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buy a 2nd hand car 22/12/05 11:49 am Page 1
BUY A SECOND HAND CAR
BUY A SECOND HAND CAR
BUY A SECOND HAND CAR
Environmental Health
safety and environmental standards on a 7. BUYING ON CREDIT OR HIRE For Further Information & Trading Standards
specific date. It could have deteriorated or
PURCHASE
been in an accident since and may even be
unroadworthy. If you doubt the validity of an Before signing any credit documents, make
Should you require any further advice please
contact:
Trading Standards
MOT certificate you can contact the Vehicle sure that you understand the terms of the 20 Marsh Common Road,
and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) within agreement and that the details on the form Pilning,
1 month of the MOT being carried out for are correct. South Gloucestershire, BS35 4JX
mechanical issues and within 3 months for NEVER SIGN A BLANK FORM.
Tel: 01454 634000
corrosion. They can arrange a re-MOT and
inspect the examiner if further investigation is
needed.
The Consumer Credit Act 1974 regulates
agreements used to purchase cars on
credit up to £25,000. When the agreement
Email:
trading.standards@southglos.gov.uk
BUY A SECOND
The contact details for the VOSA enforcement
department for the South Gloucestershire
is Hire Purchase or Conditional Sale, it is
the finance company, which is directly
responsible to you in law. It is generally
Website:
www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/southglos HAND CAR
Area is Tel: 0117 966 2855 or alternatively
the main Enquiry unit on Tel: 0845 600 9577. not advisable to stop making payments.
More information can be found in our
Always try to take the car for a test drive ‘Buying on Credit’ leaflet.
and if possible drive it yourself (i.e. don’t
just let the seller drive you ‘round the
block’).
8. IF THINGS GO WRONG...
Always obtain a receipt which clearly states
the name and address of the seller, the Make a complaint (preferably in writing) to
date of purchase, vehicle registration the garage as soon as possible. A step-by-
number and the purchase price. step guide on how to resolve your complaint This information can be made
Remember you statutory rights can protect along with sample letters can be found in our available in other languages, in
you, but it is also up to the buyer to ‘Buying Goods’ leaflet. large print, Braille or on audio tape.
‘Beware’, so don’t buy: If matters still cannot be resolved, as a last Please phone 01454 868686 if you
need any of these or any other help
✗ if there are no documents available
or unexplained discrepancies
resort having weighed up the pros and cons,
you may wish to consider taking the matter to access Council services.
further through the County Court’s Small
✗ if the seller is reluctant to let you
drive/examine the vehicle Claims Procedure. For more information about this publication
contact Tel: 01454 868686
✗ if the seller is evasive about
answering your questions
Designed by South Gloucestershire Council Graphics &
Mapping Services ref 10455/01/06 Tel: 01454 863763
Printed by South Gloucestershire, printed on recycled paper
Never purchase a vehicle unless and 75% Post Consumer Waste
This leaflet has been prepared to assist Date of Publication 01/06
until you are satisfied that the vehicle is consumers by South Gloucestershire Council Free internet access is available at all
suitable for your requirements and you Trading Standards. It is not an authoritive South Gloucestershire libraries
are happy about its history and
condition.
document and is intended for guidance only. www.southglos.gov.uk
buy a 2nd hand car 22/12/05 11:49 am Page 2
BUY A SECOND HAND CAR
BUY A SECOND HAND CAR
BUY A SECOND HAND CAR
BUY A SECOND HAND CAR
For most people, after their home, a a member of a trade organisation this vehicle as it is reasonable to expect more if problems arise). Check that the seller is
motor vehicle is the most expensive may give you someone to turn to for help wear and tear than a new car. For example the person named on the registration
purchase they make and so an unwise if problems arise. you would expect to replace a cam-belt document - if not, why not? Is this a
purchase can be a very costly mistake. A after 70,000 miles, therefore if after genuine private sale? Some dealers pose as
Ask about a warranty and if one is on
poor quality vehicle will also be purchase you found that this component private sellers so as to try to avoid their
offer, check what this covers/excludes.
unreliable and expensive to maintain, so was faulty it would be difficult to reject legal responsibilities should things go
Beware of expensive warranties that
wrong.
here are a few useful points to bear in actually offer little protection. Ask to see the vehicle. Fair wear and tear does not
mind when buying a vehicle. full details of any warranty for which you make a second vehicle faulty. 5. BUYING AT AUCTIONS...
pay extra so that you can study these
before committing yourself. Remember Remember: you can’t complain about faults Beware of buying at auctions where your
1. BEFORE YOU BUY... warranted or not you still have your which were specifically pointed out to you at rights can be restricted by the auctioneer’s
statutory rights if the vehicle is defective. the time of purchase or which you should conditions of business as they are acting as
When choosing a used vehicle it pays to
have noticed if you examined the vehicle (e.g. an agent for the seller. Only buy if you are
‘do your homework’. Start by deciding If buying on credit, shop around for the
a scratch or surface rust). sure you know what you’re doing - it may be
what sort of vehicle you require and can best place to obtain a loan. Check that all too late afterwards. When buying from
afford. Consult specialist car magazines the details on the agreement are correct More details can be found in our ‘Buying auctions vehicles are usually ‘sold as seen’
for a guide to prices and maintenance and NEVER sign a blank form. Services’ leaflet of your Statutory Rights, as you have no statutory rights.
costs and information on which models
have a good record on reliability. remedies available to you when things go 6. POINTS TO REMEMBER...
3. THE LAW wrong and how to resolve the complaint.
If you are not knowledgeable about (YOUR STATUTORY RIGHTS) Look carefully at the service record; has the
vehicles, take someone with you who is. 4. BUYING PRIVATELY... vehicle been serviced regularly? Check
They will know what to look for, what The Sale of Goods Act 1979 (as amended by mileage recordings on service and MOT
questions to ask and could be a witness to The Sale and Supply of Goods To Consumers Beware when buying privately as your
rights are reduced. Only one of the Sale of documents: do the dates tie up with the
anything said by the seller. The motoring Regulations 2002) states that when you buy
Goods Act obligations applies: the item present mileage? Ask the seller if the mileage
organisations (AA, RAC) can do an from a trader the vehicle must be:
inspection report for a fee, and money must be ‘AS DESCRIBED’ (see Section 3. is genuine and check with the previous keeper
spent now could save you a lot of expense Of satisfactory quality (of the standard ‘The Law’) so it will depend on what the if you have any doubts. Look at the
and upset later. that a reasonable person would consider to seller tells you about the vehicle. It therefore mileometer - does it look as if it has been
be satisfactory under the circumstances) pays to ask questions about the vehicle’s replaced or tampered with?
The OFT have published a booklet called condition and history and keep a written
Fit for their purpose (as well as fit for the Don’t rely on an MOT certificate as a
‘Buying a Used Car? - How to get the best note of the seller’s replies. If the vehicle
purpose they are generally sold should also guarantee that a vehicle is sound. This only
deal’ that includes a comprehensive guide be fit for any specific purpose you make was advertised, keep a copy of this and
covering all aspects of buying a used car. The refer to it when viewing the vehicle (e.g. if shows that the vehicle was, in the examiner’s
known to the seller). opinion, meets at least the
booklet is available from Herefordshire the seller states that the vehicle is in good
Trading Standards Service. Copies can also As described (e.g. vehicles should condition, ask the seller for some evidence minimum road
be ordered or downloaded free of charge from correspond with any description applied to of this).
them. This could be verbally, words or
www.oft.gov.uk/News/Publications/Leaflet+Or Make sure that you know who the
pictures on a sign, an advert or brochure,
dering.htm e.g. a vehicle described as having power person is who is selling the vehicle
steering, a sunroof and a stereo system (and therefore who you
can go back to
2. BUYING FROM A DEALER... must be fitted with all these items).
Choose a reputable dealer (ask friends, These rights do apply to second-hand cars but
colleagues for guidance). If you choose to a number of things need to be taken into
buy from a garage who is account such as the age of the
www.southglos.gov.uk
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