Buying a second hand car

A car is one of the most expensive things most of us will buy. However, they can also be one of the most problematic. In 2023, the Citizens Advice consumer service dealt with almost 30,000 complaints about second hand cars. In the same year, Lancashire County Council Trading Standards Service received over 70 complaints about the safety of used cars.

Citizens Advice has produced extensive guidance as to the steps you can take to help avoid buying a car that’s been badly damaged, stolen or illegally altered. The steps will also help you get a car that doesn’t break down. The guidance can be found at Buying or repairing a car - Citizens Advice (external link).

Steps to take when buying a second-hand car include:

  • Obtain the full name and address details of the seller – sometimes buyers just rely on a name and mobile phone number and don't really know who they're buying from.
  • Check whether the seller is a trade seller or a private seller – should there be a problem with the car, you have far fewer rights in law if the seller is a private individual.
  • Go and see the car and test drive it before buying (but make sure that you are insured to do so). Always visit the seller at their home address or trade premises.
  • Consider paying part or all of the purchase price (if over £100) by credit card. By doing so, you will have extra rights under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 – this makes the finance company just as responsible as the trader for any problems with the car.

Cars sold must be sold in a roadworthy condition and must be safe to drive. This covers steering, brakes, tyres, lighting, seatbelts and seatbelt anchorage, suspension and corrosion.         

Again, there are a number of steps you can take before buying a car to help avoid buying one that is unroadworthy:

  • Get an independent report on the car. This will give you detailed information about the car’s condition and will cost around £120 to £250.
    Independent reports are carried out by motoring organisations and specialist businesses - contact The Motor Ombudsman for advice on where to get an independent report in your area. The Motor Ombudsman is a government-backed self-regulatory body for the motoring industry and can be contacted through Contact Us - Info on how to get in touch with The Motor Ombudsman (external link).
  • Cars need regular MOT tests to make sure they’re safe for the road. You should check that MOT tests have been done regularly throughout the car’s history (most cars over 3 years old need an MOT test every year). You can check the MOT history at Check the MOT history of a vehicle - GOV.UK (external link).
    For cars over 3 years old, make sure it has passed a recent MOT – if the MOT was issued some time ago, insist that the car is put through a new MOT before buying it.
  • Find out if the manufacturer has recalled the car because of a serious safety problem. You can check to see if there are any outstanding safety recalls at Check if a vehicle, part or accessory has been recalled - GOV.UK (external link).
  • Get a ‘data check’ on the car - this will give you valuable information about serious problems the car might have. The information provided will include if the car has been in a serious accident and if it has been an insurance write-off.
    You can get a car history check by searching online for websites that check vehicle details. Typically, it will cost up to £20.

If you have a problem with a second-hand car that you've bought and need some further help, contact the Citizens Advice consumer service through Contact the consumer service - Citizens Advice (external link).