A motoring expert has urged drivers thinking about buying any used car to make a number of checks to avoid scams and consequences, including their new vehicle being confiscated by the police.

Whilst there are many bargains to be had on the used car market, not all models on the forecourts are exactly what they say they are.

Collaborating with the private registration firm Number 1 Plates, Liam Clarke, 29, from Sheffield, recently bought a used car at a bargain price, only to find out it was a stolen vehicle.

He explained: "It looked clean, ran well, and the seller said he just needed a quick sale. I paid £3,000 in cash. A few weeks later, the police turned up and said it had been reported stolen.

"I lost the car, the money, and had no idea what I’d done wrong. I didn’t even know there was a way to check that sort of thing."

In order to reduce the chances of buying a used car with a hidden history, Number 1 Plates recommended that all drivers looking to buy a pre-owned model ask the seller for the V5C logbook.

This official document from the DVLA will outline various pieces of information about the vehicle and its current registered keeper, including their full name and home address.

By looking at the document, drivers can check whether the address they have visited to view the car is the seller's actual home and whether the number plate and trim level of the vehicle match the one they are viewing.

Similarly, a spokesperson for Number 1 Plates suggested always entering the vehicle's number plate into a car history checking service, which can help drivers identify whether the vehicle has previously been stolen or written off.

They added: "We always recommend doing a full reg number history check before you part with any money.

"It’s one of the simplest, smartest things you can do to protect yourself — especially now that more car sales are happening online and through private sellers."

Finally, the company suggested that motorists look closely for any signs that the vehicle's mileage has been tampered with, which could result in more expensive repair bills in the long run.

Whilst most modern cars are clocked digitally, drivers can often identify whether the mileage has been tampered with by checking the general condition of the car with the number of miles counted on the odometer.

In particular, drivers should be suspicious if a low-mileage car has a significant number of stone chips on the bonnet, paint fading or shiny interior plastics. Drivers can also use a vehicle history checker to see whether the mileage recorded during previous MOTs was higher than the figure currently displayed.