Before You Buy a Used Car: What to Check Yourself

An inspection at an accredited centre is a step you should never skip before buying a used car. But before you pay for it, half an hour of your own checks can rule out many cars. Start with the papers. Match the VIN on the registration with the one on the windscreen and the driver's door, and ask for the service record. A car whose oil was changed on time is more reassuring than a lower-mileage car with no record. Then the body. Stand at a corner of the car and look along its length in daylight: a panel that does not quite match its neighbour, or uneven gaps between the doors, point to repair after an accident. Then the tyres and brakes. A tyre worn on one side points to an alignment or suspension fault. Look at the disc through the spokes: a raised lip and deep grooves mean the discs will need replacing soon. Then the engine, cold. Ask for it not to be started before you arrive. Watch the exhaust at start-up, listen for any ticking, and check the dipstick and the oil filler cap: white foam under it is a bad sign. Finally, the drive. Take the car over bumps and up to motorway speed: a shaking steering wheel, a clunk when you turn it, or the car pulling to one side under braking are all questions to put to the inspector.