A CAR buying expert has revealed the £250 item that your dealership must provide with your motor.
Having one could be a lifesaver in an emergency and also makes the vehicle easier to sell on in future.
AlamyYour car dealer should provide you with a spare key before finalising a purchase[/caption]
Specialists from Bristol Street Motors urged drivers to know their rights when buying a used car.
One major thing to look out for, they said, was whether or not a spare key was provided with the motor.
Getting a replacement key made can be expensive, especially given the complex technology in modern fobs.
On some models, it can cost as much as £250.
And having a spare could be a lifesaver in an emergency when you’ve lost your original or, even worse, accidentally locked it in the car itself.
The experts advised Brits that they are “well within their rights” to demand a spare key be provided by the dealership.
Likewise, spare wheel locking nuts are equally vital, if a little cheaper.
Wheel locking nuts are specialised components that hold the wheel securely onto your car’s chassis.
While they usually only cost between £50 and £70, the main issue is sourcing them.
This is because each wheel locking nut is generally specific to the exact make and model of the vehicle.
Five questions you must ask when buying a used car
1. What’s the mileage?
2. What is the service/MOT history?
3. What work has been done to the car and has it ever been written off?
4. Can you take it for a test drive?
5. Does it come with a warranty or returns policy?
As such, they can usually only be ordered via the manufacturer and being caught short without one could leave your car undrivable unless you happen to have a pal with the exact same vehicle.
Again, you can request that your dealership order a set of replacing locking nuts before you finalise the purchase.
Just make sure they come with the special “key” which allows the nut to be undone using a socket wrench as normal socket attachments won’t fit it.
It comes after a Ferrari and a Range Rover owned by Premier League stars were recovered by police as part of a cache of stolen cars worth £27 million.