A motors expert has revealed a handy £2 gadget that can help drivers avoid a scam.
Matt from Bikes and Beards took to YouTube to share a neat trick that lets you make sure you’re getting a good deal when buying a second-hand vehicle.
YouTubeMotors expert Matt revealed a £2 gadget that can help you avoid being scammed when buying a second-hand vehicle[/caption]
YouTubeA paint depth gauge can reveal if the car has been involved in an accident or is older than it looks[/caption]
In the clip, Matt was shelling out over £82,000 on a classic Harley Davidson motorcycle so, understandably, wanted to be certain he was getting his money’s worth.
He relied on his expert knowledge for the most part but did share a helpful device that can tell you if your car or bike has had some alterations over the years.
Matt explained that you can use a paint depth gauge to learn more about the history of your vehicle.
As the name suggests, the gauge checks the depth of the layers of paint on the motor.
Most new vehicles will have a reading of between three and 5, while classic cars can go between 1-3 and the paint wears away with age.
However, Matt warned that you should keep an eye out for depth variations which can indicate a number of issues.
For example, if your car has a reading of three in most areas but five in a specific patch, this can suggest that a part has been replaced or painted over.
This could indicate that the vehicle has been damaged in a collision or that some bumps and scrapes have been covered up.
Likewise, unusually thin paint can suggest excessive wear and tear or rusting.
Paint depth gauges are available online for as little as £2, while more sensitive versions can be found for between £50 and £100.
Matt said: “You would use this to see if the car’s ever been painted.
“There’s no paintwork on this whole truck except for this panel, the paint is almost double the thickness.
“So it got sanded it got repainted…so at some point in time this was in an accident.”
Social media commenters were amazed by the helpful hack.
One wrote: “The amount of Harley knowledge Matt possesses is mind-boggling.
Another added: “Very cool of Matt to participate in these videos. The viewers appreciate him sharing his knowledge of these historic bikes.”
It comes after a woman who paid £20,000 for a Mercedes SUV was left furious after discovering it was “dangerous and unroadworthy”.
Meanwhile, a car expert revealed a 55p B&M item that can make cleaning your vehicle a breeze.