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Car buyers are being warned about a scam that could leave you with a dangerous car and seriously out of pocket.
The motoring group, Bristol Street Motors is warning drivers who are looking to purchase a used vehicle to stay vigilant amidst concerns that a common car scam could become more popular with the 22-plate release today.
The scam involves Category C, or “Cat C” – a term used to describe vehicles that have been written off by their insurance company. They are written off as the cost of the repair would significantly outweigh the value of the car.
In most cases, Cat C cars usually end up being sold at auction to motor traders and garages who can complete the repairs at trade prices. There is usually no issue if the repairs are carried out to a high standard, although some buyers are falling victim to unscrupulous sellers who have completed sub-par repairs.
Motor traders and dealerships must disclose whether a vehicle has been written off, whereas private sellers do not. This means some buyers are unknowingly buying a written-off vehicle that is potentially unsafe for the road.
Craig, 31, a Digital Marketing Manager from Newcastle lost £1,642 when he fell victim to this scam.
He said: “I first found the car when looking for a fairly cheap run-around to quickly replace my old car, after it failed its MOT. It was on Gumtree and looked to be in good condition and reasonably well maintained.”
It was…
