Afewsimple steps to help you buy aused car

BUYING a pre-owned car can be a minefield, but if you approach your would-be purchase cautiously and do your homework, there is great value to be had.

Never buy a car in the dark or in the rain as this easily conceals various blemishes and possibly even evidence of accident damage.

The Automobile Association (AA) says a key fact that you want to be sure of is that the car has not been involved in an accident.

No matter whether it’s from a private individual or from a dealer ask the critical question, preferably in front of a witness ‘ has the car ever been crashed or had any bodywork repairs carried out whatsoever’. The response given has significant legal implications.

The National Car Test (NCT) was introduced to Ireland in January 2000 and since then the quality of used cars in Ireland has improved greatly in recent years. All cars now need to undergo and NCT after four years initially and after two years thereafter. This has meant that it is no longer possible to run ‘rolling wrecks’ on Irish roads.

For every new car bought in Ireland almost 2.5 second-hand ones bought and most people are happy with the results. You have to look out for the pitfalls, do the homework and remember the maxim caveat emptor – let the buyer beware.

The AA and other organisations, which can be found online, can carry out checks at small cost on your prospective car’s bona fides and some carry out a mechanical inspection as well. If you are buying from the UK and taking advantage of the low value of sterling against the euro, this is well worth having this done before you part with your money and provides peace of mind for what can be a substantial outlay.

The AA has come with a list of top tips when buying a used car. · Check the body lines for consistency.

· Look for any evidence of repainting, such as overspray on window rubbers or any inconsistency in the paintwork. · Check for uneven tyre wear.

· Look out for different makes of headlights.

· Watch for different consistencies of stone chips over the front of the bonnet compared to the adjacent wings.

· Examine carefully the wear at the pedal rubbers, the gear stick and the steering wheel.

· Closely examine the odometer for any sign of interference. · Make sure the keys provided operate in all of the locks and that there is a spare set.

· Try all keys provided in the ignition and make sure that they start the engine – as occasionally a ‘cut’ key is not a ‘ transponder key’ or micro-chipped to work in the ignition.

The Citizens Advice Bureau offers some very good advice on what protections you have, if any, on purchases of used cars:

From a garage or car dealer - In this situation you, as a consumer, are protected by the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act 1980 as you are buying a car for your personal use from a person whose normal business it is to sell cars. As a consumer you have the same rights if you buy an item second hand as if it is new. In this case if you find a fault with the car after you have bought it the dealer is the person who must set matters right.

If you buy a commercial vehicle or a tractor from a dealer you may not have the same protection under the law. If you are offered an extended warranty on a used car think about the cost of the warranty versus the cost of repairs that the car is likely to need.

Sellers have responsibilities such as giving accurate and truthful answers to the questions you ask. Information on a seller’s responsibilities in car deals is available on the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s website.

Through a small advertisement -- Vehicles are often advertised by private individuals on the internet and in the ‘small ads’ section of newspapers. If you buy a car from a small advertisement or on the internet from a private individual you are generally not buying from a person whose normal business it is to sell cars (although sometimes used car dealers do advertise in this way).

Again in this case you have very little legal protection if you find that the car that you have bought is faulty. It is therefore important when buying from a private seller to protect yourself from unscrupulous people. It may be worthwhile to employ the services of a trusted mechanic who may be able to advise you on the mechanical state of the car.

The seller is required to give you accurate and truthful information in answer to any questions that you ask. However, a private seller does not have to provide information that is not requested. If you have a grievance after buying a car you should complain to the seller first. If you are not satisfied with the response you may be able to take legal action against the seller.