What Should You Check Before Buying a Used Car

Buying a used car can be one of two things. A smart move that saves you money for years. Or a mistake that starts with a shiny advert and ends with repair bills and regret.

Most of the problems people face after buying a used car were visible before they signed anything. The clues are in the paperwork, in the way the engine sounds, in the tires, and in the way the seller answers simple questions. Once you know what to look for, it gets much easier to separate a good car from one you should walk away from.

In this blog post, we’ll walk you through what you should check before buying a used vehicle. Not just from a checklist on a website, but from what technicians, sales staff, and inspectors look for every day when they appraise a used car.

Step 1: Check the car on paper before you see it in person

Before you even travel to view a car, do a bit of homework. It saves wasted journeys and helps you avoid vehicles with serious history problems.

Start with a DVLA check

Use the free vehicle information tool on the government site to confirm the basics match what the seller is telling you.

You want to confirm:

• Registration number
• Make and model
• Colour
• Tax status
• MOT status

If anything does not match the advert, ask why. Sometimes it is a simple error. Sometimes it is just to mislead the buyers.

Look at the MOT history

The MOT history is a goldmine. You can see past failures, advisories, and mileages year by year. Repeated advisories for tires, brakes, or corrosion suggest a car that has been run on a tight budget and not looked after.

Get a proper history check

A paid history check tells you if the car has:

• Outstanding finance
• Been written off in an accident
• Recorded as stolen
• Mileage discrepancies

Most big guides from RAC, Auto Express, and comparison sites all say the same thing. A history check is one of the cheapest ways to avoid expensive trouble.

If a car fails any of these early checks, it is usually easier to move on than to justify it.

Step 2: Go through the documents slowly

When you arrive, do not rush straight to the paintwork. Start with the paperwork at a table or desk. It tells you as much as a test drive.

V5C logbook

This is the registration document. Check:

• The registration number
• The VIN or chassis number
• The make and model
• The colour
• The name and address of the registered keeper

You should always be wary of a seller who says they are selling “on behalf of a friend,” but whose name is not on the V5C. It can be flagged as a risk.

Service history

A full book of service stamps and invoices is a very good sign. Gaps are not always a deal breaker, but they should have an explanation. Look at:

• How often the car was serviced
• Where it was serviced
• Whether big items like timing belts, clutches, or major services have been done

Guides from Auto Express and RAC both advise how a strong service record helps long-term reliability and resale value.

MOT certificates and advisories

Ask for recent MOT paperwork even though you can see it online. Look at advisories for things like:

• Tires close to the limit
• Corrosion on brake pipes or chassis
• Oil leaks

These will be the future costs.

Other items to ask for

• Spare key
• Radio or sat nav codes if relevant
• Owner manual
• Proof of major repairs if mentioned

A seller who can produce everything quickly is usually a seller who has kept the car properly.

Step 3: Walk around the car with your eyes open

Now you get to look at the car itself. Do it in daylight if you can. Rain and darkness hide a lot.

Bodywork and paint

Walk around the car slowly and look for:

• Different shades of paint on panels
• Overspray on trim or rubber
• Ripples in reflections that suggest filler
• Rust at wheel arches, door bottoms, and sills

Small scratches and stone chips are normal. Poorly repaired accident damage is not. Auto Express and RAC both recommend checking panel gaps for alignment, which can reveal previous crashes.

Glass and lights

• Check the windscreen for cracks or big chips
• Make sure all lights work and the lenses are intact
• Look for misting inside headlamps, which can indicate water ingress

Doors, boot and bonnet

Open and close every door, the boot, and the bonnet. They should shut cleanly without sticking or clunking. If anything feels twisted or stiff, question the sales representative.

Step 4: Look under the bonnet even if you are not a mechanic

You do not need to know how to rebuild an engine. You need to spot obvious warning signs.

With the engine off and cold:

• Look for obvious leaks or pools of fluid
• Check the oil level and look at the oil on the dipstick
• Check the coolant level in the expansion tank
• Look for broken clips, loose wiring, or anything obviously bodged

With the engine running:

• Listen for loud tapping, rattling, or knocking
• Watch for excessive smoke from the exhaust
• Check if the engine idle feels smooth or lumpy

Auto Express and RAC both advise buyers to check for blue or white smoke and knocking sounds, which can point to serious problems.

If you feel out of your depth, this is where a pre-purchase inspection from AA or RAC can be worth the money. Since Advance Motors is a quality-approved used car dealer, you need not worry about this.

Step 5: Check tires, brakes, and suspension

These parts affect safety and running costs more than people think.

Tires

• Check tread depth across the full width
• Look for cracks in the sidewalls
• See if all four tires are the same brand and size

What Advance Motors and RAC both point out is that mismatched or budget tires can reveal cost-cutting.

Brakes

During a short drive or even just moving in the yard:

• Listen for grinding noises when braking
• Notice if the car pulls to one side
• Check for strong vibrations through the pedal

Suspension

Push down firmly on each corner. The car should bounce once and settle. Repeated bouncing can mean worn shock absorbers.

Worn tires, weak brakes and tired suspension are not always reasons to walk away, but they are solid reasons to negotiate the price.

Step 6: Spend time inside the car

The interior tells you a lot about how the car has been treated.

General condition

• Check seats for tears, heavy wear, or sagging
• Look for damp patches or a musty smell
• Lift the boot floor and check for water

Electrics and controls

Press every button and switch you can find.

• Windows
• Mirrors
• Heater and air conditioning
• Infotainment and radio
• Steering wheel controls

Guides from Compare the Market and Motorscan both advise testing all electrics because faults here can be expensive to track down.

Look at the dashboard with the ignition on. Every warning light should appear briefly, then go out once the engine starts. A light that stays on is a problem. A light that never comes on at all can be a bigger problem.

Step 7: Test drive with your senses switched on

If the seller refuses a test drive, that alone is a reason to walk away. When you drive the car, you are looking for three things.

How it starts

• Does it start quickly from cold
• Any rattles or heavy smoke at startup

How it drives

• Does it pull straight when you drive and when you brake
• Does the clutch bite cleanly without slipping or juddering
• Does the gear change feel smooth?

How it sounds and feels

Turn the radio off. Listen for knocking over bumps, whining at certain speeds or any vibration through the wheel or seat. The top used car checklists repeatedly mention listening for odd noises on the test drive because they often reveal hidden suspension, gearbox, or bearing issues.

Make sure you are insured to drive the car. If you are not covered, ask the dealer or seller what insurance arrangement they provide.

Step 8: Check the seller, not just the car

The condition of the car matters, but so does who is selling it.

With a used car dealer

You have stronger rights under the Consumer Rights Act. The car must be as described, of satisfactory quality, and fit for purpose.

With a private seller

You have fewer rights, and much more is on you to check. That is why RAC, AA, and Citizens Advice all recommend extra care with private sales and a thorough inspection.

Simple rule. If the seller seems evasive, rushed or unwilling to answer straight questions, there is always another car.

Step 9: When to pay for a professional inspection

If you are spending a significant amount of money or are not confident in checking mechanical items yourself, an independent inspection can be money well spent. An engineer can spot: structural damage, poor accident repairs, hidden corrosion, and mechanical faults that have not appeared yet.

Think of it as a survey on a house. You would not skip that on a big purchase. In case you are going through a used car dealer, a complete inspection is covered.

How Advance Motors makes buying a used car easier

At Advance Motors, we see both sides of this. We know what can go wrong when a car has not been checked properly and we know how much more relaxed buyers feel when everything is transparent.

When you look at a quality-approved used car with us, you are not starting from zero. We have already:

• Run history checks
• Verified mileage
• Checked the car against finance and write off registers
• Inspected brakes, tires, suspension and key safety items
• Confirmed MOT status and taken care of any major advisories

Our experienced sales team walks you through the paperwork, shows you what has been done, and what to budget for in the future. You still get to inspect and test drive the car yourself, but you are doing it knowing a qualified technician has already been over it properly.

Final thoughts before you say yes to a used car

Buying a used car does not need to be a gamble. If you check the paperwork, inspect the car carefully, listen to it on a test drive and pay attention to how the seller behaves, you will avoid most of the common problems.

Take your time. Do not be afraid to walk away. The right car is the one that feels good to drive, makes sense on paper and does not give you a knot in your stomach when you think about handing over the money.

If you want a head start, visit Advance Motors and look at our used cars stock. The checks above are already built into how we prepare each car, which means you can focus on choosing the one that suits your life, not worrying about what is hiding under the surface.