THE RAC is now helping to rescue motorists before they’ve even bought a car, thanks to RAC Vehicle Status Check.

Developed on the back of a long history of safeguarding motorists, the RAC Check helps protect consumers from unwittingly purchasing a dangerous or fraudulent vehicle and is an essential preliminary to the RAC Vehicle Examination service.

A car may look great, but first impressions can be misleading. For just £24.99, consumers can conduct an RAC Check to uncover crucial hidden information on any vehicle.

This will confirm a vehicle’s identity and highlights whether it is stolen, has been previously written off by an insurance company or is on outstanding finance. A stolen MOT certificate check is also included as standard, protecting consumers from potentially unsound vehicles.

Even if the history adds up, it doesn’t mean a vehicle is mechanically sound. Analysis of RAC Vehicle Examinations* shows that 18% of used cars have at least one dangerous fault and a further 4% are illegal. A staggering 43% of inspected vehicles are unlikely to pass an MOT test.

David Lundholm, managing director, RAC Vehicle Examinations, said: "Used car buying can be treacherous even for those with a sound knowledge of the mechanics and structure of vehicles.

"It’s all too easy to be fooled by shiny paintwork and the old adage ‘beauty is only skin deep’ is never more true than when buying a used car.

"A pre-purchase history check followed by an examination means that we can offer consumers the ultimate protection package.

“Our figures show that more than one in three vehicles we perform a RAC Check on have something that a buyer would want to know before proceeding with the purchase.

"For example, more than one in four has outstanding finance, four in every 100 have been involved in a serious accident or insurance claim and one in 300 is stolen.

"Half the vehicles our engineers perform a vehicle examination on have more than 10 faults. Even if these don’t pose a serious danger to safety, 60% of those with faults will cost the new owners more than £200 to fix."

There are two levels of protection with the RAC Vehicle Examination; Essentials and Essentials Plus. Essentials offers a mechanical and structural inspection, ensuring vehicles are roadworthy. Essentials Plus includes a comprehensive mechanical and structural inspection covering 166 points.

Mr Lundholm stressed: “Individuals looking for a used car bargain are entering a minefield and not everyone has either the right level of knowledge to know what to look out for or a friend or family member that can help.

"What’s more, independent research from Which? found two thirds of garages failed to pick up on pre-existing faults in cars, highlighting just how important it is to use an inspection service that can be relied on.

"The RAC brand and our fully trained RAC mechanics make the RAC Check and Vehicle Examinations service formidable weapons for used car buyers keen to protect their pockets and stay one step ahead of the criminals – and it’s all just a phone call away.”

Following inspection, a full RAC Vehicle Examination report will be mailed first class the next working day, providing detailed information on desirable and essential repairs.

A verbal report over the phone is also available. The RAC says, once provided, the report enables car buyers to negotiate a final purchase price with the vendor and be confident that the car of their dreams is everything it appears to be.