How do I avoid buying a 'ringer'?
		Stealing cars to order for ‘ringing’ is big business and usually carried out by skilled organised criminals, but you can avoid getting stung by making a few basic checks. Be suspicious if:
	There is no V5 registration document or the V5 looks like a forgery (Hold the document up to the light - the DVLA watermark should be contained within the layers of paper). The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) plate is missing or has been tampered with. The car has been recently re-sprayed (look for over spray on the bumpers and exterior trim). There is little or no accompanying paperwork. The seller becomes annoyed if you ask awkward questions. Inconsistent panel gaps. Always try to buy from a reputable dealer. There’s more info on buying a used car in our Buying A Used Car section, but the only way to be absolutely sure that a used car is safe to buy is to pay for an independent vehicle data check. They cost about £30 from motoring organisations such as the AA or RAC. These checks will reference the HPI and DVLA databases and provide you with details of the cars history, including if its been categorised as an insurance write off, or reported stolen. If it comes to the worst and you think you have bought a ‘ringer’ you should contact the police immediately. Don’t be tempted to keep quiet as you could face criminal charges yourself.