Has your car had a safety recall? Check with new online tool

Today a new online tool launched allowing used car buyers to check if their vehicles have any safety recalls. Officially known as the Vehicle Safety Recall tool, the consumer-friendly service also directs the motorist to their nearest dealer should their car require remedial work.

The Vehicle Safety Recall service was developed in a collaboration between the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) and Motor Codes, a government-backed self-regulatory body for the motor industry. The tool is designed to further improve safety standards on the road, supplementing the pre-existing VOSA service.

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Mike Hawes, Chief Executive for SMMT, said “Essential recalls can be missed when a vehicle transfers between owners so this portal provides a fast way of checking any safety issues.”

The search is also really quick. After selecting the manufacturer, you’re prompted to input the vehicle identification number (VIN) - this can be found on the V5 certificate or on the bottom of the vehicle’s windscreen. The service not only lists any outstanding safety recalls, but also offers up links to find your nearest dealer and a number to call if you need to contact the manufacturer with a query.

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Though some manufacturers have their own recall search tools, this one helpfully consolidates all manufacturers into one service. Moreover, unlike the VOSA search, the service looks specifically at your vehicle, rather than just checking against vehicles matching the manufacturer and model criteria.

The UK boasts one of the best records in the world for safety recalls, with over 90 per cent of vehicles repaired following a recall campaign. Despite this, the industry finds closing that gap towards 100 per cent incredibly difficult, as many vehicles are ‘in the trade’ at the time of a recall. The new service should help mitigate some of that remaining 8%. With over 36 million cars and vans on UK roads, safety is paramount in monitoring the lifecycles of these vehicles.

Mark Terry, Managing Director at Motor Codes, said, “We are committed to helping UK motorists identify if their car has an outstanding vehicle safety recall issue and to enabling manufacturers to meet their obligations in rectifying these issues”.

To check out whether your car has any outstanding safety recalls, click here...