Afternoon Kempsey, 

Following an incident reported to us recently I thought I'd send out some information on buying a second-hand car.

A great amount of care needs to be taken to ensure you make the right purchase and aren't sold something that could come back to haunt you. There are many services offered online that will assist you with making the right choice when buying a new vehicle. 

Checking panel gaps, oil levels, scratches, windscreen and tyres are all good practice but the most important thing to check is the V5C, also known as the registration document or logbook.

Ensure the make and model of the car you’re buying matches that on the V5, as well as the number plate.

You can also check that the Vehicle Identification Number known as the VIN, matches the VIN on the vehicle, which can be read from outside the vehicle in the lower part of the windscreen. 

Be wary if a private seller wants to meet you somewhere other than at their home, or if their name is not on the V5C registration document. 

If you are looking to buy a car then please remember, if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. If you have any doubts about the car or its history, then it's best not to proceed.

If the car bought is later discovered to have been stolen it will be recovered by Police and the buyer will lose out. 

Thanks

Jon