People are only just realising these four hacks to stop being ripped off when buying a new car
A CAR expert has revealed four simple tricks to help drivers avoid being scammed when buying a new car.
The motor expert explained how you can check the age and condition of your vehicle before spending your money.
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In a TikTok clip, she said: “If you buy a car and don’t check it, that’s a big mistake.”
“Chances are good that you will get a test drive car.
“Or maybe the car you bought was in an accident.”
First, she showed viewers how to check the age of their vehicle in seconds.
There is an information sign painted on the body of the passenger door frame.
The vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle is displayed here and, directly below it, the date of manufacture.
If the car is more than three months old for a domestic manufacturer or six months old for an imported car, it should not be sold at the same price as brand new models.
The expert then showed how you can check the production date of your tires.
The corresponding number can be found on the tire rubber under the manufacturer’s name and provides information about the week of the year of manufacture.
For example, in this clip the tire is numbered 5222, meaning it was manufactured in the 52nd week of 2022.
This can be significant because if your tires were manufactured later than your car, this could indicate that they were changed due to damage or even an accident.
Third, you should check the production date on your windshield and windows.
This is located in the corner of the glass pane and is represented by a number of dots followed by a one or two digit number.
The dots represent the months of the year (where a dot means January, etc.) and the number behind them represents the year of manufacture.
Again, all glass should be older than the car in which it is installed.
Finally, the expert explained how you can make sure that your car has not been a test drive model before.
Simply open the hood and use the dipstick to check the color of your engine oil.
New oil should be slightly red but transparent.
If it is dark in color or full of dirt, the car may have been driven extensively before it was sold to you.
The helpful social media user added: “Save this video because sooner or later you will buy a car.”
This came after a major brand discontinued some of its most popular models due to a lull in sales.
Meanwhile, a motorist urged others to check the value of their car online after netting £13,000 more compared to a dealer’s first offer.
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