Car history business reckons it knows the signs we should watch out for.

Buying a second-hand car can be an operation fraught with danger. Finding the right car at the right price can be hard enough, making sure you also aren’t being taken for a ride by a salesperson is another challenge all in itself.

Used car salespeople often top surveys of ‘least trustworthy’ professions and sadly many out there do their best to uphold the negative stereotype.

But UK vehicle information service HPI believes car buyers can spot lies and dishonesty if they just look for some tell-tale signs.

Those signs include; nose touching, mouth covering, fidgeting and throat clearing.

Shane Teskey, Senior Consumer Services Manager at HPI says detecting these signals could save used car buyers from making a costly mistake.

“Have you ever had that uneasy feeling that someone was lying to you but didn’t know why you felt that way? It could be because you’ve subconsciously noticed their lying signs,”

“Trust your instincts and pay close attention to body language and facial expressions. For example, look for nose touching and mouth covering. People touch their noses more frequently when they’re lying and they’re also more likely to cover their mouths.”

Another potential tell-tale sign of lying according to Mr Teskey is nodding.

“When the head is nodding or shaking in contrast to what is being said, buyers should be on their guard.”

“Too much fidgeting, either with their own clothing, jewellery, hair or things around them, could indicate that they are feeling uneasy and may be lying to you about the car’s history.” He said.

How to Spot a ‘Lying’ Used Car Seller

• Look for nose touching and mouth covering
• Watch when the person nods. If the head is nodding or shaking in contrast to what is being said, this can be a tell-tale sign that they are lying.
• Beware of constant fidgeting.
• Observe the level of mirroring.
• Watch the person’s throat for excessive swallowing, throat clearing or gulping.

Good luck!

Joel Helmes