Cartell.ie warn of new danger to Irish car buyers on advice received from UK’s Driving and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)

Fresh information from the UK’s DVLA has today prompted Cartell.ie – Ireland’s only used car history check – to urge Irish car buyers in the market for a second hand UK import to beware they are not purchasing a cloned vehicle.

Cloned vehicles – those sold with forged documentation to falsify their origin and history – are arriving on Irish shores following the theft of a series of vehicle licensing certificates in the UK.  Some of the stolen certificates begin with the serial numbers BG9167501 to BG9190500.

Cloned vehicles invariably have a history that the vendor wishes to hide.  In some instances, the car has been stolen or involved at some stage in a serious accident.  In the most serious of cases, the car has previously been written off and is no longer considered safe for further use.

Jeff Aherne, Director at Cartell.ie, said:

“I can’t emphasise strongly enough how seriously we’re advising the Irish public to take this issue.  Cloned vehicles are potential death-traps.

“Often, the reason the vendor is trying to pass the car off under another car’s identity is to hide the fact that the car has previously sustained a heavy impact and would not pass a road-worthiness test.  In that instance, the vendor can replace some of the car’s panels to conceal the outward damage, but the serious effects of the crash on the vehicle’s Collision absorption system can mean that the car would not survive another high impact collision.”

Cost saving and specification benefits can be found by purchasing UK imports, which explains why the level of interest in these vehicles is at an all-time high in Ireland.

But, Aherne warns, without doing their homework in advance, punters could end up with a vehicle that endangers not only their own lives, but that of other road users.

He said:

“The only way to avoid ending up with a cloned import is to conduct a thorough car history check through a company like our own – such as HPI in the UK – prior to going through with the sale.  You can find information about such services via our website – Cartell.ie – or by phoning 1890 252 331.

“Furthermore, the V5C – the UK vehicle license certificate – should ideally be examined BEFORE the car arrives in Ireland but if this is impossible, it should be thoroughly scrutinised before GOING THROUGH with the sale.

“We would advise those buying privately from the UK to make the seller pay the Vehicle Registration Tax in Ireland or at a very minimum, accompany the buyer to register the vehicle.  That means that if a problem emerges with the documentation and it emerges that the vehicle is indeed stolen, the buyer won’t lose any money.

“Unscrupulous vendors exist in the UK, as of course, they do in Ireland.  Their interest is in profit, not the safety of the vehicle’s future owner.  Bargains are out there to be had, but take the time to do your research well in advance and ensure that the importer is trust-worthy and genuine.”

-ENDS-