Check a Second Hand Car's History Before Buying

Second hand car buyers should check the history of the vehicle before parting with their cash, AA Car Data Check warns.

Almost 40,000 vehicles have been written-off by insurers over the past year after having been severely damaged in road accidents but over a quarter of these vehicles are still for sale in the used car market.

Rob Whalley, managing director for Experian's automotive division, which supplies the data for the AA, said: "In 2005, 68 per cent of all the cars involved in major accidents could be repaired, but the cost of repair was uneconomical when compared with the value of the car itself.

"These were classed as categories C or D write-offs and, while they are not dangerous to buy, their market value will have been considerably reduced.

"In the worst cases, however, customers could be buying a car that the insurance companies have classed as categories A or B, which are considered too dangerous to be repaired and returned to the road."

Potential buyers should also ensure that the vehicle is not still part of a finance agreement as they will have no legal rights to the car and will not be covered under the Sale of Goods Act.

A vehicle history check will also show if the car's mileage has been turned back or if the car has been stolen.

Prospective buyers can also ascertain how many owners the car has had as well as obtain an up-to-date valuation.