The most common car scams

As used car sales continue to peak at an all-time high in the UK, it's worth having your wits about you when it comes to buying and selling a vehicle.

Although many used car sales happen without a hitch, there are of course a small percentage of transactions which fall foul to fraudsters. Even if you already own a car and have no plans to sell it, you can still fall victim to a vehicle scam when you least expect it. 

For problem-free vehicle purchasing or selling, here at Octane Finance, we’ve highlighted the most common car scams to watch out for… 

Virtual vehicle scams

With so many cars being advertised online, it’s easy to be lured into a virtual vehicle scam. These adverts are actually fake, tempting potential buyers by luring them in with low prices. In this instance, use your common sense; if an offer sounds too good to be true, that’s because it usually is! 

If a car is advertised as being located outside of the UK, this is an initial red flag. Scammers will usually send potential buyers to a fake website which will encourage you to transfer money for so-called ‘shipping costs’, making empty promises of when the purchaser can expect delivery of the vehicle that never arrives. 

Car clocking scams

As a motorist, you’ve no doubt heard of the term ‘clocking’. This is a way of reducing the current mileage of a vehicle, so it appears to have less miles-on-the-clock. Low mileage cars naturally attract buyers and higher prices, which is why fraudsters engage in the illegal practice of clocking. 

Thanks to the introduction of digital odometers, car clocking scams have reduced, but it is still an ongoing problem - especially in older vehicles. Worryingly, it's estimated that over two million cars currently on UK roads are being driven with the incorrect mileage. 

Car cloning scams

Many motorists are falling foul to car cloning scams which are sadly on the rise. Car cloning is the process of stolen identity; usually fraudsters will duplicate a car’s registration plate, using it for a vehicle of the same make and model which has been stolen or salvaged, and is being used to commit crimes. 

Worryingly, there is very little you can do to stop your car being cloned. The first you’ll hear of it is if you receive a letter in the post, claiming that you’ve committed a traffic offence or failed to pay a motoring fine. If you suspect your number plate has been cloned, you need to contact the police and DVLA straightaway. 

Devious ‘DVLA’ scams

If you received an email or text claiming to be from the DVLA, would you trust it? Email and text-based car scams are on the rise and in recent years, fraudsters have been acting under the guise of the DVLA to con unsuspecting drivers. 

These types of texts and emails claim to offer road tax refunds, encouraging car owners to click on a link and fill out their details - including bank information. What’s important to remember is that the DVLA will never contact motorists via emails or text messages to ask for payments or confirm personal information. Be alert and be aware! 

Dirty distraction scams

Selling your car privately can be a stressful experience, which can be made all the worse by scammers looking to pay far less to purchase a vehicle. Criminals can use a number of distraction techniques in order to pull the wool over a seller’s eyes… 

One such scam is known as the ‘dirty oil trick’, where one scammer will distract the seller, whilst the other will appear to look under the car’s bonnet. Unbeknowingly to the seller, the potential ‘buyer’ is actually pouring oil into the coolant chamber of the vehicle, so when it’s taken for a test drive, smoke will appear from under the bonnet. 

‘Ghost broker’ insurance scams

Finding a good deal on car insurance is a priority for many drivers, but beware of fake insurance companies - referred to in the trade as ‘ghost brokers’. Quite often targeting their victims via social media, ghost brokers promise car insurance policies at the fraction of the price.

Of course, these types of fraudulent cover are null and void, meaning that the criminals have pocketed potentially hundreds of pounds, while you’re left driving without insurance. 

MOT and mechanical scams

While you no doubt use an approved garage to get your car fixed or booked in for its annual MOT and service, not all garages are reputable. In fact, some are known for fraudulent activity by claiming your car has more faults than it actually has. 

Less trustworthy mechanics may take advantage of unsuspecting car owners; watch out for overcharging of parts or labour, charging for work that hasn’t taken place, or fabricating a list of extra faults that don’t actually exist. Only ever book your car in at an approved garage - check online via websites such as Approved Garages to be sure.   

If you fall victim to a car scam, always report it to the police - no matter how small you think it is - as it may be part of a wider network of crimes.