New RAC Car Passport gives access to unrivalled data to help motorists buy cars more smartly and owners sell them more easily

The RAC is today launching the most comprehensive car check available in the UK with a view to reducing the risks involved in buying or selling a used car privately.

In 2013 6.7m used cars were sold in the UK, of which 2.7m were bought and sold privately*. Buying can be daunting with consumers confronted with a range of fears including buying a car that may be prone to breaking down, has outstanding finance on it or may have significant unknown costs just around the corner.

Priced competitively at £14.99 for Buyers, the RAC Car Passport aims to address these concerns head on by giving prospective buyers an unprecedented level of information about the car they are looking to purchase.

Partnering with Experian, Glass’s and What Car? RAC Car Passport, of course, provides buyers with all the traditional vehicle data check details such as outstanding finance on the vehicle, whether it has been stolen or written-off. However, for the first time in the car history check market, the RAC report goes far beyond this by providing a personalised valuation to verify the seller is charging a fair price; information on a car’s reliability such as common reasons for that particular make, model and year of car to break down; and symptoms to look out for in a test drive so buyers are armed with more insight than ever to inform their purchasing decision. Similar information is also reported on the top causes of MOT failure.

Another first for a car data report is a comprehensive section on average running costs which highlights average fuel consumption for urban and motorway driving and a combination of the two; the vehicle tax bracket; typical servicing costs; and the car’s insurance group.

RAC Car Passport Buyer Reports also give prospective owners a host of valuable insight such as:

• an inspection checklist of 20 important checks recommended by RAC vehicle inspectors that they can carry out themselves when viewing and test driving a car
• advice on how to negotiate most effectively with the seller
• a buying checklist pointing out the steps that should be followed when buying a used car such as checking the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), verifying information on the DVLA’s V5C registration certificate, ensuring valid insurance is in place for both the test drive and after taking ownership, and purchasing car tax – Vehicle Excise Duty
• independent advice from What Car? including a summary of the car by age, make and model, star rating, pros and cons, preferred and least preferred models

The RAC Car Passport Buyer’s Report includes £30,000 insurance cover to protect the buyer against suffering a financial loss as result of incorrect vehicle alert information**.

In launching RAC Car Passport for Sellers the RAC has also recorded another first by being the first organisation to create a data check that helps sellers achieve the highest price possible. Priced just £24.99, the RAC Car Passport Seller’s Report sets out to make sellers’ cars more saleable. It offers the same history check, alerts about issues with the car’s past, running costs and independent review advice as the Buyer’s report, but also provides:

• three months’ free roadside and recovery vehicle-based RAC breakdown cover*** – a voucher which comes with the report for the seller to give to their buyer
• MOT history and advisories – current MOT report and the last seven years’ reports
• Maintenance history – a section where the seller can input and collate their car’s unique service/maintenance history for prospective buyers to study

In addition to the RAC Car Passport report sellers also receive:

• Seller’s checklist – recommended checks to carry out to prepare a car well for sale
• Advert example – an example of an effective advert and the information it should contain
• Receipt template – a template of a model receipt to give to the buyer

Robert Diamond, managing director of RAC Data Services, said: “With more than eight million members, the RAC is well placed to understand the challenges of getting a great value car through a private sale but without the risk to your money and time. As the motorist’s champion we have recorded a first in the data check market by creating an affordable report which gives prospective buyers access to an unparalleled level of information about the car they are interested in to help them decide whether or not to buy.

“The seller’s report is also an essential development by being the first data check product aimed specifically at people looking to maximise the value of their car by selling privately. It helps make cars more attractive purchases by giving would-be buyers an additional level of confidence in the car they are looking to purchase through the history information and vehicle alerts provided. It also comes with lots of useful free information and tips which help people prepare and sell their cars.”

For more details visit www.rac.co.uk/buying-a-car/car-passport/.

Ends

Notes to Editors

* BCA Used Car Market Report 2013
http://www.bca-group.com/~/media/Files/B/BCA/documents/bca-2013-used-car-market-report.pdf

** RAC Car History Check Insurance is arranged and administered by Experian Ltd (Registered No. 00653331), an appointed representative of Motorfile Ltd (Registered No. 3009493), and RAC Motoring Services (Registered No. 01424399) both authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is underwritten by Pinnacle Insurance plc (Registered No. 1007798), authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority.

*** Breakdown cover provided by RAC Motoring Services and RAC Insurance Ltd. Arranged, sold and administered by RAC Motoring Services