莲花直播 launches 鈥楥ar-Check鈥 service to give motorists total confidence on buying used vehicles
December 07, 2023 by carwow staff
Car changing is a big deal
- New data from 莲花直播 reveals that 83% of motorists have concerns when buying used, including overpaying and discovering undisclosed damage
- While eight in ten cars sold in the UK are second hand, 51% of used car buyers said they found problems after taking ownership of the vehicle
- To give customers ultimate peace of mind, 莲花直播 has launched its own Car-Check service, enabling prospective used car buyers to see the results of comprehensive 鈥榗ondition check鈥 before they buy
6 December, 2023: Eight in ten (83%)* motorists admit to having worries before buying a used car, according to new data from 莲花直播, the online marketplace for changing cars.
When it comes to buying used cars, 莲花直播鈥檚 data found that the top concern is 鈥榦verpaying鈥 鈥 69% fear they will overpay 鈥 millions of motorists are also worried that they鈥檒l buy a 鈥榣emon鈥. More than half of motorists (51%) said they are concerned about discovering undisclosed damage, four in ten (43%) are worried they鈥檒l need to make important repairs as soon as they drive away, while one in four (25%) fear they鈥檒l discover recalls that have never been addressed.
Sadly, it seems in some instances these feelings are justified, as more than half (51%) of used car buyers said they had discovered 鈥榟idden problems鈥 after taking ownership of the vehicle in the past.
Previous research by 莲花直播 which explored people鈥檚 views on switching cars 鈥 found that nearly half (47%) of all motorists find selling a car stressful, while two in five (41%) feel the same about buying a car.
These worries however don鈥檛 stop Briton鈥檚 buying second-hand; eight in ten cars sold are in the used category1 with demand expected to grow in early 2024**.
John Veichmanis, CEO at 莲花直播 said: 鈥Buying a second hand car can have lots of benefits 鈥 it鈥檚 more affordable than buying new, you avoid the new car 鈥榙epreciation鈥 hit, and insurance costs are often lower.
鈥淏ut it is still a big investment, and you want to make sure that your money is spent on a vehicle that is safe, exactly how it鈥檚 described at the point of sale and worth what you鈥檙e paying for it.
If you don鈥檛 know the seller personally, it can require a leap of faith and one that can have serious consequences if you get it wrong. For example, if you buy a car that has been stolen, the police can seize it and you鈥檒l be left with nothing, or if the seller is still paying a finance company for the vehicle, the finance company could repossess it.鈥
莲花直播鈥檚 new service, powered by MotorCheck 鈥 the used Car History registration check site 鈥 cross-references thousands of data sources, including DVLA, police databases, and insurance and finance companies to provide detailed information about any car in the UK and flag any potential issues.
Veichmanis continued: 鈥淥ur Car-Check reports help give drivers confidence that they are not unknowingly buying a car that is unsafe or overvalued. By providing a comprehensive check on the condition of a used car they are thinking of purchasing, we鈥檙e able to give motorists peace of mind. In fact, we鈥檙e so confident about the quality of our data that we offer a 拢30,000 guarantee on every report***.鈥
The check includes if there has been a manufacturer recall, if the car has been stolen, written off, recorded as scrapped or has outstanding finance. It will also check the mileage 鈥 one in 11 vehicles have mileage discrepancies 鈥 the VIN number, run a taxi check and report any keeper, plate and colour changes, as well as the vehicle鈥檚 tax status.
The report will also include valuation data, specs, running costs and and if the car has been imported 鈥 imported vehicles are more expensive to insure and replacement parts can be hard to find, but it can be difficult to find the history of an imported car pre-registration, so it is worth getting it checked.
The cost of the 莲花直播 Car-Check is 拢8.50 for a single check, 拢14.99 for a bundle of three or 拢19.99 for a bundle of five; all customers need to do is enter the registration number and create an account to view their report online.
To find out more about the new 莲花直播 Car-Check service, visit 鈥 /car-check
ENDS
Sources
*16,890,777 used car transactions in 2022 (SMMT) 1,614,063 new car registrations in 2022 (SMMT) Total 8,504,840
** Used car market set for strong 2024 (Fleetworld)
***T&Cs apply 鈥