How to stay safe on Uganda Motors?
Buying and selling a car should be a smooth, pleasant and hassle-free experience but it is never is, and here at Uganda Motors, we do everything we can to make sure that’s the case. Our handy hints and tips will ensure you stay safe online, whether you’re buying or selling you car.
Never send money for a vehicle you haven’t seen.
See and check the vehicle and documents before handing over any money. It is always good to go with a friend or colleague to inspect the car, never carry money with you and always meet in a public place.
Emails and texts from Uganda Motors;
We will never ask you to login to your Uganda Motors account via email or SMS. Only enter your login details when you see a padlock before the website address (https://www.Ugandamotors.com).
We will never ask for your account login details or to ask you for any payments on the phone, email or SMS.
Paying for your vehicle;
We don’t offer or recommend any payment and we don’t own, buy or sell any of the vehicles on the website.
It is good practice to make payment for the car in the Bank or any other public place and ensure that you have two or three other people to witness the sale.
Always check the car and the papers carefully before handing over the money
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Seen something we should know about? Use the link to Contact us
How to stay safe online when buying a used car
Buying a car is one of the biggest purchases you will ever make, and these three key ways may help safeguard you and your money.
Know your rights
Buying a car through a dealership is generally considered the safer option because you are protected by the Consumer Rights Act.
You don’t get the same protection when you’re buying from a private seller, but the car must still match the description in the advert, or what the seller has told you. If it doesn’t, you could have a claim under the Misrepresentation Act.
Touch it and check it
Never buy a car without seeing it and inspecting it. If possible, go with someone who is knowledge about cars. Always check the VRM (Vehicle Registration Mark, better known as your registration plate) and the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on the registration document and any other documents. If you have to, check with the police or any other agencies in your country to find out whether the car has been stolen or written-off by an insurance company or has outstanding finance against it.
If it does, contact the seller as quite often the finance agreement is settled on sale of the vehicle. However, please be aware if you buy the vehicle, the finance company will remain the legal owner of the vehicle until the loan is repaid in full.
Once you’re happy with the condition of the car and have agreed a price…
Then think about payment
The easiest way to push for a discount is to buy with cash but Carrying cash around is not a good idea at all. The best way to complete the sale is to go to the bank with the seller and exchange documents once the payment has been made.
How to spot and avoid potential scams and fraudsters?
Cybercrime is becoming part and parcel of everyday life, so here we explain the possible problems you may face and how you can protect yourself from the fraudsters.
Uganda Motors takes security very seriously and is committed to protecting you when you use our products and services. However, we cannot guarantee any security from cyber fraudsters if you’re unable to protect yourself.
As online crime – or cybercrime becomes almost part and parcel of our everyday life, criminals operating online are constantly looking for new ways to access personal information and money. Fraudsters commonly use ‘phishing’ messages to access your personal details and account information, so you have to be vigilant.
Please note that; Uganda Motors will never ask for your login details in an email or text message. You should keep such information private, and never share it with anyone.
When you place an advert on Uganda Motors Auto Marketplace, your phone number or email address are not displayed unless you’re a dealer. Interested customers can only send you an email.
Not only does this service help protect against scammers, it also helps protect customers from nuisance callers and canvassers.
Measures to protect yourself against scammers and Fraudsters
Fraudsters will send phishing emails in an attempt to access your personal information and login details, such as your username, passwords or financial information.
Such an email can be hard to spot, but it may well look like it has come from Uganda Motors and ask you to confirm your login details via a link in an email. The link will take you to a fraudulent website page that looks like the Uganda Motors website; and, if you enter your login information here, a fraudster will have access to your online accounts.
So, as a precaution – never click on links in any emails that are purported to be coming from Uganda Motors and asking for login details, because we will never send you an email or SMS asking for your login details.
SMiShing: Short for “SMS phishing”, SMiShing is a security attack in which the user is tricked into downloading some type of ‘malware’ (malicious software) onto their phone or mobile device via a text message. The message – which will appears to be from Uganda Motors or may be sent as an enquiry about your vehicle – will redirect you to a false login or sign-in page, where you will be asked to enter your username and password, and from where the fraudsters can access your details. Please never fall to this scam – be vigilant.
We never ask our customers to log into their accounts. If you can’t see a GREEN PADLOCK in the browser window of https://www.ugandamotors.com, then don’t login.
Best practice
There are many ways through which you can try and safeguard yourself against the kind of attacks listed above, but most importantly:
Tips on selling your car safely
Selling your car yourself can seem pretty daunting, but follow these key points so that you can stay safe and sell your car quickly.
Be prepared
Have all the relevant paperwork together, such as the Logbook, service history and vehicle check certificates, for a potential buyer to review.
Beware of scammers and fraudsters
Beware of scammers and fraudsters, and always meet the buyer in person and if possible in public place. A genuine buyer should want to view the vehicle before making the payment.
Request the potential buyer’s contact details, such as their mobile number (especially if they call from a withheld number), landline number, full home address or any identity cards. This should give you further reassurances, and a legitimate buyer should be happy to provide this information.
Stay together
Always accompany the buyer on a test drive. Make sure you ask them to bring their driving licence when arranging a visit if they are expecting a test drive. Also check that they are covered by insurance to test-drive the car; this should prevent you being liable for damages.
Hold on to your car tight
Keep hold of the vehicle and all the documents until the full payment has cleared in your bank account.
In plain sight
Always ensure you can see the car keys, and make sure you take them out of the ignition when you change seats on the test drive. You should also make sure you can see the buyer at all times.
Stay on home ground
Always arrange to meet a buyer at a location you are familiar with. A public place would be ideal and always ask a friend to accompany you.
Never..
Allow a buyer to test drive the car alone.
And, never leave a potential buyer alone with the vehicle, give them the keys or let them borrow the car documents. If you have a keyless fob, keep hold of it at all times, even on a test drive.
How to maximise the value of your car?
With just a little work and attention to detail, you can add hundreds of pounds to your car’s value when you sell it. Here you can find tried and tested tips for making your car as attractive as possible to buyers.
With newer or more expensive cars, repairing bodywork damage can really add value when you’re selling on. With an older car, however, you might not recover the costs involved.
When selling your vehicle privately or to a dealer, your aim is to maximise its value and to achieve that, you must make your car as attractive as possible to buyers while minimising any flaws they can use to drive the price down.
With just a little effort, you can give your car the extra buyer-appeal, attracting the best possible price.
Deep clean your car
If you spend three hours cleaning your car and this adds 100,000shs to its value, you’ll have earned yourself 33,000shs an hour for the work.
Check the essentials
Minor repairs make a big difference
Adding extra value
How do you haggle when selling your car?
If you’re selling your car privately or to a dealer, the buyer is likely to want to haggle about the price. So don’t be caught off guard – read our negotiating tips below so you know how to use to maximise your car’s value without losing the sale.
Prepare before hand.
Some people love to haggle, others hate it. But your buyer will expect some negotiation, so remember not to accept their first offer.
Even if haggling only gets you an extra 100,000shs for your car, it could be the equivalent of what you’d earn for a few hours’ work.
Before going into any negotiation about price, make sure you know the ‘market’ value of your car.
Once you know the value of your car, you can build in a margin to allow for haggling. This way, you and the buyer close the deal happy.
Remember, what a car is worth is ultimately down to what someone is prepared to pay for it!
Negotiating price when selling privately
To help you negotiate successfully with private buyers, follow these basic tips:
Negotiating price when selling to a dealer
Selling your car to a dealer will save you time and effort because you don’t have to advertise your car or meet buyers, but you’ll get less money than through a private sale.
There will also be less scope for haggling, because the dealer will want to stick to your car’s trade value.
You might have more chance of being able to negotiate over price if you’re part-exchanging your car for one of the dealer’s new or used cars.
If your car is in good condition and has a full service history, highlight all these points after the dealer has made an opening offer.
This applies whether you’re selling your car to them outright or through part-exchange.
How do you properly value and price your car?
Of course, it’s natural to want to get a decent amount of cash for your car, but if you set the asking price too high, no one will take a second look. At the same time, though, you do need to leave a little wriggle room because potential buyers will expect to be able to haggle the price down a little.
The good news is that the Internet is your friend, and you should take full advantage of it when deciding on the asking price.
You could also try calling some local dealers to see how much they would be prepared to pay for your car. Last, but not least, in your calculations, remember to take into account any extras fitted to your car, as well as its history, mileage and condition.
While setting the price for your car that will appear in the advert, at the same time also, set in your own mind a minimum price that you will be willing to accept for your car. Whatever you do, though, don’t tell anyone this price and by all means try and stick to this price!
TOP TIPS
What are your responsibilities when selling a car?
From being able to sell the car in the first place, to advertising it fairly, anyone selling a car has many obligations to fulfil.
It may sound obvious, but one of the most important responsibilities for any seller is to ensure that they are actually entitled to sell the car.
If you have outstanding finance on a car, it will need to be settled before you can be paid. So, if you are selling privately, you should speak to your finance provider to see if you need to do this in advance of the sale (which is likely). However, if you are selling to a dealer, they may be able to do this as part of the exchange.
Whoever you sell the car to, it is important to be honest. You should describe the vehicle as truthfully and fairly as possible. This should reduce the risk of future disputes and any claims that you have misrepresented what you are selling.
Though you are not obliged to reveal any information about faults on the car, but you must not sell a car that isn’t roadworthy or be misleading. You must answer any questions as truthfully as possible.
TOP TIPS
How should you take eye-catching photos for your advert?
You can be pretty certain that the first thing people will look at in an advert are the pictures of your car, so you need to make sure they stand out.
The first rule of car photography is to make sure the car looks good enough before you even think about even picking up your camera. So, ensure it’s clean and tidy inside and out. Smarten it up with a good wash and throw away any clutter from inside.
Naturally, you want the car to stand out in the photos, so when you’re deciding where to photograph it, choose somewhere bright, with a plain background. You don’t want anything near the car that will draw people’s eyes away.
Remember, too, that you need somewhere with enough room to get all round the car, and if possible, only shoot the car when it’s dry and in daylight.
When you take the photos, try to take them from a natural height. Don’t crouch down or stand on something to make them look more dramatic; take them from the kind of angle from which someone will expect to look at it.
Finally, take a good selection of photos so that any prospective buyer gets a complete view of the car – inside and out.
We recommend taking all these, and choosing the best for your advert:
Front corner
Rear corner
Front straight-on
Back straight-on
Side profile
Close-up of a wheel – especially if they are alloys
The dashboard
Front and rear seats
Inside the boot
The engine bay
Any damage to your car
With a convertible, take a picture with the roof down and one with the roof up
TOP TIPS
How to spot faults and problems when buying a used car
There might be a lot to think about with a used car, but taking your time before you buy one could save you money and effort further down the line.
When you’re looking to buy a used car, there can be a lot to think about. However, you’ll also want to check the car for any potential faults and problems.
Firstly; have a good look round the car for any damage on the body: scratches, dents and so on. Look for uneven gaps between the panels, too, as they could betray some problems underneath, such as poor repairs or damage from an accident.
The paint should be an even colour all over the car. If it’s not, that too could be the sign of a shoddy repair. If any of the paintwork is bubbling up, be very wary, as this could well be a sign of rust.
Don’t forget to look at the lights and indicators. Check they work, and that there’s no damage to the lenses.
Naturally, if you’re looking at a convertible, make sure the roof is in good condition, keeping an eye out for any tears in a soft top, and check it all operates smoothly.
Check the tyres; check they have enough tread on them. Make sure any wear is even right across the tread. If it’s not, this could be a sign of something very wrong with the suspension.
Push down each corner of the car. If all’s well with the suspension, the car will bounce back up again nice and smoothly. If it doesn’t, there could be problems in store.
Remember, though, even if a car does have some damage, you don’t have to walk away. Instead, if the damage is only minor, you can ask the seller to get it fixed before you buy the car, or to knock the price down and fix it yourself.
Things to check inside the car
Inside, make sure the mileage is consistent with the paperwork you looked at earlier, then check the wear in the car matches the miles on the clock. If the odometer says low miles, but smooth plastic on the steering wheel or gear lever, worn pedal rubbers, and frayed fabric on the seats says high miles, start asking questions.
While you’re in the driver’s seat, make sure everything works properly, and we mean everything!
Do the seat belts pull out and retract smoothly? Do the adjustments on the seat and steering wheel work OK? Also, check all the equipment, everything from the central locking to the stereo, interior lights and any trip computer that’s fitted. Make sure electric windows or mirrors work properly, and if the car has sat-nav fitted, check it knows where you are. When you check the ventilation, make sure it blows hot and cold, and, if there are any controls on the steering wheel, make sure they work as well.
Car seat and boot checks
Don’t forget the back seats and the boot. Check any seat-folding mechanisms; if there should be a spare wheel, make sure it’s there and in good condition; and, check under the seals for any sign of repainting or replacement parts that could suggest the car’s been involved in an accident.
Only when you’re happy with the rest of the car should you hit the road.