How many people pay for AA / RAC checks before buying a car?

Jet

A long time ago myself and my ex husband bought a second hand car that had previously been written off and the mileage had been put back.

I became suspicious about the car and some minor faults and also when I realised that the car had only done 200 miles in 2 years. Eventually I discovered from a previous owner that the car had been written off and 'clocked'.

I have bought 2 cars since then and was fortunate enough to be able to buy them from main dealers and felt 'safe' that the cars were what they said they were. I still checked things like boots and bonnets fitted properly and vin plates and had an HPI check.

I am now in a position where I need to upgrade my car and am not able to purchase at a main dealer due to lack of funds.

Because of my past experience I will only feel happy buying a car from a dealer or privately by getting an AA or RAC check done first. However, I know that many dealers refuse to give you a good part exchange deal or reduce the price of the car you are looking to purchase if you insist on a check as they say that the checks find so many minor faults that it costs them money to put right and they therefore, cannot reduce the price of the car. :mad:

How many of you have bought cars without any checks and if you have had inspections done, what is the best moneysaving way of paying for them?

gizmoleeds

Jet wrote:

...what is the best moneysaving way of paying for them?

The most cost-effective way would be to befriend an AA/RAC man in the local pub... :snow_laug

It really depends on the value of the car, but personally I would think than when spending such a large amount of money you should really go with "better safe than sorry". Considering a lot of cars do develop problems, £100 to ensure a car is mechanically sound is much cheaper than £1,000 fixing various faults which could have been found beforehand....

tomstickland

I don't bother with those sort of checks. I make my own decision. If a car has been repaired and resprayed then you can find evidence of it if you look hard enough. If they've done the job so well that you can't tell and it drives straight, then, really, it doesn't matter. I crashed my previous car at reasonable speed (too fast on wet road, my fault). I paid to have it jigged and straightened and it drove like new afterwards and I don't think anyone would have worked it out.

I took a chance on my most recent car - I bought it with 5 days MOT left, but was of the opinion that it had no serious issues. I was correct, but I'd advise buying a car with a long MOT to save hassle.

Iguana

When my husband bought his car a few years ago he took it to our garage to have it checked. At the time they charged £60.00, I believe the AA and RAC charge a lot more than that.

scheming_gypsy

Shame you can't check the owners as well. A week after i bought mine i had CID on my doorstep asking who i bought it off and where he lived etc as he was suspected of shooting somebody and wanted to check the car for DNA and blood stains.

vansboy

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=123915

Take a peek in the above link - similar Q's discussed, there!!

VB