3 Problems With Purchasing Imported Cars

Imported cars can come into Ireland with serious problems. A recent report claims that almost 1 in every 3 cars have problems associated with them. In our constant search for the best deal we often overlook the reasons why a car might be so cheap. With the recession biting hard in Ireland more and more people are sourcing the cars abroad. These people are largely unaware of the risks involved.

A road trip across the Ireland will reveal a multitude of yellow number plates passing you by. This is because of the huge amount of people importing cars from the UK and Northern Ireland in particular. These people claim to have gotten the car for next to nothing. What they are probably not aware of it the many defects that come as standard with these imported cars. Arm yourself with the knowledge and you won’t get stung by a rotten deal.

The three main issues that can arise with imported cars are:

1. Repossession – Many of the imported cars were originally purchased on a lease finance deal. Quite often the finance is not paid off so the car is in danger of being repossessed. 2. Clocking – Many imported cars have their mileage tampered with to make it look like less miles had been driven. 3. Write-off – Many imported cars were completely written off in the UK and shouldn’t even be back on the road.

Worryingly, new statistics show that as many as one in three cars imported from the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland have major issues. The study – carried out by Cartell.ie (a website that helps protect used car buyers against fraud) – was based on a sample of over 5,000 cars. It found that 11.4% of cars had been clocked, 9.1% had previously been written-off and 9.2% had outstanding finance due on it.

Cartell director Jeff Aherne said the results constitute “a serious risk for Irish buyers hunting for bargains in Northern Ireland.”

Get an affordable car insurance quote at AXA today and have some peace of mind. AXA also spcialise in insurance for young drivers.