21 Dec 5 Key Things to Look for When Buying A Used Car

Buying a used car can have lots of advantages. They are often budget friendlier and don’t lose as much value as new cars. A used car can also be more sustainable because the production of new car requires parts to be shipped around the world.

Sometimes, you might also find a used car more charming than a new one. For example, the VW T1 is a beautiful van from the 50s and is among the most popular cars for campers. If you plan to buy a used car, we want to share with you five key things you should look out for before you go ahead and buy one.

1. Where to Buy A Used Car

One of the first things you should consider before you start researching used cars is the place you want to buy it from. While it’s tempting to buy a car online, it’s always better to see the car to check its functionality first-hand. Online pages can lack credibility with sellers trying to fraud you.

The most reliable place to buy a used car is a dealer or independent garage. Even though sales assistants can be very persistent, you often get a warranty if you buy from a dealer or garage.

2. Check the Car’s History

When you found a used car that you like, you can save a lot of time by quickly checking the car’s history. Especially if you found the car on advert sites such as GumTree, you want to make sure that the car has not been stolen or has outstanding finance.

All you need to do is head to the DVLA’s website and type in the vehicle’s registration number. You can also check if the MOT, mileage, and model matches the DVLA’s records. If all of the information is correct, you can go ahead and arrange a viewing and test drive.

3. Inspect the Vehicle for Damages

Once you found a car that you like, you should plan enough time to inspect it for any damages. That way, you can find out if the car is in good condition before you take it for a test drive. For example, you might find out that the rims are scratched. This can be quite expensive to fix, depending on the tyre.

If you don’t have that much experience in buying a used car, it’s good to print off a used car checklist before you go and view the car. That way, you don’t forget to inspect essential car parts such as the engine, gearbox, clutch or interior.

4. Check the Documents

Next to the car itself, you should check that it has all the necessary documents. The most important documents are the V5C and the MOT. The V5C is the vehicle logbook that shows who is the owner of the car. It will also tell you all the known facts of the car. For example, how many doors it has or what sort of engine. Especially if you buy the car from a private seller, you should make sure that all the information matches the car you want to buy.

The MOT stands for “Ministry of Transport” and is a vehicle check that every used car has to do once a year. You should check if the MoT has been done regularly and if there have been any issues in the past. Any car you buy should also have a valid MOT.

5. Test Drive the Car

Even if you think that you have found your dream car and you can’t wait to buy it – you should never skip a test drive. Especially if the car looks too good to be true, it’s crucial to drive it to see if everything works as expected.

When you take the car for a test drive, you should try out different roads to get a good feeling for the car. Does the engine run strong? How do the brakes feel? How fast does the car accelerate? If the test drive goes well and all the documents seem fine, you have a good chance of buying a well-functioning car.

Finding your dream car can sometimes take up a lot of your time. Even though you might think that you have found the perfect used car, you should never skip your research and buy it blindly. The five key tips in this article should help you in finding out what you need to look for when buying a used car.