Worn tyres. A missing service book. A warning light the seller swears has been on for months without any trouble.
Sound like a car worth buying? Maybe. Here’s the problem: when you’re buying a used car, it’s easy to accept each of those excuses one at a time and never notice how many you’ve collected. Each might be reasonable. Together, they can turn a promising purchase into something you should think twice about.
So decide your standards before you see the car. What do you need? What can you spend? Which questions need answering? The viewing is where you find out whether the car actually meets those expectations.
Here’s how to do it, step by step.
Step 1: Pick the Advert Apart
Read it once for what you like. Then read it again for the details.
Claims such as “full service history”, “excellent condition” and “recently serviced” need following up. Ask what records are available, what the latest service included and whether there are any faults the photos don’t show.
Get the registration number and current mileage before you travel. Save the advert and any messages about the car’s condition.
Ask about spare keys while you’re at it. A missing second key may not stop you buying, but replacing it could be an expense you hadn’t considered.
Step 2: Check the History at Home
Doing this from home gives you time to read the results properly. Doing it on your phone with the seller waiting beside you? Less comfortable.
Before arranging a viewing, use Reg Check to look into the vehicle’s history. Review what the report covers, including whether it includes checks for outstanding finance, recorded insurance write-offs and stolen vehicle markers.
Look through the MOT records rather than stopping at the latest pass.
Suppose the same suspension component has had an advisory at several tests. That doesn’t tell you exactly what needs doing today, but it’s a good question to raise: has it been repaired, and is there an invoice?
Give mileage the same attention. A reading that drops between tests should be explained. It might be an input error, so avoid jumping to conclusions, but don’t simply ignore it.
A clear report is useful. It won’t, however, tell you whether the clutch is worn or the air conditioning works.
Step 3: Price Up the First Few Months
Before negotiating, work out what you may need to spend afterwards.
Get an insurance quote for the actual car. Check its servicing requirements and ask when the next service is due. Look into any major scheduled work, particularly timing belt replacement where applicable.
Then add tyres, brakes and anything else that may be approaching replacement.
A car advertised for £500 less than another example isn’t necessarily cheaper once those bills are counted. Equally, recent work only reassures you if there’s evidence it was done. Plenty of people learn that the hard way when buying a used car.
Keep some budget back, too. Even a carefully chosen used car can need attention.
Step 4: Arrange a Proper Viewing
Daylight, if possible. Dry weather helps; wet panels make scratches and paint differences harder to judge.
Walk around the car before getting caught up in conversation. Look along the bodywork, check the panel gaps, inspect the tyres. Anything that deserves a closer look? Ask about it.
Previous paintwork isn’t automatically a reason to reject a car. You’re trying to understand what happened and whether the explanation matches its condition.
Inside, test the equipment instead of assuming it works:
- Open the windows
- Adjust the mirrors
- Test the heating and air conditioning
- Check the locks
- Look in the boot and under the mats for signs of damp
These checks take a few minutes. Repairing the faults they uncover can take considerably longer.
Step 5: Ask for a Cold Start
If possible, ask the seller not to warm the engine before you arrive.
Listen while it starts and settles. Watch the dashboard for warning lights that stay on. If something sounds unusual, ask about it and get a mechanic’s opinion if you’re unsure.
You don’t need to pretend you know more than you do. “I’d like that checked before I buy” is a perfectly reasonable response to an unexplained noise.
Check fluid levels only when it’s safe and in line with the vehicle handbook. Never remove the coolant cap from a hot engine.
Step 6: Go Through the Paperwork Properly
This deserves more than a quick glance over the bonnet.
Ask to see the original V5C log book and check the vehicle details match. Compare the vehicle identification number with the car itself. Remember, the V5C identifies the registered keeper rather than proving ownership.
Then look at the service records. Invoices can tell you more than stamps alone, because they show the work carried out. Check the dates, mileages and vehicle details.
If the seller says a major job’s been done, look for the supporting record. Without one, you have to decide how much uncertainty you’re prepared to accept.
Missing service book? An online service history check can search available records from dealerships and authorised dealer networks. Any records found can help you understand the vehicle’s maintenance history and compare it with invoices supplied by the seller.
Step 7: Get Expert Help Where It Counts
You don’t have to assess everything yourself.
An independent inspection is worth considering if the car is expensive, has recorded damage or leaves you uncertain about its mechanical condition. Ask what the inspection covers, and read the findings before agreeing to buy.
The history records, paperwork and inspection are separate pieces of evidence about the same car. If they seem to tell different stories, find out why.
Step 8: Wrap Things Up Before You Pay
Agree exactly what you’re buying and what comes with it, including keys, documents and any accessories mentioned in the advert.
Put promised repairs in writing. Check they’ve been completed before collection rather than relying on an assurance they’ll be sorted later.
Get a receipt recording the registration, purchase price, date, and buyer’s and seller’s details. Keep it with the advert and relevant correspondence.
Arrange insurance, make sure the keeper transfer is handled and tax the car as required before driving away. Vehicle tax doesn’t pass from the seller to you.
Step 9: Give Yourself Permission to Leave
If you’re still unsure, take a break before deciding. You don’t owe anyone a purchase because they’ve spent time showing you the car. And a long journey doesn’t make unresolved problems less important.
The final step in buying a used car is sometimes the simplest one. Walk away. It’s much easier to leave a viewing than to wish you had.
