Let’s be honest about car viewings. Halfway through, most of us start doing the seller’s job for them.
The tyres are a bit worn? Easy enough to replace. No service book? The seller seems decent. A warning light that’s been on for months? Apparently it hasn’t caused any trouble. Buying a used car brings out a strange urge to justify things, and each justification can sound perfectly sensible on its own.
Taken together, though, they can turn a promising purchase into something you should think twice about.
So here’s the plan. Set your standards before you see the car: what you need, what you can spend, which questions need answering. Then use the viewing to check whether the car meets them. Simple.
Read Between the Lines of the Advert
Read it once for what you like, and again for the details.
“Full service history”, “excellent condition” and “recently serviced” are claims worth following up. Ask what records exist, what the latest service included and whether there are faults the photos don’t show.
Get the registration number and current mileage before travelling. Save the advert, and any messages discussing the car’s condition.
Ask about spare keys too. A missing second key may not stop the sale, but a replacement could be an expense you hadn’t factored in.
Do Your Homework Before You Go
Before you arrange a viewing, it’s worth finding out what you can about the car from its registration number. A car reg check can give you useful background information, including the vehicle’s recorded mileage, MOT history, tax status and registration details.
Depending on the report, you may also find records relating to outstanding finance, previous insurance write-offs or stolen vehicles. Reviewing this information beforehand gives you a better idea of the car’s history and helps you decide whether it’s worth seeing in person.
It only takes a few minutes, but it could save you a wasted journey or uncover something worth discussing with the seller.
Know the Real Budget
Before negotiating, work out what you may need to spend over the first few months.
Get an insurance quote for the actual car. Check its servicing requirements and ask when the next service is due. Look into major scheduled work, particularly timing belt replacement where applicable.
Tyres and brakes come next, along with anything else that may be nearing replacement.
A car advertised for £500 less than another example isn’t necessarily cheaper once those bills are in. And recent work only adds reassurance if there’s evidence it was completed. Budgeting properly is the dull part of buying a used car. It’s also one of the most important.
Keep a little money back. Even a carefully chosen used car can need attention.
Viewing: Light, Weather, Then Conversation
See the car in daylight if you can, and preferably in dry weather. Wet panels make scratches and paint differences harder to judge.
Walk around it before you get caught up chatting. Look along the bodywork, check the panel gaps and inspect the tyres. Anything that deserves a closer look, ask about.
Previous paintwork isn’t automatically a reason to reject a car. You’re simply trying to understand what happened and whether the explanation matches its condition.
Inside, try the equipment instead of assuming it works. Open the windows. Adjust the mirrors. Test the heating and air conditioning, and check the locks. Look in the boot and under the mats for signs of damp.
A few minutes of checks now. Possibly a much longer repair later if you skip them.
Cold Start, No Shortcuts
If possible, ask the seller not to warm the engine before you arrive.
Listen as 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 have 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.
Paperwork: Sit Down and Read It
This deserves more than a quick glance over the bonnet.
Ask to see the original V5C log book and check that the vehicle details match. Compare the vehicle identification number with the car itself. The V5C identifies the registered keeper, remember, rather than proving ownership.
Go through the service records as well. Invoices can tell you more than stamps alone, because they show the work carried out. Check dates, mileages and vehicle details.
If the seller says a major job has been done, look for the supporting record. Without it, you have to decide how much uncertainty you’re prepared to accept.
If the service book’s missing, 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.
Get Help When It Makes Sense
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. They should help you understand the same car. If they appear to tell different stories, find out why.
Tie Up the Details Before Paying
Agree exactly what you’re buying and what comes with it: 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 that 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.
And If You’re Not Sure?
Take a break before deciding. You don’t owe anyone a purchase because they’ve spent time showing you the car. A long journey doesn’t make unresolved problems less important, either. No-nonsense advice on buying a used car comes down to this:
It’s much easier to leave a viewing than to wish you had.
