The scams
Clocking, hidden finance, cloned cars, write-offs sold as clean and fake deposits catch out most buyers, but each one leaves a trail. A few minutes of checks will usually expose it. Clocking means winding the odometer back. The classic sign is a drop in mileage between MOTs, so compare every reading in the mileage check before you agree a price.
Hidden finance is easy to miss. On hire purchase or PCP, the finance company owns the car until the last payment. A private buyer in good faith is usually protected, but don't rely on that. Check for finance before you pay. Cloning is when one registration sits on two cars. Match the VIN on the windscreen, door pillar and V5C, and check the plate suits the car's age.
Write-offs get sold as clean too, so check the category on a write-off check. Category A and B cars should never be back on the road, while a repaired Category S or N car can be legal. Never pay a deposit before you've seen the car, the V5C and the seller's ID. Be wary of any courier or escrow site you haven't checked yourself.
How to protect yourself
The commonest used car scams fall apart when you check the paperwork and see the car first. Start with the registration. A free check shows MOT history, mileage and tax, and a drop in mileage between MOTs is the classic sign of clocking. For finance, stolen and write-off records, a Full Check costs £9.99.
Make sure the paperwork matches the car. The VIN on the windscreen, door pillar and V5C should all be the same. The name and address on the V5C should match the seller's ID. Then see the car at the seller's home, in daylight, with the paperwork in hand.
Never pay before you've seen the car. Fake deposits are one of the commonest scams, so don't send money for a car you haven't seen. When you do pay, use a bank transfer rather than cash, and only once the checks are clear and you have the V5C and keys in hand. A transfer leaves a record if something goes wrong. If anything feels off, walk away, and check your rights with Citizens Advice.
If you've been scammed
If you think you've been scammed, act now. Stop contact with the seller and don't send any more money.
Tell your bank straight away. Ask them to try to recover the payment and what fraud protection your account has. Then report the scam to Action Fraud. If you feel at risk, or the seller is threatening you, contact the police.
- Save the advert, messages, receipts and the seller's details
- Note the registration and VIN, which is on the windscreen, door pillar and V5C
- Write down every payment and when you made it
Get free advice. Citizens Advice can explain your rights and options if the car wasn't as described. For insurance or anything about the car's legal status, check with your insurer or the DVLA. For your next car, run a free car check on the registration first. A Full Check covers finance and stolen records before you pay.