Pre-sale inspections in spotlight as used car demand rockets

“Almost every dispute concerning a faulty vehicle that we’re asked to help resolve could have been prevented had its pre-sales checks been performed properly,” said Ferguson.

“The biggest problem with these checks is that the technicians who do them are working to the time allowed, rather than the time required. We’ve seen 300-point checklists that must be done in 20 minutes. We know dealers are selling cars that have received nothing more than a cursory examination at best.”

Ferguson claimed that problems with used car checks aren’t confined to online retailers. Manufacturers’ approved used schemes – the gold standard of used-car retailing – can be just as flawed.

Part of the appeal of such schemes is the number of checks that are carried out, with car makers competing to boast the highest number.

However, Ferguson said the quality, rather than the number, of checks matters more: “Often, cars are simply inspected on the workshop ramp. That’s fine for visual checks, such as tyre condition and oil leaks, but car makers and workshops must allow additional time for cars to be properly road-tested, when any issues with its mechanicals and driver-assistance features will become apparent.”

One manufacturer that does insist on this is Suzuki. Dealers who have signed up to its Approved Used Car Programme must, as part of the scheme’s 81-point inspection, road-test each car.

“Checks during and after a road test are mandated as part of the Suzuki Approved Used Car Programme, which 85% of our dealers are members of,” said Ian Banks, manager of national remarketing and cost of ownership at Suzuki. “They help identify any faults with things such as the suspension, transmission and parking-distance control system.”

That should be a comfort to anyone buying an approved used Suzuki, but for everyone else, until all dealer inspection schemes – approved used or otherwise – place a greater emphasis on the quality rather than the quantity of checks they claim to perform, it’s a case of buyer beware.

Rejecting a used car

If you can show that the used car you’ve bought isn’t of satisfactory quality, not fit for purpose or not as described, you can reject it within the first 30 days for a full refund.

After that and up to the sixth month of your ownership, the dealer must be allowed one chance to fix it or refund your money, less a deduction for your use of the car.

If you buy the car over the phone or online, you can reject the car within the first 14 days for a full refund without giving a reason.

The buyer who had to be refunded for one flawed car after another