revtothelimit - motorbike forum

A mate happily informed me he'd bought a new to him used car, and would be picking it up in a few days.
https://www.carsupermarket.com/used-car ... uto-g19abg

My first response: it's in Birmingham - isn't that where all the bent cars come from? Have you run a CarVertical?

He hadn't. Too expensive at £37. I gave him a 20% code I've picked up from a YouTuber I follow, and here's the report.

https://www.carvertical.com/gb/report?m ... 7944f162fd

It ain't great.

He's trying to convince himself that the two rollbacks of about 10k miles each are false positives because they are not mentioned on another report.
https://www.vcheck.uk/report/BK21VVA-28LXCYT

But I can't see that being right, as it would mean it's done 3k between MOTs 2024-2025 where in other years it's done 13k.

He's trying to not be worried about the 4(!) crash repair estimates.

Anyone who knows more about buying used cars: does this look like a lemon?

Where does it get the mileage information from, the car doesn't have an MOT for the first few years over here.

https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/re ... calls=true

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/carvertical.com

Trustpilot says carvertical is a load of shite.

weeksy wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 2:34 pm Where does it get the mileage information from, the car doesn't have an MOT for the first few years over here.

https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/re ... calls=true

CarVertical uses all sorts of sources for mileage, including MOTs, and anytime a mechanic enters the VIN, e.g. to provide a crash repair estimate or even just a service. Obviously that relies on the mechanic putting the right details in his scanner.

But even just from MOT mileage, it would have done
First 2 years: 29,864 (14,900 pa)
Year 3: 33,473 (3600 pa)
Year 4: 45,964 (12500 pa)

Year 3 is certainly an outlier.

A_morti wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 2:38 pm

weeksy wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 2:34 pm Where does it get the mileage information from, the car doesn't have an MOT for the first few years over here.

https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/re ... calls=true

CarVertical uses all sorts of sources for mileage, including MOTs, and anytime a mechanic enters the VIN, e.g. to provide a crash repair estimate or even just a service. Obviously that relies on the mechanic putting the right details in his scanner.

But even just from MOT mileage, it would have done
First 2 years: 29,864 (14,900 pa)
Year 3: 33,473 (3600 pa)
Year 4: 45,964 (12500 pa)

Year 3 is certainly an outlier.

Does it though when dozens of people have bought cars that were write offs but not flagged as such.

Honestly, the car seems more kosher than the report

I'd be more worried about it being a Kia.

They make ugly cars for poor people.

I wouldn't buy it. I can't imagine that this is a rare car, so why buy one with an unexplained mileage history? Even if he's not fussed, the next buyer probably will be.

Cat Vertical is seen as the most thorough, so would be cautious....

I wouldn't buy it because of that report.

I believe he's entitled to reject it at this stage and get a full refund. The dealer (if it's a dealer!) may try and make this difficult!

This has taught me to check what a repairer does with my info before I get any quotes, I don't appreciate them putting details into a public database without my permission.
I know insurers do it but that should only be based on claims made.

Plenty of cars around - by something else

Mussels wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 5:11 pm This has taught me to check what a repairer does with my info before I get any quotes, I don't appreciate them putting details into a public database without my permission.
I know insurers do it but that should only be based on claims made.

You're meant to declare it to the insurance, even if you don't claim on the insurance.

There was a time when people got away without doing so but in this digital world, I'd be cautious.

He has seen it's not worth the risk, backed out of the first deal, and is instead buying a newer facelifted e-Niro with no dodgy history, in a nicer colour.

https://www.cinch.co.uk/used-cars/kia/n ... 457498a731

Never buy a used car from Birmingham, there’s a few other cities too to avoid unless it’s one of the national car supermarket places and even then buy with eyes open.

Couchy wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 9:15 pm Never buy a used car from Birmingham, there’s a few other cities too to avoid unless it’s one of the national car supermarket places and even then buy with eyes open.

Bradford and Luton.

KungFooBob wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 9:20 pm

Couchy wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 9:15 pm Never buy a used car from Birmingham, there’s a few other cities too to avoid unless it’s one of the national car supermarket places and even then buy with eyes open.

Bradford and Luton.

Keighley.

MyLittleStudPony wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 9:59 pm

KungFooBob wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 9:20 pm

Couchy wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 9:15 pm Never buy a used car from Birmingham, there’s a few other cities too to avoid unless it’s one of the national car supermarket places and even then buy with eyes open.

Bradford and Luton.

Keighley.

Included in Bratfud innit.

KungFooBob wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 10:12 pm

MyLittleStudPony wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 9:59 pm

KungFooBob wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 9:20 pm

Bradford and Luton.

Keighley.

Included in Bratfud innit.

Yeah, but it's really bad. Used to be scary drinking there in the 90s

KungFooBob wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 9:20 pm

Couchy wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 9:15 pm Never buy a used car from Birmingham, there’s a few other cities too to avoid unless it’s one of the national car supermarket places and even then buy with eyes open.

Bradford and Luton.

And east london...

Taipan wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 10:48 pm

KungFooBob wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 9:20 pm

Couchy wrote: Thu May 14, 2026 9:15 pm Never buy a used car from Birmingham, there’s a few other cities too to avoid unless it’s one of the national car supermarket places and even then buy with eyes open.

Bradford and Luton.

And east london...

A colleague lives in a development in Mile End - has an underground car park included.
Spaces in the car park at a premium until she noticed that an online car dealer was selling cars from there.
Not sure how good the aftersales care would be
A tyre place near us always has what look suspiciously like ex mini cabs for sale always for 2395 -

When I was looking at buying my Tesla, there were many that popped up around East London that were PCO registered with what I would class as suspiciously low mileages. Guess were either folk that were dodging London charges and registered private cars as cabs or had mileage blockers fitted....