Ask Honest John

Is it legal to park a faulty car in front of the business of the dodgy dealer who sold it to me?

A used car dealer sold me a faulty car. Is it legal to park the faulty car in front of the dealer's gates with a sign in the window telling everyone of the dodgy deal?

Is it smart to get warranty cover on a used car?

I own a 2009 Mercedes-Benz CLC with 23,500 mile on the clock. It has full service history (mainly dealer servicing). I'm thinking about taking out warranty cover. Could you advise on how much this might...

A dealer won't send my car's documents, so I can't tax or insure it - what do I do?

I bought a used car online. The seller said he was a trader and the car was advertised as a part-exchange, just MoT'd with a one year warranty. I booked to view it (80 miles away) over the weekend at his...

Is it worth spending more to get a manufacturer approved-used car?

My Hyundai i20 was written off recently. My insurer has offered me £3695 to find a replacement. I found one on the AA used car website from for that price, but it's not AA-approved. Can I buy it with confidence?...

What happens if a used car develops wear and tear faults after six months?

What is the position if someone buys a used car from a garage and then it develops wear and tear faults on two or three components, but after six months has passed, say the clutch, handbrake or suspension...

What's the best used car for under a £1000?

I'm looking for a used car and have £1000 to spend. I want something with a bit of power, motorways at weekends and city driving during week, any suggestions?

We bought a faulty car in a private sale - do we have consumer protection to get it fixed?

My step-son just purchased a 2008 Citroen C2 from a car dealer for £1700. The dealer said that it was not their car, but an employee's car. The money was paid, via bank transfer, to the employee and not...

Does the Consumer Rights Act apply to low value used cars?

The Consumer Rights Act applies to used cars as well as new cars, but is there a fixed point at which the car's price is deemed to be too low for the Act to apply? Secondly, if any significant fault that...

Is buying a Euro6 diesel a sensible idea right now?

I'm looking to buy a 2016, second-hand, Euro6 diesel Hyundai Tucson for around £22,000. I want to keep it for five years or more. With all the confusion surrounding diesel cars, is this a sensible buy?

What do multiple total loss insurance claims on a used car mean?

I'm looking at a used car. What do multiple total loss insurance claims mean?