OFT to launch probe into second hand car sales

The Office of Fair Trading is to launch a market study into the high level of complaints in the sale of second hand cars in the UK and will consider whether existing consumer protection legislation is sufficient and effective.

The study follows concerns about the rising number of consumer complaints as last year, more than 68,000 consumers complained about issues regarding the sale of second hand cars.
Concerns around defective vehicles, service and potentially misleading selling were consistently among the top complaints.

The study will focus on sales by dealers rather than private sales between individuals and the OFT expects to complete the work by the end of the year. The OFT have provided an email address for anyone wishing to offer their input second-handcars@oft.gsi.gov.uk (deadline June 5th 2009).