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Unusual car history - advice needed

Bron101
Bron101 Posts: 2 Newbie
edited 30 June 2014 pm30 7:21PM in Motoring
Hi, I've put a deposit down for a second hand car (60 plate, so not too old) and since then I've found some odd things around the car's history - I would appreciate any advice you'd be able to give!

Essentially, as far as I can tell, there is a year and a half gap where the car has not been taxed or driven. I did a mileage check and noticed that the last recorded mileage was on the 7th of January 2013, where the mileage was 66,707. The car's current displayed mileage is slightly higher (about 100 miles higher).

I also noticed that the car was last taxed up to january 31st 2013. So with these two items it now appears that the car was untaxed and not driven for a year and a half! - the car was only just over 2 years old in january 2013 (registered October 2010). The car was previously owned by a leasing company (alphabet) which owned it from new (I've confirmed this).

This is making me rather nervous about the car, but I don't really want to lose my deposit. I'm going to ask the dealer for an explanation before I put down the rest of the money, and look over the car again very carefully, but does anyone know of a possible explanation for this? All I can think of is either the car was setting in a dealership unsold (for a year and a half!) or was off the road for some other reason (accident repaired? its not cat c or d).

The car was very neat and tidy, and when I first looked over it there were no obvious signs of any repair work. I'm just rather confused over this year and a half gap!
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Comments

  • deanos
    deanos Posts: 11,236 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Uniform Washer
    edited 30 June 2014 pm30 7:32PM
    maybe the person who had it was ill and couldn't drive ? so decided to take it off the road
  • philgr
    philgr Posts: 71 Forumite
    As Deanos said. It's unusual but not necessarily to worry about..
  • tizerbelle
    tizerbelle Posts: 1,919 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Another option - car leased by a company for one of their employees as a company car. Employee left / was sacked / changed role and no longer qualified for a car. Company kept car as thought might re-assign to another employee / would have to pay to end of lease or large penalty even if returned it - so thought might as well keep it just in case we need it.
  • SunReader
    SunReader Posts: 210 Forumite
    edited 30 June 2014 pm30 8:07PM
    possibly above, but it is a question mark still. 100 miles in a year wouldn't even keep the battery charged.

    Maybe needed some expensive repair and a long legal battle to get it covered by warranty?

    Temporarily exported and clocked down a little too much?

    I'd want to know what the reason is, new cars like that loose hundreds a month in depreciation - also most vehicles would need some recommissioning and major valeting after being unused for a year and a half.
  • Smi1er
    Smi1er Posts: 642 Forumite
    Perhaps a firm leased a car with a 60,000 limit and didn't realise it was over. When they did they simply parked it up.
  • DUTR
    DUTR Posts: 12,958 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Or the car was impounded pending a criminal court case?
    However all n all, as long as it has not been smashed etc then you should be still good to go.
  • nobbysn*ts
    nobbysn*ts Posts: 1,176 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Old bloke that died. Sold by the estate.
  • harveybobbles
    harveybobbles Posts: 8,973 Forumite
    Has it just had AlphabetGb as the pnly keeper or is there someone else after them?

    If its just alphabet, it has either sat in a compound at BCA or its been at the dealers a long time due to it having high (ish) mileage for a new (ish) car and not many people wanted it.

    We often had cars in stock that we'd end up MOT'ing twice. Mainly if they were a naff car, naff spec, naff colour etc.
  • Has it just had AlphabetGb as the pnly keeper or is there someone else after them?

    If its just alphabet, it has either sat in a compound at BCA or its been at the dealers a long time due to it having high (ish) mileage for a new (ish) car and not many people wanted it.

    We often had cars in stock that we'd end up MOT'ing twice. Mainly if they were a naff car, naff spec, naff colour etc.

    Its just alphabet in the registered keeper history. Spec is low (base spec new shape 520d auto) but colour was decent (dark grey + black interior) so i'd be surprised if they couldn't shift it.

    Thanks for all the advice and suggestions from everyone. I think I'll continue with my original plan - ask the dealer what they know, and go over it again very carefully when I go to pick it up, but if I don't find any issues then I think I'll still go for it.

    If it was just sat somewhere for a year and a half, that wouldn't concern me too greatly. I don't think its been exported and reimported clocked, as the state of the interior is very nice for its current mileage, and the paintwork was clean (but not pristine - there were a couple of stone chips on the front so its not been resprayed there at least) - from the look of the drivers seat etc I don't think its done huge miles overseas and then clocked, but i'll have another close look. I'll just need to look very closely for any accident damage.
  • There's a million reasons why it could have happened. If you're really unhappy with it, find another one. If you really want it, just forget about it and go ahead. Overthinking it will only end up with you getting nervous about it.
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