Second-hand Cars and Motorbikes

Mileage of used vehicles

• A mileometer readingshould indicate the distance a vehicle has travelled.
• You must make it clear to customers if a mileometer reading is incorrect.
• Selling (or offering to supply) a vehicle with a false mileometer reading is a criminal offence under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.
• It is a criminal offence to include a false mileage in an advertisement or on or near the vehicle (for example "low mileage" stickers), or in any publication or on the Internet.

What you should do:

• Check the mileage history with all registered owners and keep records of these checks
• Get the person who sells you the car to sign to verify that the reading is correct, incorrect, or unknown. Don't just take their word for it.
• Only when you are certain the mileage history is correct should you offer the vehicle for sale as genuine mileage.
• If the accuracy of the mileometer reading is in doubt, you must make this clear to prospective customers. You must place a notice like this on the speedometer before displaying the vehicle for sale:

• If the mileometer reading is wrong but the true mileage known, then place this notice on the speedometer:

• These notices must be:
  • as bold and obvious as the mileometer reading itself, and
  • included in all documents relating to the vehicle, where it must be shown clearly, prominently and close to any mileometer reading.

NB It is not sufficient to place disclaimer notices in documents and sales offices. the speedometer notices are crucial.

Other descriptions

You should ensure all descriptions are accurate. This could include the number of previous owners, the history of the vehicle including any accidents, the engine size, the model, any specific features, and any statements you make about its condition or performance. If a description is incorrect then a criminal offence may be committed under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968

The safety of secondhand cars and motorcycles

The Road Traffic Act 1988 makes it an offence to supply a vehicle in an unroadworthy condition. To avoid committing an offence you must ensure that the vehicle is safe (reliance on an MOT test itself is not adequate).

Your civil responsibilities

To ensure vehicles sold comply with the Sale of Goods Act 1979 as amended in that they will be of 'satisfactory quality', which will be dependent upon the age, mileage and price of the vehicle.

Please Note

This leaflet is not an authoritative interpretation of the law and is intended only for guidance. For further information please contact your local Consumer Protection or Trading Standards office.

Trading Standards Division, 3rd Floor, Wallasey Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, Wirral CH44 8ED
Telephone: (0151) 691 8020    Fax: (0151) 691 8098
Internet World Wide Web http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/wirral/
Electronic Mail: tradingstandards@wirral.gov.uk