According to popular insurance company More Than, as many as one in three second-hand cars on British roads could have an adverse history, affecting both how safe they are to drive and how much they are worth.

The used car market in the UK is enormous, with almost 3 million second-hand vehicles changing hands privately every year. By More Than calculations, therefore, as many as a million people could be at risk every year.

The most common type of adverse circumstance affecting used cars is outstanding car finance . Buyers who purchase such a vehicle do not have legal title to it, and the car could be repossessed at any time. Many second-hand cars have also been written off or stolen and sold illegally.

Unfortunately, according to More Than, only one in ten buyers take adequate measures to check their used car .