The Car Expert reveals four red flags to look for when buying a car – and how going to a dealer could save you thousands
A MOTORS whizz has revealed some of the red flags drivers should look out for when buying a car, including how going to a dealer could save thousands.
Stuart Masson explained how you can make sure that you’re not being landed with a “lemon” even if you don’t know a gearbox from a gasket.
Stuart, who edits the consumer motoring site The Car Expert, urged motorists to transform into “amateur sleuths” to protect themselves against duds and rip-offs.
In an exclusive interview with SunMotors, he ran through some of the warning signs that you might be dealing with a dodgy salesman.
He said: “The first thing to do is ask a lot of questions and don’t be afraid that you’re not a car specialist.
“Most people aren’t, even a lot of people who say they are.
“If the owner doesn’t want to give you a lot of answers or they’re being evasive it’s a red flag.”
If anything doesn’t seem right, just walk away
Stuart Masson
Stuart also emphasised the importance of seeing the vehicle’s service history and proper documentation.
At the very least, the MOT history of all UK-registered vehicles can be found on the DVSA’s website for free, including all failures and advisory faults.
The car-buying guru added: “Asking to see the log book is really important.
“The V5 log book shows that it’s the right car and [registered to] the right address.
“And ask to see [the seller’s] driver’s licence to show that it’s the same person [as on the log book].
“If anything doesn’t seem right, just walk away.
“That’s far better than being landed with a car that’s either not theirs or it’s got massive mechanical problems that are completely invisible to the naked eye.”
The key thing to look out for, Stuart explained, is how the seller reacts to your questioning.
Hesitancy to give full and honest answers could suggest that they have something to hide and increase the risk of a bad deal.
Beyond that, one thing that can give you a better guarantee of security is actually going to a dealership rather than trying a private sale.
If you buy from a dealer, you are protected
Stuart Masson
Stuart went on: “People tend to assume if you’re buying a car privately it will be cheaper because you’re not paying for a dealership’s profit margin.
“But you have to remember is that if you’re buying a car privately if that car turns out to be a dud…the protections are almost none.
“You can take them to court, you can try and prosecute them, but you’re still going to lose the car and your money.
“If you buy from a dealer, you are protected by trading standards.
“They are obliged to sell you a car that is roadworthy…and they are obliged to make sure how they describe the car is correct.
“Whereas if you’re buying privately, you have almost no rights whatsoever.”
It comes after Stuart revealed the simple trick you can use to save money before even stepping foot on a forecourt.