A reduced mileage inflates the value of the vehicle, and is a safety risk as it could obscure the service intervals and work required at each interval. You should complain first to the person who sold you the car. Check the auction's conditions of sale before you buy.

You can also check the mileage by reviewing the service and MOT records. In arbitration an outsider investigates a dispute to decide who is right. A good quality vehicle history check should include a mileage check. When you buy a car from a garage dealer or trader, your consumer rights are protected in law.

Before you buy, make sure you: If the seller disputes your request for a full refund, you have to prove that the vehicle was not of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose or as described by the seller at the time of buying. Contact Consumerline who can advise you how to apply. If you think this happened when you bought a used car, report your suspicions to Consumerline. If you believe the vehicle history is genuine and want to buy: Some car traders pose as private sellers.

You don’t need a solicitor in the Small Claims Court. The V5 logbook will also have the previous owner's details. Most trade associations have a code of practice which offers a low cost arbitration service. But some are not and you need to be careful before you buy. If you buy a used car from a private seller, you have fewer legal rights.

These conditions must be displayed prominently at the auction or in the catalogue. A comprehensive check from a vehicle checking company will tell you if the car: You can request a full refund if you do so within a reasonable time of the sale. Check the recorded mileage when you see the car’s service history.

It can vary from a few weeks to a number of months, although the longer you have owned a vehicle the greater the chance you will lose the right to a full refund. Most garage dealers and traders are honest. You don't have to return the vehicle to the seller but if you don't you must make it available for collection. For amounts over £3000, you should ask a solicitor about taking court action.

This means that you cannot go to court later about the same dispute if you disagree with the arbitrator's decision. Contact the servicing garages to verify the mileages they recorded during servicing. You can claim against the previous owner if they misrepresented the car’s age or mileage. Contact them to find out the mileage when they sold it, and see if that fits into the mileage patterns for the vehicle.

If your complaint is valid the seller must accept the vehicle back and provide a full refund. You will not get your fee back if you lose. What counts as a reasonable time will depend on the facts of each case.

The car must be as described, of satisfactory quality and fit for any stated purpose.

Buying a new or used car

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p>For most people, it is expensive to buy a car. If that doesn't work, and you bought your car from a garage or trader who is a member of a trade association, write to the Retail Motor Industry Federation, or to the Motor Ombudsman for complaints about cars still under a manufacturer's warranty. Get an accurate mileage reading and see if the check flags anything that needs investigating further. If you find out later that your car has been clocked, contact Consumerline. Known as ‘clocking’, it gives a false, low mileage record to make the car more attractive and valuable.

If you want to use arbitration, your garage or trader has to also agree. You will not be able to claim where there are faults with the car. If you can't resolve your complaint and didn’t use arbitration, you may https://cars45.com/listing/lexus/is/2014 need to take legal action. If this happens you can also claim for reasonable losses suffered, including the cost of any independent report you have paid for to prove your case.

If the amount involved is not more than £3,000, you can take your case to the Small Claims Court. For example, if the seller disagrees with your claim that the vehicle has a serious fault, you may need to provide evidence such as an independent report from a garage showing that the vehicle was unsatisfactory at the time of sale to support your claim. It is illegal to turn back a car’s mileage clock.

If you buy at an auction you don't have the same rights if the cars are 'sold as seen'. For a fee, the RAC or the AA will examine the car for you. Check the car’s history. The arbitrator's decision will be binding on both of you.

If you're buying from a garage car dealer or trader, ask to speak to the previous owner.