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The Sun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Buying a used car checklist: How Sun Motors takes the stress out of buying a used car
BUYING a user car isn't easy. Are you buying the right model? Is the mileage too high? Is the colour cool or not? Finally, how do you know you've got a good deal used car? 3 FIND YOUR NEXT USED VEHICLE HERE We can definitely help you with the last one. Sun Motors is the best place to buy a used car in the UK. You'll find thousands of fairly priced cars for sale, all from trusted dealers who've checked, tested, MOTed and manicured your car to motoring perfection. If you're in the market for a reliable runaround or simply want some tips on how what to look for when buying a new car, you're in luck. You don't need to be a master mechanic to use this guide. It's packed full of common sense advice for anyone who wants to learn more about buying a used car. This Sun Motors ultimate checklist will help you navigate what to look for to ensure you always make an intelligent and informed decision. (Just don't buy a brown car.) Buying a used car checklist Mileage Documents Safety features Damage and accident history Tyres Dents and scratches Fluid levels Interior Electricals Engine How Sun Motors takes the stress out of buying a used car Buying a used car via Sun Motors is fast, easy and – dare we say it – fun. You can search from a massive marketplace with the confidence that every car has been tested and checked to ensure it's ready for the road. When you find one you like, you can connect directly to the dealer. Here are some of the reasons why you should buy your next used car on Sun Motors: Ask AI: Use the intelligent AI function to ask essential questions about the vehicle such as "Is there any damage or accident history", "What is the mileage" and other checklist queries. Try it out, it's great! Connect with dealers: Get information and answers through your mobile. Dealers are instantly available over WhatsApp. Don't want to IM? Email addresses and phone numbers of all dealers are available. Check out the pictures! No grainy images here. You'll get to see a gallery of detailed photographs of the cars and vans you're interested in. This can help you make up your mind before a trip to the dealer or buying online. Fast finance decisions: No cash, no problem. You can apply for finance through the Sun Motors site and get an almost instant decision. There's no pressure to buy. You'll get a clear and honest breakdown of all costs so you don't borrow too much. 1. Mileage Mileage matters, but not as much as it used to. One of the first things to check is the car's mileage. A vehicle with high mileage might have more wear and tear, even if it looks great on the inside and out. The average car will do approximately 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year, so use that as a guide. High mileage used to be a big warning sign, but modern cars are built to go beyond 100k. Ask the dealer or seller how the mileage has been done. High mileage clocked up on long motorway journeys is less of a problem than stop-start city streets. 3 FIND YOUR NEXT USED VEHICLE HERE If a car has high mileage, you'll want to know it's been serviced regularly and preferably by a main dealer. Buying a high(er) mileage model is a risk and things could go wrong. Dealers should factor this into pricing, with high mileage models cheaper. If you're worried a car could be clocked (where the mileage has been tampered with) check old MOTs. This will give you a complete history of the car and its mileage. As with every financial transaction, if you're worried, just walk away. 2. Documents Before purchasing a used car, it's important to thoroughly inspect its documents to ensure you're buying a safe, road-legal and responsibly driven car. Start with the vehicle's logbook (V5C), MOT history and service records to ensure the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) matches the one on the car. For added security, you can also conduct a vehicle history check or HPI check. This reveals crucial details such as outstanding finance, accident history and previous ownership. Free checks online will provide limited information, however, comprehensive checks for an additional fee will provide more insights. 3. Safety features You'll want your new used car to be safe to drive, right? Check the MOT history for any advisories. You can also check if the car has been recalled for free on the Government website. If you're planning on driving the car away, always do a visual check of essentials like seatbelts, searching for any signs of fraying, damage, or improper retraction. Properly functioning airbags are equally important. Check for the airbag warning light on the dashboard when you start the car. If it stays illuminated after starting the car, it could indicate a malfunction. Next, you can check things like the anti-lock braking system (ABS). The ABS light should briefly turn on when you start the engine but go off quickly. If it stays lit, the system may not function properly, compromising its performance during emergencies. Never compromise on safety when buying a second-hand car. Faulty safety systems not only put you and your passengers at risk but can also lead to expensive repairs later. 4. Damage/Accident history It's not unusual to find cars that have been involved in accidents returned to the road. What is crucial is that the dealer or sellers tell you. You can pay for a vehicle check through trusted providers like Autotrader. Dealers will have done these checks, so just ask them to confirm the car hasn't been in an accident. If you're buying privately, always ask the seller about the vehicle's accident or repair history, as it can reveal hidden issues. Don't take their word for it. Visually inspect the car and look closely for uneven paintwork, mismatched panels, or signs of recent bodywork repairs, which may indicate previous damage. These inconsistencies could affect the car's safety, performance, and resale value. If you're serious about safety, we recommend obtaining a professional inspection or a vehicle history report for extra peace of mind. A few hundred spent today could save you a lot more. 5. Tyres Tyres are critical to a car's safety and performance. They're also expensive to replace! Start by checking the tread depth. UK law requires a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm, but you'll want more than the minimum. If tyres are low, factor this into the cost. A set of new tyres for an average car can easily cost £400, with wheel alignment and mobile fitting adding to the cost. Uneven wear on the tyres could indicate alignment or suspension problems, which may require costly repairs. Examine the tyres for cracks, bulges, or any signs of damage that could lead to a blowout. Always ensure there is a usable spare tyre or a tyre repair kit included, as these can save you from being stranded in emergencies. The condition and quality of tyres are often overlooked by buyers but can add a significant cost if you need to replace them. Oh, and if you get caught driving with tyres below the minimum tread depth, you could get 3 points and a £2,500 fine for each tyre. (You do the maths.) 6. Dents and scratches While minor scratches and small scuffs are typical for used cars (and can often be buffed out by a professional repair shop), larger dents, rust spots, or significant damage can impact the value of any used car. Check over the car from front to back and look for any signs of damage and repair. Dented, damaged and bent panels are annoying and could point to more serious problems. The car may have been in a minor accident that wasn't reported or repaired, for example. Pay special attention to common rust-prone areas such as wheel arches and the edges of doors and windows. Rust can spread quickly and weaken the metal components of the vehicle, leading to expensive repairs. While patches of rust can often be cut out and repaired it's a costly job and do you really have the time or inclination to do it? Even if the car seems well-maintained and all up together, check for if the paint job is recent. Look at the lines of the car, check doors line up when you open and close them and look for obvious signs of filler being used. Lif the bonnet and look inside for any signs of damage and repair. Do the same in the boot. You'll need to lift the carpet up and potentially remove the spare, but no honest seller is going to mind. You're looking out for any signs of welding, damage and repairs that spell danger. 7. Fluid Levels The car's fluids – including oil, brake fluid and coolant – can give you some good clues about the health of the car. Start off with the most important: the engine oil. It should be clean and at the correct level. Dirty, sludgy oil can signal a problem. Also, check for a milky residue around the filler cap. This is a tell-tale sign of a worn head gasket. If you're worried, get the seller to start up the car and look out for a bluish exhaust gas. This suggests oil is entering the combustion chamber. (Bad and expensive to fix!) Checking the brake fluid is also a must. Low brake fluid levels may point to leaks or worn brake components. Examine the coolant for proper levels and clarity, cloudy or rusty coolant can signal overheating or potential radiator issues. Even if there are no problems with fluids, low fluid levels can indicate a person who doesn't care about their car. If that's you, show your current car some love and top it up! 8. Interior We've focused on the outside, but the interior of your car tells a story about how it's been driven, where and by whom. Inspect the seats and interior surfaces for tears, stains, or unusual smells. Persistent odours, such as smoke or mildew, can be difficult to remove and may require professional cleaning. Factor in the cost of a trip to a valet in your offer. Check for signs of excessive wear, especially on high-contact areas like the driver's seat and armrests. Damaged upholstery doesn't just look (and smell) bad, it's costly to repair or replace. On the other hand, a well-maintained interior indicates the car has been looked after throughout its history. 9. Electricals Modern cars are computers on wheels, whether you like it or not. When driving a modern motor, it's hard to figure out who's in control with all the lights, warning noises, start-up buttons and electric handbrakes. All that technology is cool, but if it fails, it's very, very costly. Begin by testing the basics, such as the headlights, brake lights, indicators and interior lighting. Faulty lights are illegal, unsafe and easy to fix, so get the seller to do it. Things like the electric windows are also worth a check, ensuring they open and close smoothly without strange noises or hesitation. Also, inspect the in-car entertainment, including radio, Bluetooth connectivity, and touchscreen navigation features, as these can be expensive to sort if they aren't in perfect working order. Check each power socket, too. It's little things like this that you won't notice until it's too late. On your drive, test the horn, central locking and heated seats or mirrors. It's vital to run the air conditioning and climate control systems. Re-gassing the system can be costly and more extensive repairs and replacements can run to thousands. 10. Engine We've saved the most important to last. It's easy to be over-awed when you lift the bonnet and wonder, just what am I looking at? We know you're not a mechanic, and you don't need to be. You're looking (and listening) for telltale signs that could spell danger. Start by checking for any visible leaks, particularly around the oil filter and radiator. Use a torch if you have one (or the function on your camera if you don't) to look for any oil or other fluid. You can also take a look under the car to spot any drips on the ground that could suggest fluid loss. If possible, ask the seller to start the engine when it's cold. When they do, head to the back of the car. We've already explained how excessive exhaust smoke, or a blue puff from the back, suggests oil is entering the combustion chamber. This isn't just a visual check. Close your eyes (optional, but it helps) and focus on the sound the engine makes. Can you hear any rattles, knocks or grinding? Odd noises, rattles, knocks and chattering could all indicate engine damage or worn components. Buying a used car: Our final piece of advice Trust your instincts. When buying a used car, you're the one with the power, so never feel under pressure to buy. If you're worried about the process of buying a new car, taking a friend or loved one with you can help (especially if they're a mechanic). For ultimate peace of mind, you can pay for a professional to perform a comprehensive vehicle check. You'll find these are offered by both the AA and RAC, as well as independent providers. If you don't want the hassle, buy from Sun Motors. Our dealers ensure that every car has been checked, tested, and is safe and ready for the road. Sometimes, life really is too short to have your head stuck in an engine bay, on your hands and knees checking the tyres or listening for a knock or rattle. Buying a used car? Check out Sun Motors and find your next vehicle today. Whether you're looking for automatic, manual or electric, use Sun Motors to decide on your next model.
CBC
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
How to protect yourself when buying a used car
Shari Prymak of Car Help Canada shares tips on what to look for when you're shopping for a used car.
CBC
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Dealership told him low mileage was due to single owner — but it was actually odometer fraud
Social Sharing Steve Andrews had been shopping for a used car online for a while when he came across a registered dealership in Burnaby, B.C., advertising a 2012 Subaru that seemed to fit the bill. He and his partner were on a budget, but needed a car to get around with their growing family — a two-year-old and a one-year-old. "They said it was in very good condition, that there were no real problems," said Andrews. "Everything seemed to be right about it." Most importantly, he said, the mileage on the odometer was low — just under 98,000 kilometres. Under 100,000 kilometres is a sweet spot when selling a used car. WATCH | Experts say growing demand for used cars could worsen rising odometer fraud: B.C. man speaks out after buying used car with rolled-back odometer | Go Public 6 hours ago Duration 2:11 But when the car developed mechanical problems shortly after the sale six weeks ago, Andrews brought it to a mechanic who became suspicious about the low mileage and told him to call a Subaru dealership where the car had a recall issue repaired in 2020. Andrews discovered that at that time, the car's odometer was already at 112,000 kilometres. "It was pretty shocking," he said. "I was definitely angry." Andrews brought the car back to the registered dealership, DD Auto, and produced the Subaru recall report showing the odometer had been rolled back. The sales agent called the manager, who agreed to refund the $13,000 Andrews paid for the car. He also claimed to have no knowledge of the odometer fraud, saying that the dealership itself had been scammed, but did not elaborate. Odometer fraud 'on the rise,' officials say Across Canada, no one is keeping track of how often odometer fraud occurs. Go Public checked with the federal RCMP, several provincial police departments, Transport Canada and several provincial regulators of car dealerships. All said statistics were difficult to isolate, because the issue is often part of a larger fraud investigation. A spokesperson for the Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC), said in a statement that it believes odometer fraud "is on the rise," citing "many recent investigations" that have involved some form of odometer tampering. Odometer rollbacks are closely tracked in the U.S., where the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that over 450,000 vehicles are sold each year with false odometer readings and that this type of fraud costs American car buyers more than $1 billion annually. With recently announced tariffs threatening to drive up the cost of new cars, more drivers may turn to used cars — demand and prices for pre-owned vehicles have already gone up since January, according to a recent report on the Canadian automotive market by AutoTrader. Easy to change odometer Odometers on older model cars used to be analog counters on the dashboard, so rolling them back meant manually turning a dial to change the number. Today, digital odometers can be re-programmed using a handheld device that plugs into a vehicle's computing port. You can buy them online for a few hundred dollars. "A click of a button" can take years off a car's life and dramatically increase its value, says mechanic Josh Ingle, an odometer expert and owner of Atlanta Speedometer. "You don't have to have any know-how, you just need to know how to select a vehicle on a screen," he said, noting the devices do have legitimate purposes. For instance, if a damaged control module where mileage is stored needs to be replaced, which is why they're readily for sale. 'Things happen' Go Public called the manager of DD Auto, Charlie Zhao, to ask about Andrews' case. He said a recent report by CARFAX, a company that sells vehicle history reports that track things like accident data, service issues and title records, didn't suggest any red flags. "I don't know why you need [to do] this investigation," said Zhao, who pointed out that the dealership gave Andrews his money back. "Things happen." He also claimed that after Andrews informed him of the odometer fraud, the dealership removed the car from its website. But Go Public saw it still listed for sale almost three weeks later, and when a producer visited the lot posing as a customer, a salesperson suggested the mileage may be low because the owner "didn't drive it much." Only after further questioning did the salesperson call his manager, who told him that the odometer had in fact been rolled back. It's not illegal to knowingly sell a vehicle with an inaccurate odometer, as long as that's made clear to potential buyers, says Shari Prymak of Car Help Canada, a non-profit that helps people navigate the process of purchasing a new or used car. "Dealerships are required to disclose certain material facts, [such as] whether a vehicle has been involved in a serious collision, whether it has a rebuilt or salvage title and whether it has a rolled back odometer," said Prymak. He says dealerships are also required to make sure their staff are informed about the vehicles they're selling. Zhao said he told staff about the odometer fraud in a morning meeting and that the salesperson who interacted with the Go Public producer may not have been present at the meeting because he works part-time or was possibly sick. He also said the car was on consignment from another dealership, Easy Road Auto, based in Richmond, B.C. Zhao said that dealership purchased the car from a private seller who'd posted the vehicle on Facebook, with mileage showing about 98,000 kilometres. Prymak says it's still generally the responsibility of the dealership showing the car to figure out where the odometer fraud happened and who is to blame "because ultimately they will be held accountable." Odometer fraud is an offence under provincial and federal laws. After several requests from Go Public, a director at Easy Road Auto eventually provided a vehicle transfer form he said showed the car's odometer was not tampered with by his dealership. The document showed the mileage at just under 98,000 kilometres, but it had no date of sale or sale price, and was not signed by the seller. And when we tracked down the owner of the vehicle, she said when she recently sold the car to Easy Road Auto the odometer was "around 150,000 kilometres." In an email, Easy Road Auto said it takes the issue "very seriously" and has "conducted a thorough internal investigation," but did not say what that investigation involved. A spokesperson also said it's typical for the employee who buys a used vehicle for the dealership to be the only person in contact with the seller. According to the spokesperson, that employee "went back to her home country," so they couldn't contact her anymore. Despite all the finger pointing, Prymak says the buck stops at the dealership showing the vehicle to the public. "Dealerships have a responsibility to understand what they're selling," he said. "A professional dealership that knows what to look for will often be able to identify if something is wrong." Steve Andrews has filed a complaint with the Vehicle Sales Authority of B.C., but the regulator would not confirm whether it is investigating. A spokesperson said any dealer found to have violated provincial laws could have their licence suspended or revoked. Beware 'curbsiders' While licensed dealerships have to follow provincial regulations, there are no protections for people buying a vehicle in a different scenario — from a private seller. If people do this, Prymak says it's up to the buyer to make sure the seller is the actual owner of the vehicle. "So check the ownership of the vehicle and also ask to see a driver's licence and make sure that the two match," he said. "Because if the seller is not the owner of the vehicle, they could potentially be a curbsider — someone selling used cars illegally for a quick profit." WATCH | Tips for protecting yourself when buying a used car How to protect yourself when buying a used car 4 minutes ago Duration 0:38 Often, these are people selling "junk vehicles" that are re-built or that have rolled back odometers "to make a quick buck," Prymak said. "So there's a huge risk, buying a used vehicle from a curbsider." Last year, OMVIC laid 1,242 charges against 169 alleged curbsiders, up almost 47 per cent from 2023. Prymak says doing your own due diligence before buying a used vehicle includes requesting vehicle history reports, inspecting the vehicle thoroughly, and consulting a trusted mechanic. Though vehicle history reports from companies like CARFAX can be valuable to have, mechanics and dealerships aren't required to record their work or a vehicle's mileage on them. If these reports are sparse or contain large gaps in odometer readings, experts say that's a red flag that buyers should investigate. Andrews and his partner ended up buying a 2020 Toyota RAV4 with only 40,000 kilometres from a larger dealership. And they made sure the vehicle had proper documentation showing its full maintenance and mileage history. "We're paying a little bit more," he said. "But we have peace of mind." As for the 2012 Subaru with the odometer issue, it was nowhere to be seen when Go Public recently visited the DD Auto dealership. Zhao, the manager, says it won't be sold to anyone, and instead will be rented out, likely to a company.
