Forum: Have a public register for used car industry
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I refer to the article “Disciplinary records of property agents now easier to view on updated CEA register” (June 10). I believe this practice should be extended to the used car industry.
Buying a used car can be an opaque and tricky process, and many buyers have been misled by used car dealers’ claims. Common descriptions in advertisements include “low mileage”, “accident-free” and “non-private-hire vehicle previous owner”.
These claims are unverifiable by visual observation alone during the purchasing process. Low mileage, for example, can be reflected by manipulating the mileage meter of the car.
A public register should include information like disciplinary records of the used car dealer, complaints to the Consumers Association of Singapore, and any court cases the dealer could have been involved in.
It could also include other relevant information such as the previous insurance claim records of the vehicle, ownership transfers and servicing records. Some of this may already be available online. But having all the information in one place will be convenient for potential buyers viewing the vehicle.
While there is a lemon law available as a recourse for buyers, prevention is always better than cure. With such a public register, the integrity and transparency of the used car industry will improve.
Soo Weng Keong
