Buying a used vehicle before carrying out the relevant checks is not a good idea, you need to make sure the vehicle you are looking to buy is in fact the genuine vehicle and not a cloned vehicle.
Buying a used vehicle before carrying out the relevant checks is not a good idea, you need to make sure the vehicle you are looking to buy is in fact the genuine vehicle and not a cloned vehicle.
The VIN (vehicle identification number) on a vehicle is a unique way to identify a vehicle, the VIN will never change on a vehicle and can be a combination of both numbers and letters.
Location 1: Passenger side of the vehicle, on the dashboard pointing towards the windscreen.
Location 2: Found by opening the driver side door, on the inner frame near where the door latches.
Important notes
Make sure your deluxe check engine number matches that of the vehicle you are looking to buy, if it doesn’t match that means the engine has been changed. Whilst this may be a legitimate engine change the problem is confirming the new engines mileage. And in some cases, engine swaps can be a method to hide the vehicles real identity.
Open the vehicles bonnet, the engine number is normally engraved into the metal of the engine (on the top of the engine).
It’s worth noting that you should never buy a vehicle if the V5C log book isn’t part of the deal.
To find the V5C Log book issue date turn to the second page of the log book, the issue date should be visible and clear to see on this page.
Important notes
Make sure the seller provides the V5C log book and the log book issue date matches the deluxe check date.
Make sure the V5C log book details are all correct and match the vehicle being sold.
Check the person selling the car is in fact the registered keeper and owner of the vehicle.
Ask the person selling the car for identification to make sure the sale is genuine and not someone else selling you a stolen car.
If your vehicle knowledge isn’t up to scratch, consider taking someone with vehicle expertise with you to check out the vehicle.
Check if the vehicle has a valid MOT certificate (if the vehicle is 3 years or older).
Check if the vehicle has a spare key, if the seller doesn’t give you one, ask them to make sure they don’t have one.
Get a receipt for the vehicle purchase, this can be an easy thing to forget about.
Is the vehicle sale price too good to be true? If so ask the seller why they are selling the vehicle cheap.
please don’t forget that if you need more help or you have any questions you can contact us. Or alternatively you could check out the FAQ page of the website which also has a lot of useful information.