Glossary of Terms
Used car terms explained
- Caveat emptor
- Clocked
- Cloned
- CO2 emissions
- Cut 'n' shut
- Good title
- Imports
- MOT
- Q Plate
- Ringer
- Sale of Goods Act
- Thatcham-Approved Inspection
- Total loss
- V5 registration document
- VIN
- VRM
- Write-off
Caveat Emptor
Caveat emptor is Latin for 'buyer beware', meaning the onus is on you (the buyer) to ensure that you know what you are purchasing.
Legal protection in the used car market is limited. Whilst dealer activities are covered by many laws and regulations, the only rule to which a private seller must adhere is that the car must not be mis-described. As there is rarely a written contract in the private market, the seller could claim to have told the buyer a vehicle's true condition and then it is one person's word against another. The solution is to be as well informed on the vehicle's status and history as possible.
Clocked
Clocking involves reducing the mileage of a vehicle by turning back or replacing the odometer, with the intention of increasing the value and deceiving subsequent purchasers.
This is a common trick used to obtain a higher price. HPI research shows at least 1 in 12 vehicles have some sort of discrepancy. The average car does 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year, so if you think the mileage is inconsistent with the age and condition of the car, it's worth investigating further.
Cloned
A type of 'ringing', cloning takes the identity of a legitimate vehicle that is the same make and model as the stolen one by forging its vehicle identification number (VIN) and vehicle registration mark (VRM). This means there will be two or more cars on the road with the same identity. Like ringers, clones can be hard to spot, but take a close look at all the VINs, just in case.
CO2 emissions
Each vehicle is assigned a CO2 rating based on the amount of emissions it produces per km of distance travelled. The CO2 bandings provided are intended as a guide to the emissions of a vehicle and equate to the current Vehicle Excise Duty bandings. Cars registered before 1 March 2001 may use alternative VED / RFL bandings based on emissions or engine size.
Cut 'n' Shut
Cut 'n' shut is the term used for a car that is made up of two different vehicles - usually both 'write-offs' - where the back end of one is welded to the front of another.
Often done with considerable skill, the vehicle may look like new but it is likely to be unroadworthy and could prove lethal in an accident. The practice is illegal and the car could be worthless when you come to sell it. The exceptions are 'stretched' vehicles made by specialist coachbuilders.
Good Title
If a vehicle has good title, it means the owner has the right to sell it, and that the vehicle is not subject to any third party ownership rights, e.g. hire purchase finance.
Imports
The number of vehicles imported through unofficial channels has increased significantly in recent years. There are many different definitions used with imports, but the main ones are 'Parallel', 'Personal' and 'Grey'.
- Parallel imports were originally destined for other European markets but have been brought into the UK as new vehicles by parties outside the manufacturer's official distribution chain.
- Personal imports are vehicles ordered by UK customers and sourced from dealers in the EU, either directly or by UK brokers.
- Grey imports are vehicles destined for other markets outside the EU and are being brought into the UK by parties outside the manufacturer's official distribution chain. The term is most frequently applied to Japanese-specification vehicles.
MOT
All the MOT tells you is that a vehicle was in a fit condition to pass a test when presented for inspection on a particular day. It is no substitute for an independent inspection.
As of October 2005, all MOT serial numbers have been electronically issued by VOSA to combat the issue of fraud.
Q Plate
Q Plate is a vehicle registration mark that starts with a 'Q', indicating that the vehicle was either not originally registered in the UK and proof of age was unavailable at registration; or that it is a vehicle that has been built using a significant proportion of used parts.
Kit cars usually have a Q registration. Q plates can be used to disguise stolen or 'rung' vehicles, and when it comes to a bike check, you should be especially cautious of motorcycles which bear a Q plate.
Ringer
Ringing is the practice of using a registration mark taken from a 'donor' vehicle - typically one that's been written-off - to change a vehicle's true identity and disguise the fact that it's been stolen.
Often the vehicle identification number (VIN) or chassis number will also be forged, making professionally 'rung' vehicles hard to detect. But it's always worth checking that ALL the identification numbers stamped into the bodywork, on the chassis and behind the windscreen match.
Sale of Goods Act (1979)
The Sale of Goods Act (1979) obliges car dealers to sell cars of 'satisfactory quality' to which they have good title.
Other important legislation under the Trade Descriptions Act (1968), binding dealers to describe cars accurately; and the Road Traffic Acts which requires all vehicles displayed, offered or sold to be in roadworthy condition. See Buying from the Trade for more advice.
Thatcham-Approved Inspection
Established in 1969, Thatcham is an independent, non-profit making Research Centre. It provides the insurance industry with definitive guidelines on the safe, efficient repair of vehicles.
The HPI Condition Inspected Register holds details of total loss vehicles that have passed a Thatcham-approved repair inspection.
Total Loss
Insurers will describe a vehicle as a total loss if they think that it is beyond repair, or not worth repairing, financially.
V5 Registration Document
The V5 registration document, is issued by the DVLA. It gives the name and address of a vehicle's current owner as well as the last two registered keepers. It also lists the car's colour, make, model, engine number, and vehicle identification number.
The HPI document check provides you with significant added protection at no extra cost. In order to benefit from this service, you will need both the serial number and issue date of the V5 registration document.
VIN
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is the manufacturer's own ID, found stamped onto a plate under the bonnet, under the carpet by the driver's seat and/or etched on to the windows.
Vehicles which are approved for sale in the EU have 17 digit VINs. Imports from outside Europe, such as Japan, may have short VINs. If you see a VIN which starts with the letters SABTVRO, take special care, because this VIN is assigned by a vehicle registration office when the original identity of a bodyshell or frame cannot be determined.
VRM
Vehicle Registration Mark, or number plate.
Write-off
This is a term for a vehicle that has been declared a total loss by an insurer following accident damage or theft.
Although write-offs can legitimately be allowed back on the road, almost half are beyond repair. Look for the ones that have passed an independent inspection, such as those on HPI's Condition Inspected register. Since 1997, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has provided classification of damage to vehicles that have been written off. Category 'A' or 'B' must never reappear on the road, whilst 'C' and 'D' may do so following proper repair, passing an independent Thatcham-approved structural examination.
