Buying a used car

Test drive tips

1. Avoid looking at a car in the dark. Make sure you can see the car you may end up buying clearly.

2. If you don’t know a lot about cars, take someone knowledgeable with you who can advise you.

3. Before buying any car, and especially a used car it is important to check its condition thoroughly and test it out on the road, and ask yourself a few questions:
- how does it feel on the road?
- do the brakes provide smooth and reassuring braking?
- is the car quiet, or are there rattles and clunks when it is moving?

4. If you are serious about buying, find out if the car has a current MOT certificate. If the car is more than three years old, it must have one, to prove it complied with the criteria of the MOT at the last test date.

5. Remember that the MOT is not a guarantee that any subsequent faults will be put right by the dealer.

6. A full service history should ensure that the vehicle has been properly looked after. It might be an idea to check that the mileage is warranted in writing to avoid potential problems in the future.

7. Mileage can be checked, for a small fee. Find out more at www.hpicheck.com or www.cardatacheck.co.uk

8. Ask to see the registration document and service record. Does everything match up? Does the logbook show how many owners the car has had?

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