One in five "do not test drive car"

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Around 20% of people refuse to test drive a used car before they buy it, a survey by a car website has said.

One in four buyers also said they regretted their purchase instantly, with one in 10 saying they did not like the colour of their new car once they had got it home, the survey by carmony.co.uk suggests.

The website said its poll findings complement recent research carried out by the Office of Fair Trading, which showed that many people who buy used cars are getting ripped off by traders - this suggests that these motorists may also be losing out on their car insurance because their policies would be based on inaccurate information.

Carmony's Alan Hazelhurst said: "Our research has revealed only a quarter of Brits feel confident with the car-buying process and it's clear that some consumers need help when they're choosing a car. The OFT report supports our own findings, highlighting that often consumers need help to avoid the pitfalls of used-car buying."

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