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Part 3 of our Buying Guide for Used Cars...
Even if you know very little about used cars there are still some basic checks you can perform to help you buy a good quality used car. These checks are particularly relevant if you are buying a car from a private seller. However you should still perform a routine inspection if you are buying from a dealer or from a small trader. Our used car buying guide aims to make you more aware of what to look for. Its better (and much easier) to deal with any problems you find before you buy the car. Remember; dealers will be much more willing to help you BEFORE you have parted with your money. Once you hand over the cash, you are accepting to buy the car and any imperfections you discover once you get home (and all used cars will have some) will be your responsibility. So unless the car has been significantly misdescribed or has undisclosed major mechanical or electrical faults, it will be much harder to get any minor defects resolved by a dealer once you have bought the car. If you buy privately you have little or no rights so make sure you are happy and don’t ever rush into a purchase.
First things first, if you are buying a car privately ALWAYS perform a used vehicle history check, if you are buying from a dealer ask to see acopy. Click here to find out why and how. Check the vehicle documentation, you can tell a lot from the paperwork that comes with a car. Is there any service history and is it up to date? Are there any old bills? If so then don’t be afraid to examine them. See what work has been done and when. This could also give you an idea of maintenance costs. How many owners has the car had? Check the registration document and find out the last change of keeper date. How long did they keep it? If not very long then ask why? How long is the MOT? Are there any old MOTs and do they verify the mileage? If you are dealing with a private seller, ask lots of questions and try to build an understanding of how well they looked after the car and why they are selling it. The best-case scenario here is: low mileage, one owner, full service history with all bills and old MOTs, long MOT remaining and a clean history check. There won’t be many used cars out there that fill all this criteria, but this is what you should be aiming towards. The worst-case scenario is: high mileage, lots of owners, no service history, short MOT and a tainted history check. If any car comes close to meeting this criteria then just walk away, it’s never worth the risk, if you are satisfied with paperwork then its time to move on to the next stage.
They always count, so if the car looks bad straight off then it’s only going to get worse the closer you look. If this is the case then you should seriously consider walking away, if the car looks good visually then its time to take a closer look.
To inspect the bodywork I would always suggest you look up and down every inch of every panel one by one. Check for dents, rust, odd colour matches and poor alignment. Make sure the doors close, as they should. Check the trim around the panels for over spray. If you think a panel has been painted, ask why? A single panel repair because of a dent could mean a meticulous owner or a minor insurance claim and is not always a bad sign. A dented panel that has been left unattended could be a sign of neglect. Always ask questions. If you spot multi panel repairs then its probably another good time to walk away. Get the best you can for your money. Unless it’s an unbelievable bargain try not to compromise. While you are inspecting the outside also check the tyres. Within the grooves of the tyres there are small bars going across the grooves at regular intervals, these are indicators of the legal tread limit. If they are close to the limit then you might be able to haggle the price down further or ask for replacements. Also check the tyres wear is even on the inside and outside of the tyres. If it is not then the tracking and wheel balancing may need checking.
For most people this is unknown territory but even a complete novice can perform some basic checks. If you are unsure then it’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with an engine first, before you start looking. Learn where the oil and coolant goes and where the oil dipstick is, this will vary from car to car but will be easy to find once you know what you are looking for. Check the oil first using the dipstick. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean using a rag or tissue, then reinsert and remove it again. Check that the oil level is between the two lines at the end of the dipstick. Also check that the oil is fresh, it should be dark brown and shiny but not black. Remove the oil filler cap and check the inside of the cap, again the oil should look clean and fresh. If there is any light creamy residue on the filler cap it could mean a leaking head gasket and an expensive repair. Also remove the coolant filler cap and check that the coolant looks clean. Oily residue on the coolant filler cap could also mean a leaking gasket. Next you should start the engine. Make sure that it ticks over evenly and listen for any unusual noises. Check the exhaust smoke, it should be almost clear. A small amount of steam is sometimes emitted on start up; this is normal but should not persist. Check the dashboard for warning lights, if you see any then check the handbook to find out what they mean. Also keep an eye in the temperature gauge it should remain roughly in the middle even after a long drive. If it gets into the red or very near then the engine is getting too hot.
You should always try to test drive a car or get someone you know and trust to drive it for you. If you are a looking at a private car you will need to phone your insurance company to arrange cover. Give the car a good drive and get a feel for it. Make sure all the gears change without trouble and don’t make any noises.Don’t forget to check reverse. Check the clutch feels ok; stopping and pulling away on a hill is a good test of if the clutch is slipping. Listen for noises from the suspension as you drive over bumps and check the car does not pull excessively to one side. Also make sure the steering has no notable free movement. Test the brakes on the car, but do this safely. Watch out for overly soft or hard braking and vibrations through the pedals or steering. If you know where it is, check the brake fluid reservoir is not too low. Make sure you close all the windows tightly and listen for any unusual wind noise entering the cabin.
With the huge amounts of extras fitted to modern cars you should spend some time making sure that everything works, as it should. If you are not sure how to operate something then get the seller to show you. Items such as air conditioning, satellite navigation, electric seats, heated seats etc can enhance your motoring experience but can also be costly to repair when faulty. Deal with these issues now, before you do the deal.
Finally and most importantly: do you like the car? Did you find it comfortable to drive? What was the seating position like? Could you live with it day to day? If you have any issues with the car after your inspection, then convey them to the seller and see if they can be resolved. If they cannot be resolved to your satisfaction then don’t worry, there are over cars out there, keep looking. If you are happy with the car and any issues have been addressed then its time to do a deal!
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