THE risks of buying used cars is being highlighted in a TV programme.

Chesire’s Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer will appear in a BBC documentary highlighting the dangers of vehicle write offs, and the risks drivers are unwittingly taking when purchasing second hand vehicles.

Seemingly, cars that were once classed as vehicle write offs have been given a second lease of life and are finding their way back onto our roads.

Unless these vehicles have been repaired by an approved body shop, the chance that they are structurally safe is brought into question.

John Dwyer said: "I discovered that many structurally damaged vehicles were being repaired by people who didn’t possess the necessary skills, materials or equipment to carry out these repairs.

"Currently, there are four categories of vehicle write offs.

“If a car is classed as a category A or B, it should be crushed, category C and D cars can be repaired and returned to our roads.

“I think that if a car is structurally damaged it should either be a write off or not, but Category B cars can be found on many online auction sites and sold second hand.

“The process should be that simple. If it is a write off, the car should be crushed so it can never see the light of day.

“If it’s not a write off, it should be repaired by a British Standard PAS125 approved body shop and nowhere else."

A car or any other type of vehicle helps many of us get from A to B. We rely on them to get us there safely, and hope that if we are involved in a collision the vehicle acts as it’s meant to in order to protect its passengers.

Mr Dwyer added: "I urge people to check the history of the cars they are buying.

“For instance, in some circumstances sellers are putting the cars up for sale specifying they’re vehicle write offs.

"If you see these markers please ensure they have been appropriately repaired by a qualified body shop. The British Standard PAS125 is a good indicator of this."

"I hope the programme that’s aired on the BBC gives everyone food for thought when it comes to buying second hand cars."

BBC Inside Out: North West is on BBC 1 at 7.30pm on February 2.