USED CAR JARGON UNDERSTANDING IT

A good start is to make yourself aware of the meanings of commonly used - and misused - terms in the used car market.

The Used Car Market Jargon Buster

A Ringer: A ringer is a stolen vehicle with a false identity. The name comes from the phrase 'dead ringer', as the stolen vehicle has the registration number - and often the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) - of another car.

Clone: The identity of the car is duplicated onto another car and provides duplicate and forged documents. Thus seemingly identical cars are driving around with the same number plate.

Cut & Shut: Sections of different vehicles (often crashed or unroadworthy) are welded together to make one car.

Clocking: The odometer mileage reading is changed to increase the value of the car. Often difficult to detect.

VIN: Vehicle Identification Number (VIN, or chassis number), a much better identifier than the registration plate. The VIN usually has 17 digits, and is found on a metal plate in the engine bay of the car. It is also stamped into the car's floor, usually near the driver's seat.

Paper car fraud: The car doesn't actually exist, except on paper. A fraudster might then try to get finance to buy this fictitious “paper” car.

Lemon: A dud car; a bad buy. Mechanically unsound or a vehicle with a dubious ...