Trading Standards - Vehicle Complaints and Investigations

Trading Standards deal with misdescribed vehicles, mileometers which have been turned back (known as 'clocking'), unroadworthy vehicles (those that would fail an MOT), sub-standard vehicle servicing, traders selling vehicles in residential areas, misleading prices and incorrect credit advertisements.

• We provide traders with advice on their legal responsibilities.
• We investigate complaints and advise consumers of their rights.
• We prosecute those who commit criminal offences such as 'clocking' vehicles
• We monitor newspaper and other advertisements to identify traders claiming to be private sellers
• We investigate complaints about unsafe LPG installations

If you are thinking of buyinga second hand vehicle you might like to check out our leaflet 'Buying a used Car - 10 top tips', which is attached below.
Remember, if you are buying from a trader you have rights if the car turns out to be faulty. So always be on the look out for traders who sell from home and who are pretending to be private sellers as this means that they are trying to get out of their legal obligations to you.
If you are in any doubt, just walk away!

If you have any query relating to MOT tests you can obtain help and information from the directgov website by selecting the following link: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Mot/DG_10020539

For further information or to make a complaint please contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06.