Buyers doubtful of approved-used programmes

Nearly half of car buyers in the UK do not believe thorough vehicle checks are carried out by dealers and manufacturers when they buy an approved used car.

According to new research by What Car?, based on feedback from 812 in-market buyers, 48.5% said they do not believe manufacturers or dealers which advertise ‘120-point’ or similar checks actually fully complete these before handing the vehicle over.

The same research found 38.6% of buyers do not believe approved-used vehicle are more reliable in the long run compared to normal used models, despite the advertised health checks.

As part of the research, What Car? found 54.4% of the 812 in-market buyers surveyed had previously bought an approved-used model. Of these, 22.2% said they found faults in the vehicle which they believe should have been picked up by the manufacturer or dealer beforehand during the inspections.

Steve Huntingford, editor, What Car?, said: “Approved-used programmes are often advertised as adding a peace of mind, thanks to extensive vehicle checks which should highlight any issues which can be addressed before handing the car over. Our latest research suggests a significant share of buyers don’t believe the programmes are as rigorous as they advertise themselves to be.

“The fact that one-in-five approved-used buyers have found faults with their previous purchase which they believe the dealer or manufacturers should have picked up suggests the programmes have room for improvement when it comes to customer satisfaction.”