Individuals planning to buy used vehicles – that they can keep in peak condition by replacing worn parts with car spares bought online – may want to avoid paying for their auto with cash, if a recent warning is anything to go by.

Motor information company HPI has advised drivers there are fraudsters operating in the UK who are taking advantage of unsuspecting victims by selling them stolen models.

It explained crooks are able to do this by giving such cars the identity of a legitimate vehicle, using illegally obtained DVLA V5s.

However, the group said there are straightforward steps motorists can take to avoid falling foul of such scams.

Director Nick Lindsay stated: "Simply paying for the car through the banking system could outsmart a criminal."

He added many fraudsters would rather walk away from a sale rather than leave a trail that could land them in jail.

Once buyers have established a used auto is legitimate and decided to purchase it, they may find they can keep it on the road for years to come by replacing worn parts with car spares found online.

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