Warwickshire News Mine

As second hand car dealers MG Motor Group found out to their cost at Warwick Magistrates Courts on Monday 17th August.

Both partners of the business were prosecuted after an investigation by Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service. Gurdip Singh Virdi and Martin James Pittaway of MG Motor Group, Wheelright Lane, Ash Green, Warwickshire pleaded guilty to offences under Section 75 of the Road Traffic Act 1988.  They were each fined £2000 and ordered to pay £1250 towards prosecution costs at Warwick Magistrates Court.

In September 2008, after seeing an advert in Autotrader, undercover Trading Standards Officers purchased a P registered, Fiat Punto ELX from MG Motor Group. The vehicle was advertised as “super value and a nice drive”. The car had four months MOT remaining at the time of purchase and cost £695.

Warwickshire Trading Standards expert vehicle examiner found a number of faults that meant the car would not have passed an MOT; it was in fact unroadworthy.  The handbrake was not working properly and would not have stopped the car from rolling, even on a gentle slope.

The handbrake cables were hanging loose underneath the car and there was a small hole in the floor of the vehicle where the metal had corroded. 

Warwickshire County Councilor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Protection said “We are pleased that the courts took robust action with this case. It is unacceptable that these traders were seeking to offload a potentially dangerous vehicle to unsuspecting members of the public.

"In the current economic climate a second hand car may seem like the cheap option, particularly to young people who are less aware of the dangers of such vehicles and have less cash to spend.

"But that is no excuse for vehicles not being safe. Traders have a responsibility to ensure that vehicles they sell are road worthy and that their adverts are factually correct. Defective vehicles play a large part in serious and fatal accidents on our roads."

The Fiat Punto has now been disposed of, crushed and baled for scrap.

Warwickshire Trading Standards Service is reminding anyone looking to buy a used car, particularly at the cheaper end of the market to check the vehicle and any paperwork thoroughly before purchase.

Advice for Buying a Used Car
It is wise to have a history check done on the car. There are organisations which hold data on cars and can tell you, for a fee, whether the car has outstanding finance on it, whether it is an insurance write off or stolen. You can also find out if the mileage is accurate and whether the registration number and VIN match.

Check the general condition of the bodywork and look for signs of rust and welding. The condition should reflect the age of the car and the asking price.

Make sure that all the tyres, including the spare, have the correct pressure and tread.

Go for a thorough test drive.

It is strongly recommended that you have the car checked out by a qualified auto engineer (either an independent engineer or through a motoring organisation) if you don’t have the expertise to check the car’s condition yourself.

Alternatively, enlist the help of a mechanically-minded friend or relative who should at least be able to spot the most serious defects.

Check all the relevant paperwork (including MOT test certificates, service histories etc.) to satisfy yourself that everything is in order.

Read the contract carefully before you sign.

Read the finance agreement (if any) carefully and make sure the figures add up.  Look around for credit. You do not have to use the credit on offer from the dealer.

Further guidance on buying a used car is available on out website: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/consumerguide

For more information or advice contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

Businesses unsure of their obligations should telephone the Trading Standards Service on 01926 414040 for information and advice.

Link to WCC