09 July 2017
· dubizzle Motors partners with RoadSafetyUAE to drive awareness about secondhand car safety issues

· An online poll has revealed that 26.5 percent of respondents either did not request the vehicle history prior to purchase, or did not know what it was

· 78.1 percent of respondents would consider buying a secondhand car, however, 23.7 percent do not know what to look for to establish if it is in a good condition

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Following a poll conducted on dubizzle, the platform has revealed that 81.5 percent of respondents who had an unpleasant experience when purchasing a secondhand car attributed this to underlying issues the owner did not tell them about, despite 73.5 percent of total respondents requesting the vehicle history ahead of purchase.

With 4,788 road accidents in the UAE in 2016, and the number of road deaths increasing by 7.4 percent from 2015 to 2016 per the Ministry of Interior, road safety awareness is increasingly becoming a key topic. In light of the recent dubizzle survey findings, the biggest secondhand motors marketplace in the UAE has partnered with RoadSafetyUAE. Together, the respective market leaders will drive awareness around the topic in relation to used car safety, empowering the community with knowledge and tools to make well-informed purchasing decisions.

The poll showed that 19.1 percent of respondents did not request the vehicle history, and a further 7.4 percent were unaware of what it is. Surprisingly, a quarter (24.9 percent) of respondents stated that they would purchase a car without seeing the vehicle history.

“Buying a secondhand car boils down to trust. Sellers must be transparent about the condition of a car, and buyers need to be more aware of what to look out for. Platforms like dubizzle driving transparency in the UAE market have a range of tools and services to help with the decision-making process ahead of purchasing. Having a car physically checked is very important to identify potential problems and eliminate them to ensure a car is safe before taking it onto the roads,” commented Thomas Edelmann, Founder & Managing Director, RoadSafetyUAE.

Out of the survey respondents, 78.1 percent claimed that they would consider buying a secondhand car; however, 23.7 percent stated that they do not know what to look for to establish if it is in a good condition.

Jean-Pierre Mondalek, General Manager of Motors at dubizzle commented, “Opting for a verified secondhand car on dubizzle saves the hassle of hidden issues for buyers, as the car goes through a thorough 90-point check through Expat Wheels before being listed for sale and a further 240-point check prior to sale. This way, buyers can rest assured that the car is road safe and they should not face any issues in relation to underlying problems. Our partnership with CarReport also allows buyers to request the full vehicle history for cars of interest listed by sellers ahead of making the investment in a physical inspection prior to purchase.”

For unverified cars, dubizzle encourages users to ensure that a physical check is conducted ahead of purchasing, to ensure the safety of the vehicle. 28.6 percent of respondents do not know how to check the tires of a car to ensure that they are in a safe condition, which according to dubizzle’s partner Expat Wheels, is a common reason for failing the Tasjeel test when registering the car. In addition to this, over a third (34.3 percent) stated that they would not ask the owner of the car about the red triangle in the boot of the car if it is missing, although this is also a requirement when registering the car.

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© Press Release 2017