People are only just realising these four hacks to stop being ripped off when buying a new car
A CAR expert has revealed four easy hacks to help drivers avoid being ripped off when buying a new car.
The motors whizz explained how to check your vehicle’s age and condition before parting with your cash.
In a TikTok clip she said: “If you buy a car and don’t check it, it’s a big mistake.
“There is a good chance you will get a test drive car.
“Or maybe the car you bought has been in an accident.”
First of all, she showed viewers how to check their vehicle’s age in seconds.
On the frame of the passenger-side front door, there is an information label painted onto the bodywork.
This displays the car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) and, just below it, the date of manufacture.
If the car is over three months old for a domestic manufacture or six months old for an imported car, then it shouldn’t be sold for the same price as factory-new models.
The expert then showed how to check the production date on your tyres.
The figure showing this can be found on the tyre rubber under the maker’s name and tells you the week of the year it was made in.
For example, in this clip, the tyre is number 5222, meaning it was made in the 52nd week of 2022.
This can be significant as, if your tyres were made later than your car, it could suggest that they were changed due to damage or even an accident.
Thirdly, you should check the production date on your windscreen and windows.
This can be found in the corner of the glass pane and is represented by a number of dots followed by a one or two-digit figure.
The dots represent the months of the year (with one dot meaning January and so on) and the number after them represents the year of manufacture.
Again all the glass should be older than the car it’s installed on.
Finally, the expert explained how to make sure your car wasn’t previously a test-drive model.
Just pop the hood and use the dipstick to check the colour of your engine oil.
New oil should be slightly red in colour but transparent.
If it is darkly coloured or full of debris, then the car may have been used for extensive driving before being sold to you.
The helpful social media user added: “Save this video, because sooner or later you will buy a car.”
It comes after a major brand discontinued some of its most popular models amid a lull in sales.
Meanwhile, a driver urged others to check the value of their car online after raking in an extra £13,000 over the first offer she was given by a dealership.