Cut and shut vehicles

There are an estimated 30,000 cut and shut vehicles on the road with most of them belonging to unsuspecting motorists. With the country in a recession, many buyers are looking for cheap cars rather than buying a nearly new car from a showroom or dealer. The majority of the younger buyers also want to save money on their first car as everyone knows that insurance and running costs are high for them.

What are cut and shut vehicles?

Cut and shut vehicles are two separate vehicles that have been welded together to make one car. This is extremely dangerous as the car is not safe to drive at all and if it were to be involved in even a minor accident, the vehicle would most probably fall apart.

How to spot vehicles which are cut and shut?

Unfortunately vehicle data checks do not state if they are a cut and shut vehicle so you will have to do the inspection yourself. There are many tell tale signs that a vehicle is not all that it seems and by paying close attention to detail, you could save yourself thousands of pounds. Here are some tips:

• Always inspect the car in light and not in rainy, cloudy and poor lighting conditions
• Most vehicles have been welded from the front windscreen
• Check to see if the panels, bonnet and external joins are matching
• Check to see if any traces of spray paint can be seen in the door handles or glass
• If you are serious about purchasing the car, take it for a test drive for at least 10-15 minutes
• Another sign is to check the under the upholstery for any signs of joining or colour mismatches
• The VIN can be found at three places in a vehicle; the first is under the bonnet (on the engine), the second in the driver foot well or door and finally the third is in the boot of the car – if they can be located, then the chances of it being a cut and shut are slim.

Are cut & shut vehicles safe?

Cut and shut vehicles are illegal and the most dangerous type of vehicle you could ever purchase and you shouldn’t buy a cut and shut vehicle knowingly. The best thing to do is to take an experienced mechanic or repairer with you so that they can fully inspect the vehicle before you choose to purchase it. Fees for this service vary but expect to pay a minimum of £125.

There are free websites that will give you the current market value of any car; always research first before purchasing and never purchase a car being sold at less than 70% of its market value.