What You Should Check Before Buying a Used Car

Buying a car is always exciting, especially if you’ve recently passed your driving test. You might be having problems with the car you currently have, or you just decided that it’s time for a change. Either way, you want a new car and you’re choosing to buy a used one.

There are always scammers out there that might make a car listing sound too good to be true. If you’re worried about car scams, here are some things you should check before buying a used car.

1. Check the documents 
   You should always check to see if a car has a V5C registration certificate. It is advised by the DVLA that you should avoid purchasing vehicles that don’t have a V5C registration document since this is a sign that the seller shouldn’t be trusted. Having this document is essential as it contains information about when the car was first registered, the manufacturer, the size of the engine, as well as its CO2 emission figures. Before buying a used car, you should always check if the vehicle matches the details on the certificate.
2. Check the MOT history and mileage
   You should also check the MOT history to ensure that the car is all clear from any problems. The government website has a section where you can check a car’s MOT history, which will make the process faster and easier. Moreover, you should always check if the used car you’re thinking of buying has good mileage and ensure that it warrants the price. The lower the mileage, the pricier the car, which you should remember if you have a certain budget. Checking the mileage will enable you to see if there are any anomalies. If there are anomalies, this might mean that the mileage of the car has been clocked.
3. Check the service history 
   Ensure that you check the service history of a car, which is usually in a service book. It’s important to see the full service history of a car since it will list any mechanical issues the seller might be hiding from you. Furthermore, you should also ensure that there is a good amount of service history on a car, especially if the car is ten years old or more. Therefore, you should remember to check this too. You can take a list with you or write a note on your phone to remind you.
4. Check that the car is HPI clear 
   Hire Purchase Investigation, which is also known as HPI, will provide information on whether the car you want to buy is already financed or not, is reported stolen, has been written off from an insurance claim and if it has the correct mileage. It is a basic history check that you don’t want to forget about since you may lose money if the car isn’t HPI clear.
5. Check if the car is in good condition 
   To ensure if a car is in good condition, you should check if it has any physical damages, such as extensive dents or flat tyres. You should also test drive the car to check if the engine is properly running. This will enable you to determine if the internal aspects of the car is in good condition, such as the effectiveness of the brakes and the steering. When test driving the car, you should take note of any noises you can hear from the engine (if there are any) and ask the seller what the reason could be, if it’s not already listed elsewhere.

These are some of the points you should remember when buying a used car. If you need to consult a specialist, you can take a look at our list of car services here. Similarly, we also have a list of reputable car dealers here if you don’t know where to look.