Brought to you by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
Planning on buying a used car? You need to be asking the seller these questions.
Whether you're buying your first ever car or swapping your current one in for a newer model, there's a lot of hidden dangers that can arise when buying used vehicles.
You need to be aware of the common cons that buyers are often subject to, especially when it comes to purchasing a used car from a private seller.
The (CCPC) have a load of free resources to help you avoid any dishonest sellers' tricks, but we've also compiled a couple of key questions you should always ask when buying a used car.
You need to be aware of the car's history, especially if it's been involved in any crashes. There are companies out there that, for a fee, will tell you if the car has ever been in a crash or been written off.
To check the overall condition of the car, you should do a test drive before buying, and listen out for any strange sounds. When you turn the ignition on, check that all the warning lights flicker on and go back off again. If they don’t come on, it could mean the bulb has been removed to try and hide a fault.
Have you ever considered that the vehicle you're buying may have been clocked?
You need to be sure the car is not under an existing finance agreement. If there's outstanding finance on a car, there's still money owed on it and you could find yourself liable for the outstanding amount.
There are companies that keep records of a car's finance, so check if they have details on the car you are looking at. You will be charged a small fee for this, but you could end up liable for a lot more if you don't check this out in advance.
You should always do a bit of background research on the seller.
If you buy a used car from a dealer, you have rights under consumer law.
If it’s a private sale, ask if the car belongs to the seller, or if they are selling it for someone else. If it is someone else’s car, then you need the name, address and contact details for that person so you can check with them to see if everything is in order.
