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What is a Cut and Shut and are they Legal?

A cut and shut. The very phrase should end a shiver down a car owner's spine. Yet there are many of these "ticking bombs" driving along the roads and highways of the UK. The majority of the people driving and travelling in these cars are blissfully aware that they are in an "accident waiting to happen." Some are, simply because they are stupid and selfish enough to be willing to drive a car which externally looks the part, but has no legal right to be driven on public roads.

So what is a "cut and shut"? As the term implies a cut and shut is actually two cars, both the same model and year, who have been involved in a car accident, serious enough to have been written off by the insurance company and are supposed to be broken up and sold for spare parts. Due to lack of proper jurisdiction, these cars sometimes wind up in the hands of unscrupulous welding shops or "chop shops" as they are sometimes known. These chop shops take the two cars, with an ideal example of one that has suffered serious rear end damage and another that has been damaged at the front end. By using no certain amount of skill, they succeed in matching both sections and welding them together so that they appear to be one car in perfect condition. A nice paint work, a new and stolen identity and the car is back on the road, looking as good as new.

There are many people willing to buy a cut and shut, from the car dealer who is aware that the car is illegal, or the private buyer who is also aware but is prepared to take the risk with their lives as well as anyone else in the vicinity, when their car goes out of control or breaks up. Sadly many of the owners of these cars do not know that they have bought a car that is unroadworthy, and sadly a few find out when it is too late. When all is said and done, anyone actually buying a "cut and shut" only has themselves to blame. Any car, no matter how good it looks, what a good buy that it is and how much the seller presses them to make a swift decision, should stand their ground and insist on taking the car for pre-purchase examination. And not only that but at an examination center of their choice, preferably operated under the auspices of one the major car owners associations such RAC or the AA.

If the car is a "cut and shut" then this will show up in a matter of minutes, and not only should any deals be cancelled, but information on the seller be passed on to the UK Offices of Fair Trading. Make no mistake about it ,the practice of "cut and shut" is illegal and anyone dealing in this horrendous practice is punishable by law.

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