sold. Just over 1.8 million cars were traded in Q4 2019. With the introduction of Covid-19, global economies fell to almost a standstill. Similar conditions were observed in the UK’s used car market.
Although it was up more than 8 percent on Q1 2019, Q1 2020 saw approximately 1.8million cars being sold. The March lockdown caused a drop in sales of more than 30% and slowed steady growth for the first two months. Q2 saw sales drop almost 50% from 2019, and Q3 saw an improvement with the reopening showrooms (4% growth) but, again, the second national lockdown caused sales to plummet by 6% in Q4.
These numbers represent an overall total of approximately 6.7 millions used cars that were sold in 2020. This is a 15% drop from 2019. It was a challenging and difficult year.
2021 has not begun much better. The country was still under tight national lockdown for the majority of the quarter. Sales dropped by 9% compared with Q1 2020. Sales figures increased by 32% in March, as the country began to show signs of lifting lockdown (although March 2020 was when we entered lockdown for the first time).
It’s important to review a vehicle’s history. Failure to do so can lead to huge financial costs down the line that could make the vehicle a financial burden.
Here are four common hidden dangers to buying a used car.
Mileage fraud
In order to make the car seem “less-run”, corrupt car dealers often use a common trick: rolling back the odometer. While it is illegal and difficult to gain access to the system, salespeople sometimes find a way around it.
It is possible to be cheated on your mileage when buying a used car. Let’s say that the odometer reading was halved, from 120,000 miles down to 60,000. It is important to check that all large, critical components like the engine, chassis, and clutch are in good shape at 120,000 miles. Things go wrong when you reach that age. You wouldn’t expect this to happen at 60,000m.
We offer a scan for mileage records as part of a free car check. You can see if your car’s odometer is being tampered with and it will notify you so you can take immediate action to get rid of it.
Unconfirmed accidents
If the previous owner, or any of the owners before them, has had an accident with the car they will choose to cover it rather than repair it. It can be expensive.
To disguise their bad reputations, car dealers may spray tyres with tire blackener. Some dealers might spray the car’s underneath to hide rust or welding, or even use “botch-jobs” quick fixes such holding the suspension drop-link in place with string (yes you can do that sometimes).
This report will allow you to check for any of these types of accidents. We also provide a report that will tell you where the accident occurred so you can see photos or personally verify it.
Physical inspection of the vehicle is a good way to check for unusual rust spots, excessive tyre wear, and mismatched panels (either colour or placement).
Previous usage
Some vehicles, such those used for emergency services, taxis or rentals, are generally not worth as much as an average used car. This is because they have been driven more than average cars and therefore are more likely to be in poorer condition.
It’s not always possible to trust that cars purchased from the UK’s police or ambulance services have been well looked after.
You can get a car history report to see the condition of the vehicle in its past life. You don’t need a cheap car for parts, or to be able to drive around in a hurry, this won’t matter much. It doesn’t matter what, it is important to ensure you are not being ripped off.
Theft
Rivervale Leasing reported that 74 769 vehicles were stolen from the UK in 2020. According to official data, 32,697.400 vehicles were registered in the UK in 2020. These figures indicate that around 0.2% of UK cars were stolen – a frighteningly similar percentage to the RAC findings.
Even though 0.2% may sound small, it can mean that 1 in 500 transactions for used cars could be stolen.
According to the DVLA information, the Ford Fiesta (range Rover), Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus, Ford Focus, and Ford Fiesta are the most frequently stolen cars in the UK.
A stolen car can be dangerous. Even if you are honest about buying it, the law requires you to return it to the original owner. What about getting your money back This is a matter that falls on your shoulders. It’s possible that your insurance company or bank won’t cover the cost. The situation can get even more complicated if the thieves are charged.
What is a VIN and how do you use it?
A vehicle identification numbers (VIN) can be described as a vehicle identification number. Each car comes with a VIN, which is unique to each vehicle.
These numbers are usually found in the doorframe, near the footplate or door catch, or at top of the bonnet. If your vehicle was manufactured after 1981, the number 17 digits are printed on a plate. It can contain letters or numbers (alphanumeric).
VIN is one the most difficult things to forge. Thieves often tamper with the numbers so beware.
Ask to see the VIN and registration plates before buying a used car. You can verify that these details match when you input them into a car-history check platform.
