beware when purchasing.

[SteveClem]

The answer for the VW is to either refuse the work - or - put it through a very strict MOT before the owner takes delivery, and any faults that show on the MOT will be there for everyone to see on the DVLA computer. You only need the make and Reg Number to see the recent MOT history of any car. To avoid this of course (perhaps for your own car) - is to ask the garage to do a pre-MOT inspection, and then have the faults sorted out before submitting it back for the real MOT. In the VW case - if he's worried, he should get it MOTd even before he starts the work and show that to the owner. The faults will be on record, and perhaps the owner will ask for them to be rectified as part of the renovation. Anyone buying a car (old or new) would be well advised to look at the MOT history - and if there is none - run away.

Well, it seems the VW bus passed a recent MOT and is structurally safe but likely to need serious work within the next few years. So the issue is more ethical than practical. You just have to hope that a future buyer does proper due diligence.