Used car buyers are being urged to look beyond mileage records and service histories when purchasing a vehicle.

The warning comes amid growing concerns over hidden faults, clocked vehicles and falsified maintenance records.

Increasing numbers of buyers are accusing sellers of misrepresentation and fraudulent selling as vehicles become more complicated and the general layman’s knowledge of motor vehicles decreases.

A bargain

New research from dealership group Vertu suggests many motorists are overlooking some of the most revealing checks when inspecting a second-hand car, potentially leaving themselves exposed to costly repair bills and fraudulent sellers.

A survey of 55 dealership technicians, master technicians and aftersales managers found that 73% believe the most important, and most frequently overlooked, test drive check is simply turning off the radio and listening carefully to the car.

The findings come as searches for “what to look for when buying a used car” have risen by 23% over the past three months, highlighting growing consumer interest in navigating the used car market safely.

False flags

According to Vertu’s technicians, paperwork alone cannot reveal every issue.

“The feedback from our technicians showed that buyers tend to focus on the things they can research from home: mileage, service history and MOT records,” said Matt Salisbury, PR lead at Vertu.

“Those are important, but they only tell you what’s been documented. What they can’t tell you is how the car actually sounds when it’s accelerating, braking and going over bumps.”

The warning comes against a backdrop of increasing concern over vehicle fraud in the UK.

Industry organisations, including the Insurance Fraud Bureau and vehicle history specialists, have reported continuing problems with mileage tampering, cloned vehicles and fake service histories.

Vehicle data provider HPI estimates that thousands of vehicles are still affected by clocking each year, despite digital records making the practice harder to detect.

Clocking can artificially inflate a vehicle’s value by thousands of pounds while concealing significant wear and tear.

Fraudsters have also become increasingly sophisticated in producing forged service records and maintenance invoices, making it more difficult for buyers to verify a vehicle’s true history.

Due diligence

Vertu’s technicians identified four key checks that many buyers skip.

Top of the list was driving with the radio and ventilation switched off across different road surfaces.

Suspension defects account for nearly 9% of all MOT failures, according to DVSA figures, and many faults reveal themselves through knocking, grinding or humming noises long before they become visually obvious.

The second key check is examining components under the bonnet for signs of cheap replacement parts.

More than half (53%) of technicians said non-original components were often an indicator that previous owners had cut corners on maintenance.

Tyres were highlighted as another important clue.

Mismatched brands, uneven wear patterns and ageing rubber can indicate poor maintenance, alignment problems or suspension issues.

Technicians recommend checking that all four tyres match and examining date codes to determine their age.

Finally, experts say motorists should trust their senses when sitting inside a vehicle.

Damp, mouldy or musty smells can indicate water ingress or previous flood damage, while excessive air freshener may be masking underlying problems.

 The top revelations from 55 Vertu technicians:

  • 52.7% say cheap, non-original parts are the clearest sign of a troubled used car
  • 54.5% say EV buyers most misunderstand long-term battery degradation and replacement cost
  • 49.1% say new owners are least prepared for servicing, tyres and wear-and-tear costs
  • 52.7% name clutch riding in traffic as the worst habit for premature mechanical wear

Paper trail

Consumer groups have long advised buyers to conduct independent vehicle history checks and, where possible, verify service records directly with dealerships.

The AA and RAC both recommend obtaining a comprehensive vehicle history report before purchase.

At the same time, buyers are encouraged to check MOT records online via the DVLA and to inspect VIN numbers carefully for signs of tampering.

However, the ability to commit digital fraud, especially ongoing clocking, can make the paper trails and official records misleading, meaning physical checks are essential to provide a fuller picture of the car’s actual status.

On and off

The growing popularity of online vehicle marketplaces has widened consumer choice but has also created new opportunities for dishonest sellers.

With used car values remaining relatively high and repair costs rising, industry experts say thorough inspections have never been more important.

Salisbury added: “A ten-minute test drive with the radio off and five minutes looking under the bonnet will often tell you more than an hour spent reading paperwork.”

For buyers navigating today’s used car market, the message from technicians is clear: trust the documents, but verify the car itself.