Wheeler Dealers star Mike Brewer has explained that a simple “visual trick” can help motorists avoid buying damaged cars. The host of the classic car TV series stressed a simple “two-second check” is all that’s needed to avoid being caught out. Number plates could provide the biggest clue with matching front and rear registration numbers the best way to ensure cars haven’t been involved in shunts.
However, Mike warned that number plates provided by two different companies on the same vehicle should be a major red flag. Mike issued the tip to followers on social media as he walked around a car auction with his One Automotive business partner James.
Mike said: “Take a look at the front number plates at the very bottom, it says ‘The Trade Centre’. That’s the dealer that put the plate on it.
“Now if we go to the back of the car, the number plate on the back of the car also says ‘The Trade Centre’.
“And there’s a ‘Trade Centre’ sticker in the rear window. If it had an accident on the front or the rear it’s likely to have a number plate changed by the accident centre.
“That means this car hasn’t had an accident in our opinion because it’s got matching front and back number plates.
“And that’s a really visual trick that you can do in two seconds at the car auction. If it’s got ‘Trade Centre’ at the front and ‘Brewer Motors’ at the back why?
“Why has it got a different number plate at the back than the front, so you need to start looking for signs of accident damage.”
Experts at HPICheck also urged road users to look for number plate warning signs when looking at used cars.
It’s possible that a change in number plate could be harmless but specialists warn it could be a way to hide information that may put sellers off.
They commented: “A change in number plates can simply have occurred as people want to personalise their vehicles, but it can also be done to hide the car’s past.
“Therefore, arranging a reg check on any car, van or motorbike that you are interested in buying is a great way of staying safe and avoiding becoming a victim of vehicle fraud.”