MotorsAnalysis: The rollout of a new online car history checking service that stores updated car histories should make the buying of a used car in Ireland a lot less risky. However it is not at all clear whether the Government intends to exploit the potential of vehicle history tracking online.
Buying a used car is a minefield of potentially costly problems, and the fact that a car's logbook - its computer-generated Vehicle Licence Certificate (VLC) - does not carry information that would make it easier for buyers to check with the car's previous owners details - such as claimed mileage - makes the process even more challenging. A car's VLC currently only shows basic information such as its make, model, colour, engine details and the number of previous owners.
This means that buyers cannot verify a car's recorded mileage or whether it has a full service history. Indeed, clocked cars and service books with forged dealer stamps are a growing problem on the used car market.
Prior to 1993, there was a crosschecking system available, as Alan Nolan from SIMI, the motor industry representative body, explains: "With the previous system of logbooks, the names and addresses of previous owners were listed, so it was a relatively simple process to check a car's history. However, now all that is shown on the current type of logbooks is the number of previous owners."
A spokesman for the Department of the Environment explained that the law now prevents it from releasing details of previous owners. "Due to data protection concerns and in the obvious interest of vehicle owners themselves, it is not possible to provide vehicle particulars to persons who are not the owners."
In some other countries, useful information such as the car's mileage is recorded in the logbook. This happens each time the car is taxed or when it is subject to a road-worthiness test, such as an NCT. But in Ireland there is no mileage-recording system, although odometer readings are noted during the NCT test. However, these mileage readings are kept for information purposes only, and are not requirements of the NCT test. Used car buyers can ask to see previous NCT certificates and compare the recorded mileages with that shown on the car's odometer.
There is an opportunity for the Department of the Environment to improve the logbook system when it changes to an online system later next year.
However, a Department spokesman has confirmed that vehicle logbooks will not be altered: "There are no proposals to change the format or content of the VRC to provide for the recording of previous owners.
"Registration documents have not contained previous ownership data since 1993, and there has not been any appreciable public demand over the years to have this information available."
But the Department is looking at ways to help stamp out clocking - altering a car's recorded mileage. "We propose to examine how these issues might be overcome in the context of any future review of the electronic interface between the NVDF (National Vehicle and Driver File) and NCT systems and, if they can be resolved easily, we will transfer the data to the NVDF." In the meantime, a new online checking system has been launched in Ireland, which should help used car buyers check the history of a car.
In addition, the motor industry is also working on a similar web-based vehicle database that will eventually be accessible to used car buyers. This database will offer a similar service to that now provided by cartell.ie
It is hoped that as the system is rolled out, motorists will allow dealers to record their cars' mileage and service history on the new database.
Both online systems could prove to be a valuable asset for car buyers, although they have their limitations. Cartell.ie for example cannot verify a car's mileage reading and, because of concerns that not all cars that are reported stolen will be removed from the register when they have been recovered, cartell.ie will not inform buyers if a car has been reported stolen.
However, this new online service is a huge step forward from the current logbook system. Along with their lack of useful data, Ireland's simplistic logbooks create other problems. For example, when a car that has been used as a taxi is sold on, its details will be recorded on the logbook. But if the car is sold on again, the fact that it was previously used as a taxi is not recorded when the logbook is reissued to the new owner.
This is an area that the Department aims to address. "In the case of vehicles such as taxis, it is accepted that there is probably a reasonable case for subsequent owners to be aware of the previous status of the vehicle. This will be examined in the context of future reviews of the VRC arrangement," said a Department of Environment spokesman.
In the meantime, cartell.ie will tell users if a car has ever been registered as a taxi.