The used car buying checklist
39 checks in five stages, from the first phone call to handing over the money. Print it, take it with you, and tick as you go. Nothing here needs tools or mechanical knowledge — it is the set of things a careful buyer looks at and most buyers forget under pressure.
Not a substitute for an independent inspection on an expensive or unfamiliar vehicle.
1.Before you travel
Every item here can be settled by phone or message. If a seller will not answer these, the trip is not worth the fuel.
- Registration confirmedGet the plate so you can run the MOT and tax history before you commit to the journey.
- V5C in the seller's nameAsk whose name is on the logbook and whether the address matches where you are viewing.
- Reason for saleA vague answer is not disqualifying, but note it and see whether the car supports the story.
- Service history describedFull, partial or none — and stamped book, printed invoices, or a digital record.
- Outstanding financeAsk directly. A car with finance owing can be repossessed from you after purchase.
- Known faults declaredWarning lights, noises, oil use, air-con. Get the answer in writing before you set off.
- Number of keysTwo is normal. A replacement key with programming is a real cost on many cars.
- Viewing addressShould be a home or trade premises, never a car park or roadside meeting point.
2.Paperwork at the viewing
Check the documents before you look at the car. If the paperwork fails, nothing about the bodywork matters.
- V5C serial numberCheck it is not in the DVLA's stolen-document range and the watermark is present.
- VIN matches V5CCompare the plate under the windscreen and the stamped chassis number against the logbook.
- Registered keeper countCompare against the advert. A recently added keeper can mean a trade car sold privately.
- MOT certificatesCross-check the mileage on each against the online DVSA record for jumps or reversals.
- Service invoicesLook for consistent mileage progression and work done at sensible intervals.
- Cambelt or chain historyIf the car needs a belt by age or mileage, an unreplaced belt is a four-figure risk.
- Previous MOT advisoriesAdvisories that repeat year after year mean the fault was never fixed.
3.The car, cold
Insist the engine is cold when you arrive. A warmed-up engine hides starting faults, smoke and noise.
- Cold startListen for rattles in the first few seconds and watch the exhaust for smoke colour.
- Warning lightsAll lights should illuminate on ignition and then go out. None missing, none staying on.
- Oil condition and levelMayonnaise under the filler cap, low level, or a recent top-up to hide consumption.
- Coolant level and colourDiscoloured or oily coolant points at head-gasket trouble.
- Tyre tread and datesCheck all five including the spare. Note mismatched brands and tyres over six years old.
- Brake discs and padsA deep lip on the disc edge means replacement is due, not far off.
- Panel gaps and paintUneven gaps, mismatched paint texture and overspray on trim all suggest repair work.
- Underside and sillsBubbling, fresh underseal in patches, and welded repairs near jacking points.
- ElectricsWindows, mirrors, air-con, heated seats, infotainment, parking sensors, every door lock.
- Damp insideWet carpets and misted windows mean a leak that will keep costing you.
4.The test drive
Twenty minutes minimum, including a dual carriageway if you can. Drive it, do not let the seller drive it.
- Cold and hot behaviourFaults that appear only once warm are common and expensive.
- Steering straight-aheadPulling to one side means alignment at best, accident damage at worst.
- Braking from speedJudder through the pedal or wheel means warped discs.
- Clutch bite pointA high bite point on a manual suggests a clutch nearing the end of its life.
- Gear changesEvery gear including reverse. On an automatic, look for hesitation or flare between shifts.
- Suspension over bumpsKnocking over potholes points to worn bushes, drop links or top mounts.
- Engine under loadAccelerate hard in a high gear on a clear road and listen for knock or hesitation.
- Dashboard after the driveRe-check for warning lights that only appear once everything is up to temperature.
5.Before you hand over money
The last three checks are the ones that stop a bad day becoming a bad year.
- Provenance check doneWrite-off, stolen and outstanding-finance check on the plate, done that day.
- Price agreed in writingIncluding what is and is not included: mats, spare key, tow bar, roof bars.
- Receipt with both namesNames, addresses, plate, VIN, mileage, price, date, and both signatures.
- Bank transfer, not cashA transfer leaves a record. Never hand over cash before the paperwork is signed.
- Insurance in placeCover must start before you drive away, not when you get home.
- V5C section handledSeller notifies DVLA online or posts the yellow slip. Keep your green section.
Vehicle: ________________________________ · Registration: ______________ · Date: ____________ · Asking price: £____________ · Agreed price: £____________
Go deeper on any of these
Each stage has a full guide behind it — what MOT advisories actually mean, how to read a V5C box by box, and the questions worth asking before you travel.
Browse the guides