Buying a Used Car? The Checks That Save You Money

Do your homework before you travel

The cheapest checks on a used car are the ones you can do from your sofa. Start with the registration number. The free government MOT history service shows every MOT test since 2005, including mileages, failures and advisories. A car whose mileage goes down between tests, or which has the same advisory for corroded brake pipes three years running, is telling you something.

Check the tax and whether the car is recorded as written off using a paid history check, which also shows outstanding finance. If the seller cannot or will not give you the registration before you view, that is a warning sign in itself.

Read the service history properly

A stamped book or a folder of invoices is worth more than a verbal "it has always been serviced". Look for regular oil changes at sensible intervals and for the big-ticket items being done on time — the timing belt on engines that have one, the DSG or automatic gearbox fluid where it is required, and brake fluid.

Some engines have well-known weak spots. A 1.0 EcoBoost Ford or a 1.2 PureTech Vauxhall should show evidence of the correct oil and, at higher mileages, a belt check. A 2007–2014 BMW diesel should be listened to carefully for timing chain rattle. Knowing the model's weak spots before you view means you know what to ask.

On the day: start it cold

Ask the seller not to run the car before you arrive, and feel the bonnet when you get there. A cold start tells you far more than a warm one: listen for rattles in the first few seconds, look for smoke from the exhaust, and check that every warning light on the dashboard comes on with the ignition and then goes out once the engine starts. A light that never illuminates may have been disabled.

Walk round and look underneath

Check the tyres for tread depth and for uneven wear, which can point to tracking or suspension problems. Look along the panels for mismatched paint and uneven gaps. Check under the oil filler cap for creamy residue and the coolant level in the expansion tank. Look underneath for fresh oil or coolant leaks.

The test drive

Drive it on a mix of roads if you can. The clutch should bite smoothly and not too high; the gears should change cleanly; an automatic should not judder or hesitate. Brake firmly on a clear road — the car should stop straight. Listen for knocks over bumps, whines that change with speed and any vibration through the steering wheel.

When to get a second opinion

If you are spending serious money, or you are not confident about what you are looking at, a professional inspection is worth it. We can carry out a vehicle health check, read any stored fault codes and put the car on the ramp to look at the parts you cannot see on a driveway. Call us on 0121 476 2287 to arrange it before you buy.

Paperwork and payment

Check that the name and address on the V5C logbook match the seller and the place you are viewing the car, and that the VIN on the logbook matches the one on the car, usually visible at the base of the windscreen. Check that there are two keys, as a replacement key for a modern car can be expensive.

Avoid paying in cash for anything but the cheapest cars, and never pay a deposit for a car you have not seen in person. If a price looks too good to be true, it usually is.