in General

Our Checklist For Before And After You Buy A Used Car

In today’s automotive world, buying used cars is a safer and more reliable process than ever before, however, it’s not completely foolproof. While buying directly from a manufacturer’s dealership will usually leave you with an approved, tested and refurbished used car, buying privately may not come with quite the same guarantees. Here at Service4Service, we are avid believers that used cars can be a great way to get a good car for an affordable price, but there are a number of things you need to consider before making a purchase to ensure that you’re not only getting the best deal but the best quality of vehicle possible. Here are our checklists to get you started:

Before

Before you embark on your journey to buy a used car, there are a number of things you should do to not only find a better car but to make the process more enjoyable for you, too. From making sure you use the right seller types, to finding out what kind of vehicle you need, here’s what you should do: 

  • Pick A Seller – Are you buying privately? Or through a dealership? Dealerships and independent garages are more likely to run vehicles through tests and inspections, but costs may be higher. Private sellers may offer a wider variety of older models with lower costs, but likely won’t have vigorous inspections and checks in place. 
  • Know Your Budget – having a budget in mind before you set out to find a vehicle will ensure that you don’t get pulled in by vehicles you can’t afford. You need to consider running costs, fuel, insurance, servicing and more to be sure that you can afford to not only buy the car, but keep it going too. 
  • Research Variants – Used cars don’t come with options to add and take away different features in most cases like with new models, so you’ll need to do your research into what kind of features exist for the models you want so you know what to look out for, and what you want to avoid. 

During

So you’ve done your initial research, and now you’re looking to buy a car – the question is, how do you know you’re buying the right one? There are a number of checks you can do to give yourself the best possible chance at ensuring a good deal and good quality car: 

Documents

  • Does the seller have the V5C document? Are they the registered keeper on the document? If not, why?
  • Does the registration have the relevant watermark? Are there any spelling mistakes? Does the VIN and Engine Number match the V5C?
  • Does the car have recent MOT history?
  • Has the car got a full service history?

Engine

  • Are there any signs of engine repair needed?
  • Are there any unusual noises or steering wheel shaking?
  • Is there any sign of excessive exhaust emissions?
  • Does the clutch work properly if present?
  • Check emissions tests for proof of condition of the catalytic converter
  • Is the oil level right? 

Mileage

  • What mileage has the vehicle done?
  • Does the mileage look consistent with the appearance of the car?
  • Check recorded mileage in MOT history – does it match current mileage?

Damage

  • Is there any clear damage to the vehicle? Has it been declared by the seller?
  • Is there any indication of hidden damage, such as mismatched paint colours or gaps between panels?
  • Are there any signs of unusual welding? Check the bonnet and boot in particular.
  • Do all of the electrical systems work? Do the windows roll up and down? Do the indicators and lights work? Does the car lock properly?

Safety

  • Are the tyres in good condition? Check for appropriate treat and dimensions
  • Is there a spare wheel or sealant kit? Are they in good condition?
  • Do the seatbelts all clip in and operate properly?
  • Check for airbag warning lights – they should appear when the car is started, then disappear if there are no errors.
  • Check windscreen and windscreen wipers for damage.

Test Drive

  • When you take the car on a test drive, make sure you take your time. 
  • Check braking sensitivity and steering control
  • Check for warning lights – do they all come on when the car is started before going out?
  • Any pulling or steering issues?

After

After buying your car, there are a few things you can still do to make sure that you head out onto the road safely. From having the car serviced and checked by a professional mechanic, to getting all of the documents in order and up to date, you should do the following as soon as possible after making your purchase: 

  • Book your car in for a service – even if your vehicle isn’t due a service, having a professional mechanic look over your vehicle and run it through a service, particularly if you’ve bought privately, can help you find any underlying issues. 
  • Get your documentation in order – a dealership will likely handle the logbook and relevant paperwork themselves, but if you’ve bought privately, you should make sure that all documentation, particularly the V5C, are in order. 
  • Tax and insurance – you need to have road tax and car insurance organised and paid for before you drive away with your new car. Most policies and road tax are valid from the moment of purchase, but it’s best to not only check policy documents, but keep any emails and documents with you for the first week or so.

When buying a new used car, it’s important to make sure that you use common sense and intuition when making a purchase. Dealerships will usually do much of the work for you and offer the best quality cars with the highest level of transparency about any issues or damage, however private purchasing may give you more choice in terms of models. Follow our checklist and make sure that any purchases are made via safe means (e.g. trackable payment methods), and have your car checked by one of our qualified mechanics, as soon as possible. Get in touch for more information, today.