CITY of York Council Trading Standards regularly receives complaints from local residents who have responded to advertisements on internet auction sites or magazines listing cars for sale, only to find they have either been duped by rogue dealers posing as private sellers or that, when problems occur, the private seller is untraceable.

While buying a used car privately has the advantage that it is invariably cheaper than buying from a dealer, it is much riskier. A number of such deals often become a headache for innocent purchasers when the cars turn out to be stolen, have serious defects, or to still belong to a finance company.

Many people do not realise they have fewer rights when buying privately. The car must be "as described" but need not be of satisfactory quality or fit for purpose. Thus some dealers pretend to be private sellers to avoid their obligations and to get rid of faulty and overpriced cars.

A recent caller to York Trading Standards said that he had travelled to an address in Kent to buy a car of the particular make and colour he wanted from a private seller.

Days later, the newly-purchased car was taken to a local garage for an adjustment to the handbrake where it was found that it had been involved in an serious accident and was virtually worthless - the cost of the repairs to make the car roadworthy amounting to almost the full the price paid for the vehicle.

It turned out that the seller had given a false name and did not live at the address from which the car was sold and the buyer was unable to trace him. Furthermore, it would have been difficult to pursue the matter, as no description had been applied to the vehicle.

Anyone without relevant experience or who has doubts about the quality of a vehicle should have it independently checked before purchase. Remember, an MOT does not check the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox nor does it guarantee the vehicle will remain roadworthy for the next 12 months. Potential buyers should also check with companies who keep databases of information about cars about whether the car has been a write-off or has outstanding finance on it.

For further information on this or any other consumer matter, consumers in the first instance should phone Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

Updated: 10:29 Thursday, April 07, 2005