What to check when buying a car

What to look for when buying an used car? Car checks before buying a used car 1. We’ve already mentioned kicking the tyres, but it’s worth getting down on your knees and inspecting them. Dents and scratches.

Are there signs of kerbing on the wheels?

How’s the bodywork? It’s important to inspect a car in. Mileage - check against paperwork such as the MOT - ensure that it seems to be similar to the overall mileage indicated and.

Buying a used car can be a great way of bagging a bargain - learn how to avoid the pitfalls with our top used car check tips and find the best used cars. Our guide reveals the top tips for.

Buy a vehicle : step by step. You also need to see. Doing some simple checks will reduce your chances of buying a car that’s being sold illegally or has had major repairs.

Check if the vehicle has. It doesn’t take long or cost much. There are several others worth doing to give as much information as possible on the car you’re buying, and provide valuable peace of mind. This will tell you the mileage readings at tests, dates of previous MOTs.

Ask the seller to start the car from cold to see if there any issues with start-up. If the bonnet’s warm, the seller may have started the car beforehand to hide problems.

If you take the car for a test drive, check for any leaks in the engine bay and under the car when you’ve finished driving. Get a trained engineer to call you about the condition of the vehicle.

Email you a detailed written report within hours of the inspection. Include a full photographic report in the price. Watch for excessive exhaust smoke and listen out for any unusual noises.

Before starting the car, check underneath the engine oil cap for a thick white substance which could indicate a problem with the head gasket or engine damage. Pull out the engine oil dipstick, wipe it clean with a cloth, then re-insert it. Enter the registration number (number plate) to get an instant free vehicle check on the screen.

Take the car for a test drive It is advised that anyone buying a used car should take a 15-minute test drive on a variety of roads. Start the car when the engine is col and when driving check gears, brakes, steering and suspension.

Again, listen out for any odd noises such as knocks or bangs.

If you’re buying a new car you are protected by law and covered with a warranty should anything go wrong. The reason being that if you spot a scratch or ding when you get it home it’s very difficult to prove it didn’t happen after you left.

Peace of mind when buying a car. All you need to know about buying a second-hand car from dealers and private sellers, what to look for on a test drive, and doing the deal Collection articles Buying a new car All you need to know about buying new - from car configurators to test drives and what happens at the dealership.

Here are some tips on what to when when buying a car : Agree price and terms. It’s vital to check the tyres as they’re the only part of the car in contact with the tarmac. To see if the tread’s okay, place a pence coin in one of the grooves with the flat edge down. If you can see any of the band above the top of the trea they may be below the legal limit of 1. The seller’s name and address need to be the same as what’s written on the certificate.

They also have to be the registered keeper. Before you start make sure you have all the paperwork for the vehicle. The only other caveat is that you’ll also need to check the small print to see which inspections are appropriate for the car you’re looking at. In some cases, the size of the car’s engine dictates the price of the inspection.

Our basic inspection will give you a good overview of any major faults found on the vehicle with a thorough mechanical and structural check. Unit and component inspection – performs a detailed inspection of specific vehicle parts.

Post purchase inspection – provides a mechanical, structural and component check covering 3points to confirm problems or mechanical faults after you’ve bought the vehicle.