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Advice
on
buying
a
vehicle
If
you
are
buying
a
vehicle
privately
and
it
is
later
identified
as
having
been
stolen
you
may
have
no
right
to
its
ownership.
You
could
lose
both
the
vehicle
and
the
money
you
paid
for
it.
The
following
points
may
help
you
avoid
becoming
a
victim
of
vehicle
crime.
Advertisements
and
viewing
- beware
of
mobile
phone
numbers,
they
are
virtually
untraceable
- advertisements
specifying
a
time
to
call,
could
indicate
a
phone
box
-
be
suspicious
- arrange
to
view
the
vehicle
in
daylight,
preferably
at
the
seller's
home
- do
not
agree
to
the
seller
bringing
the
vehicle
to
your
home
or
to
a
public
place
such
as
a
motorway
service
station
- ensure
that
the
owner
is
familiar
with
the
vehicle
and
its
controls
Documentation
- never
buy
a
vehicle
without
a
registration
document
or
certificate
(referred
to
as
'registration
certificate')
even
if
the
seller
says
it
has
been
sent
to
the
Driver
and
Vehicle
Licensing
Agency
(DVLA)
for
changes
- hold
the
registration
certificate
up
to
the
light
-
the
DVLA
watermark
should
be
contained
within
the
layers
of
paper;
reassure
yourself
that
a
fraudulent
watermark
has
not
been
merely
printed
on
to
the
surface
of
the
paper
- the
registration
certificate
is
not
a
document
of
title,
the
person
recorded
may
not
be
the
legal
owner
- assure
yourself
that
the
person
selling
the
vehicle
has
the
right
to
do
so
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Check
the vehicle identity
- decide
what make and model you are interested in and
find out where the vehicle's identification
number (VIN) should be
- check
that the 17 character VIN, matches the VIN on
the registration certificate
- be
suspicious if the VIN shows signs of having
been tampered with
- if
the VIN has been removed, ask why
- the
VIN should be stamped in an even way somewhere
on the vehicle, often under the bonnet or in
the floor panel on the driver's side, check
the surrounding area for signs of any alteration
- a
'Q' registration number indicates that the age
or identity of a vehicle is unknown. The vehicle
may be rebuilt from parts, some or all of which
may not be new. This also applies to vehicles
imported without supporting evidence to identify
the vehicles age
- if
a registration mark or part VIN is etched on
the windows ensure it matches the registration
certificate
What to look for on the vehicle
- check
carefully underneath stickers, where fitted - they can
be used to conceal etching
- does
the engine number match the registration certificate?
- has
the engine been interfered with, altered or changed?
- do
the locks differ? (Thieves often change locks they have
damaged)
- are
there any signs of forced entry?
- has
the locking petrol cap been forced and replaced?
Get
the vehicle inspected by a professional
- consider
taking an independent qualified examiner with you to
see the vehicle
Check
it out
- consider
checking information about the vehicle through online
and telephone services offered by DVLA and private vehicle
check companies
and
finally
- never
pay cash
- be
sure before you buy - if in doubt, walk away
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