A CAR dealer has revealed a quick £10 check which is essential before buying a motor and could save you thousands.
James from Chops Garage in South Molton, Devon, took to YouTube to share the essential advice with his followers.
YouTube/@ChopsGarageCar dealer James explained how to make a crucial vehicle check for just £10[/caption]
In the video, he walked drivers through how to easily check important details about their second-hand car online or via an app.
James, who had just taken delivery of a new Ford for his dealership, said: “I haven’t actually paid for it yet so I should probably get my [vehicle history check] done and make sure I’m not buying a car with a dodgy history.”
A vehicle history check can tell you if it has ever failed an MOT, been written off or even if it has been reported as stolen.
Some will even tell you the car’s recorded mileage, with a graph of how those miles were distributed over the years.
There are a couple of levels of checks available.
First of all, you can check the registration for free online with the DVLA which will tell you whether the car is taxed, whether it has a valid MOT and if it has been registered as SORN.
Next, there are plenty of websites out there that will perform a free basic check of MOT history.
This will flag up any MOT failures or advisories that are on the car’s record.
The most in-depth checks will cost you but provide the best information.
Usually selling for between £10 and £30, this check tells you if the car has ever been reported stolen or if it has ever sustained damage or been written off as well as providing service and ownership records.
They can even give an estimate of the current market value of the car to help you ensure you aren’t overpaying or getting a hunk of rubbish.
You can complete the check online or use an app to receive the information directly to your phone.
Make sure to do one before buying a second-hand car, especially very cheap ones, to be certain you are getting value for money.
It comes after a number of motor experts warned drivers over mistakes that might damage their car without them realising.
Meanwhile, a mechanic of over 20 years explained why you should never do DIY maintenance on a modern car.