An investigation by Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service in to the safety of used cars on sale or recently purchased in Warwickshire found an unacceptable number to be unroadworthy.
Trading Standards Officers examined 22 second hand cars for roadworthiness, including some that had been purchased by consumers and voluntarily submitted for testing. Out of 22 tested, six cars (27%) were deemed to be in an unroadworthy condition (none of the vehicles tested for consumers were unroadworthy). Over 7 million* used cars are sold in the UK each year.
Officers visited garages and examined vehicles priced at the lower end of the used car market – those typically purchased by people on lower incomes who are less likely to be able to afford to make the necessary repairs if problems appear.
Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Protection said:
“Consumers lives must not be put at risk by the small number of irresponsible traders who sell vehicles that are unroadworthy. We will continue to take action against traders who fail to take their responsibilities seriously and I urge any consumer who believes they may have purchased an unroadworthy vehicle to contact Trading Standards.”
The faults found on the used vehicles ranged from minor ones including inoperative lights and torn wiper blades to major faults, for example severe corrosion to sills and flooring and broken door handles.
None of the vehicles exhibiting these faults would have passed an MOT and whilst some garages claimed that once the vehicle had been purchased repairs could be made to get the vehicle through the MOT test, Warwickshire Trading Standards vehicle examiner stated that in some cases the cost of doing so would far exceed the market value of the vehicle, and it should therefore only be sold for spares or repair.
Warwickshire Trading Standards has taken this action to protect consumers and the reputable retailers.
Traders have a responsibility to ensure that customers do not drive an unroadworthy vehicle off their forecourt.
All traders contacted as part of this investigation were given general advice and the worst offenders were asked to sign undertakings that they would not continue such practices. Failure to comply with an undertaking can allow a Trading Standards Service to seek an Enforcement Order in the courts and failure to comply with such an order can be considered contempt of court, an imprisonable offence.
Tips for buying a used car
- It is wise to have a history check done on the car. There are organisations which hold data on cars and can tell you, for a fee, whether the car has outstanding finance on it, whether it is an insurance write off or stolen. You can also find out if the mileage is accurate and whether the registration number and VIN match.
- Check the general condition of the bodywork and look for signs of rust and welding. The condition should reflect the age of the car and the asking price.
- Make sure that all the tyres, including the spare, have the correct pressure and tread.
- Go for a thorough test drive.
- It is strongly recommended that you have the car checked out by a qualified auto engineer (either an independent engineer or through a motoring organisation) if you don’t have the expertise to check the car’s condition yourself.
- Check all the relevant paperwork (including MOT test certificates, service histories etc.) to satisfy yourself that everything is in order.
- Read the contract carefully before you sign.
- Read the finance agreement (if any) carefully and make sure the figures add up.
Further advice on buying a used car
*Figures sourced from Auto Industry website, maintained by the Automotive Unit of the Department for Business. Enterprise, and Regulatory Reform.
Undertakings are sought under the Enterprise Act 2002. |