REGARDLESS of the price, it is a criminal offence for anyone, trader or private individual, to sell a car that is unroadworthy.

York Trading Standards will investigate traders who sell unroadworthy cars. The most common problems which might make a vehicle unroadworthy are brakes, steering, tyres, suspension or corrosion.

'Cut-and-shut cars' are welded together from the front and back of two entirely separate cars. They are almost certainly unsafe, as they cannot absorb the shock of an impact, even at slow speeds. Amazingly, they are not illegal, unless deemed unroadworthy.

It is not always easy to spot a 'cut-and- shut', but here are some of the things to check out.

Check that the chassis number (VIN) and engine number match the registration document

Check the registration number and VIN number with one of the organisations which hold information about insurance claims or stolen vehicles.

Check the most common areas where vehicle sections are joined. Look at the centre of the roof and floor, and the front bulkhead and windscreen pillars

Note whether the vehicle appears to have been repainted, especially the roof and upper body

Look to see if the inside of body panels are the same colour as the outside

If possible lift the carpet and check the floor for welded joints and differences in colour

If you are looking to buy a car Trading Standards recommend that you look for an established trader with a good reputation. If you are buying in York, look for the Motor Traders Fair Trading Scheme logo for local businesses working in partnership with Trading Standards. Contact us for a list of firms committed to fair trading.

Do not rely on a new or recent MOT certificate to assure you that a car is safe. An MOT test does not cover all aspects of a car's roadworthiness and it only relates to the condition the car was in at the time of the test.

If you think you have been sold an unroadworthy car and you want to make a formal complaint you must act quickly. If you delay or allow any repairs to be made to the vehicle or tamper with it yourself, then it may be impossible for trading standards officers or police to prove any offences.

Remember - if you buy a car and it turns out to be unroadworthy YOU can be prosecuted if you have an accident or are stopped by the police while driving that car.

Contact York Trading Standards on 01904 551562 for advice on this or any other consumer matter. Alternatively call in to see us at 9 St Leonard's Place or e-mail us on trading.standards@york.gov.uk.