The Automobile Association is warning of the dangers of buying a used car, especially privately, without doing an adequate Car History Check to see if there is outstanding finance on the vehicle. The AA provides a Car History Check Service, powered by Cartell, and urges anyone buying a used car to avail of the service
“According to Cartell, 1 in 3 used cars could have outstanding finance on it and in the case of a private purchase, you are very vulnerable as a buyer if you don’t do your due diligence,” said AA Ireland Head of Communications, Paddy Comyn.
“Never purchase a used car privately without buying a car history check, as it is the best way to ensure that you aren’t buying something with outstanding payments on it. It is a case of ‘buyer beware’ otherwise, as the car will remain the property of the lender and you could end up having the car repossessed,” adds Comyn.
There is little or no comeback for a buyer that hasn’t done their homework and checked if there is outstanding finance owed on a used car. If you buy from a dealership, especially a SIMI (Society of the Irish Motor Industry) dealership you generally have more securities, but when it comes to buying privately the consumer is more exposed.
“As well as doing the car history check, the advice is always to never pay in cash – do a bank transfer instead, and always insist on seeing proof that the finance has been cleared, not an assurance that it will be, before completing the transaction,” adds Comyn.
You can read more on this topic over on The AA’s Blog Post.
To use The AA Car History Check – powered by Cartell – go to
https://www.theaa.ie/aa/vehicle-checks/car-history-check.aspx
Make sure you are always prepared with AA Membership. It covers you 24/7 whether you’re a driver or a passenger, meaning that we cover YOU, not your car. Our patrols fix 8 out of 10 of our members’ cars on the roadside. Just €10 per month offers peace of mind and is a piece of cake for you to arrange.
