# Common Used Car Scams in the UK and How to Avoid Them

Published 27 September 2026. CarCheckUp guide: https://carcheckup.co.uk/blog/common-used-car-scams-in-the-uk-and-how-to-avoid-them/

> From cars that don't exist to cloned identities and hidden finance, here are the most common used car scams in the UK and the simple checks that stop them.

Most used car sales are honest, but scams are common enough that every buyer should know the main ones. Almost all of them can be avoided with a few checks.

## 1. The car that doesn't exist

A very cheap car is advertised by a seller who is abroad, in the forces or “had to move quickly”. The car is said to be with a shipping or delivery company, and you're asked for a deposit or full payment to release it. There is no car. **Avoid it:** never pay for a car you haven't seen in person.

## 2. Fake escrow and payment services

The seller suggests a “secure payment” or escrow website that holds your money until delivery. The website is fake and the money is gone. **Avoid it:** don't use a payment service chosen by the seller. See [how to pay safely](https://carcheckup.co.uk/blog/how-to-pay-safely-for-a-used-car-in-the-uk/).

## 3. Clocking

The mileage has been wound back to raise the price. **Avoid it:** check the recorded MOT mileage goes up every year, and look for wear that doesn't match. Read [how to spot a clocked car](https://carcheckup.co.uk/blog/how-to-spot-a-clocked-car-signs-the-mileage-is-wrong/).

## 4. Cloned cars

A stolen car wears the number plates, and sometimes the VIN plates, of a legitimate car of the same make and model. **Avoid it:** compare the VIN on the car with the V5C and the vehicle record, including the [colour on record](https://carcheckup.co.uk/blog/what-a-colour-change-on-a-cars-record-means/). Read [how a VIN check protects you](https://carcheckup.co.uk/blog/cloned-cars-uk-how-a-vin-check-protects-you/).

## 5. Hidden finance

The car still has finance on it, so the finance company may have a claim on it. **Avoid it:** run an [outstanding finance check](https://carcheckup.co.uk/outstanding-finance-check) on the day you pay.

## 6. Undeclared write-offs and “cut and shuts”

A badly repaired write-off is sold as accident-free, or two damaged cars are welded together into one. **Avoid it:** check the [write-off record](https://carcheckup.co.uk/written-off-vehicle-check), look for uneven panel gaps and mismatched paint, and have the car inspected.

## 7. Traders posing as private sellers

A trader advertises as a private seller to avoid giving you your consumer rights. **Avoid it:** make sure the seller's name is on the V5C and you view the car at the address shown. See [your rights as a buyer](https://carcheckup.co.uk/blog/buying-from-a-dealer-or-a-private-seller-your-rights/).

## 8. Fake paperwork and old history checks

The seller shows a screenshot of a clean history check, a forged V5C or service stamps that were never earned. **Avoid it:** run your own check rather than relying on the seller's, and check the V5C watermark and serial number.

## 9. Stolen cars sold cheaply

**Avoid it:** a [stolen car check](https://carcheckup.co.uk/stolen-car-check) shows police stolen markers from the Police National Computer. A car that's recorded as stolen can be taken back by the police, and you lose your money.

## Key points

- If a deal looks too good to be true, it usually is.
- See the car, check the VIN and V5C, and run a [history check](https://carcheckup.co.uk/) on the day you pay.
- Report fraud to Action Fraud, and suspected stolen cars to the police on 101.