Trading Standards officers from Norfolk County Council are to visit more than 40 second-hand car dealers in the county over the next few weeks as a result of consumer feedback.

The officers are keen to talk to traders about the consumer laws that govern the selling of second-hand vehicles, while also taking the opportunity to speak about expectations from consumers and what traders shouldn't be expected to have to do when selling a vehicle.

The council department receives hundreds of calls from residents each year about second-hand car buying. Many of the calls are about vehicles that the resident considers to have been sold with faults, or a vehicle that is in an unroadworthy condition. Many of the calls also relate to the expectations of some consumers when buying a second-hand car at a low price.

As part of the visits, Trading Standards officers will be meeting with traders who are located in areas of Norfolk that see higher levels of deprivation and where residents may find their finances more limited when buying a second-hand car.

Ann Jackson, senior Norfolk County Council Trading Standards officer, said, "Second-hand car buying results in more consumer calls to Trading Standards than many other subjects. Consumers should rightly expect the vehicle that they have purchased to be safe. But equally, they should be mindful that when paying a matter of hundreds of pounds for a vehicle it is likely that it will have more wear and tear than a new car, and therefore issues with the vehicle may arise quicker. We have many fantastic car dealers in this county and we hope that traders who do receive a visit from us will find our guidance helpful."