How to Avoid Used Car Scams and Problems

Cloned cars and fake identities

Cloning means a stolen or written-off car is given the identity of a similar, legitimate one, using copied plates and sometimes forged documents. The first defence is to check that the registration, VIN and engine details on the car match the V5C, and that the V5C itself looks genuine.

Meet at the seller's home address, which should match the address on the logbook. Be wary of meeting in a car park, a seller who is vague about the car's past, or a price that seems too good to be true.

Check the VIN in more than one place, such as the base of the windscreen and a stamped location in the engine bay or door pillar, and make sure none look tampered with or mismatched. If anything looks scratched, covered or inconsistent, walk away.

Clocked mileage

Mileage tampering makes a car look less used than it is. Compare the figure on the dashboard with the MOT history, service records and the wear you can see on the seat, wheel and pedals. If the numbers jump, drop or do not fit the condition, ask for an explanation.

A thorough pre-purchase inspection is a sensible step. A garage can spot wear that does not match the mileage shown, though it cannot give a definite verdict on its own.

Ask yourself whether the story fits the price. A low-mileage car with a suspiciously low price is not a bargain, it is a question. Genuine sellers can explain how the car was used and why they are selling it, and they usually have the records to prove it.

• Check past MOT readings online on the government site
• Look for steady mileage growth in service records
• Compare wear to the displayed mileage
• Be cautious if the seller cannot explain the history

Outstanding finance and hidden history

A car bought on finance may not belong to the seller until the agreement is paid off, and buying one can cause serious trouble. A vehicle history check from a reputable provider can show outstanding finance, previous write-offs, theft markers and plate changes.

Buy the check before you view the car or hand over any money. It is a small outlay compared to the risk, and a seller who objects to you doing it is giving you useful information.

Fake paperwork and unsafe payment

Forged service books and photocopied documents are common. Look at the V5C for the correct format, check the keeper details, and be suspicious of a seller who says the logbook is in the post. Ask to see the seller's ID if buying privately.

Be careful with how you pay. Avoid handing over large amounts of cash or sending money before seeing the car, and think twice about deals that depend on speed or pressure. Take your time, and do not pay a deposit to a stranger on a promise.

Take care with online adverts that copy photos from elsewhere, sellers who only want to communicate by message, and anyone who asks you to pay before you have seen the car. Those are common signs of a fraudulent listing, and a polite refusal costs you nothing.

Buying with more confidence

Buying from a trader brings consumer protections that private sales do not, and you can ask for the car to be inspected before you decide. At Banks of the Tyne, the used cars we sell have been prepared and inspected before sale, and you are welcome to ask what was checked.

If you are selling instead, be just as careful. Take payment securely, and make sure the buyer's details are genuine before handing over the keys and logbook.

If you are in doubt, bring in someone else. A mechanic, a friend or a trusted garage can look at the car and the paperwork with fresh eyes, and the time spent is small next to the cost of buying a problem car.

Frequently asked questions