Top Ten Tips for Buying a Used Car

Published at 12:00, Thursday, 01 July 2010

Advertising feature. Buying a used car can sometimes be a bit hit and miss if you don’t know what you want or how to check for those tell-tale signs that something isn’t quite right. Here are some top tips to make sure you don’t end up driving away with a dodgy motor.

Do Your Homework

If you’re looking for a used car then you need to make sure that you know what you are looking for. Research the models that you are looking for and check the average cost of a used car, how much the road tax is and how much the insurance will be. It’s also well worth looking to see what common faults the model has so you can investigate further when you go and see a vehicle. Plenty of websites, such as Motors.co.uk, now have review sections which should cover this kind of information.

Check the Documents

Insist on seeing the V5 vehicle registration document and check that the seller is the legal owner and not just the registered keeper – if they aren’t ask why they are selling the vehicle for someone else. If the car is more than three years old it should have valid MOT certificates for each year the owner has had it. Check the mileage on these and make sure that they increase at a consistent rate, and do not decrease as this can be a sign of mileage tampering. If the car has had many owners then ask why... after all there must be some reason why the drivers wanted rid.

Dealer vs. Private

If you buy from a dealer you will have more legal rights if anything should go wrong, but it will cost you more. However, you will generally get some kind of additional warranty that will be helpful if things go wrong.

Check the Service History

Check for receipts for repair work – the service history for older cars can be less than complete but you can always check online and get a history check on the vehicle which is easily done these days as all information is recorded electronically. Motors.co.uk have a free history check so it’s well worth doing something like this in advance and seeing if it matches up with what the seller is telling you, the check will also tell you if the car is stolen or has been written off.

Use Your Eyes (and Common Sense)

Look for obvious signs of repair such as mismatched panels, which can indicate repair jobs after a small crash. Spray paint around window seals and doors can also be a giveaway that sellers have something to hide. Look for rust – which can be a major repair job on older cars – it can easily be covered with paint or filler on the main panels so check for uneven surfaces or new paintwork. Make sure you check underneath the car too and look for rusty brake pipes and exhausts. If the engine has been powerwashed clean, this can also be a sign of covering up leaks, so check again after the test drive.

Overlook the Aesthetics

Some cars will be a bit grubby when you view them – but remember that carpets and seats can be cleaned so don’t let this put you off a bargain. However, make sure to check underneath the seats for damage as seats can be an expensive repair job.

View in Good Light!

Always view the car in daylight and when it’s not raining. Dark and rain can cover a multitude of scratches, shoddy repair work and rust so best to view in the best light possible so you can actually see what you’re getting. Check the interior too – water marks around windows or the sunroof could indicate leaks whilst a worn steering wheel or pedals mean that the car has been used a lot – so it should have a fairly high mileage.

Test Drive

Always test drive a used car you are considering buying. Make sure you are insured to drive it and take it on a drive for about 15 minutes to get a feel for the mechanics, make sure you drive on a mixture of fast and slow roads and do some manoeuvres including reversing. If there are any strange noises – question the seller.

Haggle

Go in with a clear idea of what price the car should be going for. Most sellers will have left some room for bargaining so if it’s a little pricey there’s no reason why you can’t negotiate on the price. Don’t be swayed by sob stories – after all you have a budget and you want to buy the car for a fair price.

If you aren’t sure...

Walk away. It’s best to take some time to think about it if you aren’t sure, otherwise you could end up with a complete wreck on your hands.