A well-known automotive influencer has warned motorists to always check around a new car before buying it, to avoid being scammed.
@chequanxiaoqiao regularly uploads videos to her TikTok channel in which she teaches viewers how to stay safe on the roads and get the most out of their car.
In a popular video, @chequanxiaoqiao urges viewers to always check the vehicle’s nameplate before buying any car.
She explained: “First, open the passenger door. Check the date of manufacture on the nameplate. Domestic cars should not be more than three months old.
“Imported cars should not be more than six months old, otherwise it is a car they have had in stock [for a while].”
READ MORE: Staggering true number of car thefts solved should make any driver nervous
Nameplates are found on all roadgoing vehicles and give owners information about when and where the model was produced.
These plates are found on different parts of the car, depending on the brand, however, can typically be found on the driver or passenger’s door frame or under the bonnet.
If the vehicle is not fitted with a nameplate, it may be that the seller is trying to obscure the vehicle’s history, meaning buyers should proceed with caution.
Don’t miss…
Drivers urged to protect car from thieves by double locking and turning wheels[REPORT]
Drinking coffee before journeys can leave drivers drifting off, expert warns[INSIGHT]
Drivers urged to avoid ‘Frantic Friday’ this Christmas as traffic jams forecast[ANALYSIS]
Another way that @chequanxiaoqiao noted that drivers can check whether their new car is genuine is by inspecting the four-digit code printed on the tyres, stating that they should be older than the car’s manufacture date.
She continued: “Second, check the tyre’s production date. ‘2123’ indicates that this tyre was produced in the 21st week of 2023.
“If the production date of the tyre does not match the nameplate of the vehicle, it indicates that the car may have had tyres replaced due to an accident.”
- Support fearless journalism
- Read The Daily Express online, advert free
- Get super-fast page loading
Finally, @chequanxiaoqiao explained a couple of additional tips which could prove if the vehicle has been used to give test drivers to other prospective buyers, who may not have treated the car with care.
She added: “Third, squat down and touch the inside of the exhaust pipe. If there are a lot of black carbon deposits on the inner wall, it means that the engine of this car may have a serious failure.
“Check the colour of the engine oil. If the colour of the engine oil turns black, and at the same time the mileage on the dashboard is over 100km (62 miles), it means that this car was likely used as a test drive model.”
Source: Read Full Article