Experienced car buyers can quietly check out a car in a matter of minutes, mainly by using common sense and following their instincts. You can do this too: you don't have to have extensive mechanical knowledge to make a decent judgement. Here's a step by step checklist of what to look out for.

Do I need to bother with the paperwork?

... outside the car

... inside the car

... under the bonnet

... the test drive

Check that everything works

I like the car - shall I go ahead and buy it

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