The Office of Fair Trading has warned used car buyers to be vigilant, alongside warnings from leading vehicle information service HPI . Buyers need to be careful when buying a used car either from a car dealer or a member of the public, and take critical steps to make sure they are protected. If not, they could find themselves part of a motoring nightmare .

According to a BBC News feature, one in five of the 3.6 million people who bought a used car last year experienced a problem. Many consumers prefer to purchase from a dealer, because this offers some legal protection. However, the OFT report indicates that many used car buyers in dealerships are still not given a full indication of history.

Consumer Services Manager Nicola Johnson reportedly said: The BBC news report quoted HPI’s own figures, which reveal that 1 in 8 vehicles we check has a mileage discrepancy. The OFT report supports these figures, highlighting clocking as a very real threat to used car buyers. While the OFT concludes that existing laws are sufficient to deal with the issues raised, HPI is also helping consumers protect themselves by raising awareness of the potential used car buying issues and what to look out for.