What to check before buying a used car

Last reviewed 22 October 2026. General information, not legal or financial advice.

Most bad used-car buys could have been spotted with an hour of checking. Here’s what to do, in the order you’ll need it.

Before you go and see it

Check the MOT history using the number plate in the advert. Look for mileage that drops or jumps, long gaps between tests, repeated fails and the same advisories coming back year after year. Our free check flags all of these.
Check for recalls on GOV.UK. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.
Consider a paid history check. The MOT record can’t show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs or a stolen marker. If a car still has finance on it, the lender may own it rather than the seller.
Compare the price with similar cars of the same age and mileage. A price well below the market is a warning sign, not a bargain.

The V5C logbook. See the original, not a photo. Check that the name and address match the seller and the place you’re viewing the car, and that the VIN (on the logbook) matches the one on the car, usually at the base of the windscreen.
Service history: stamps and invoices, with mileages that fit the MOT record. Ask whether jobs like the cambelt have been done on schedule if the car has one.
Keys: ask for both. Replacement keys can be costly.

Tyres: legal tread (1.6 mm minimum) and even wear across each tyre. Wear on one edge suggests alignment or suspension problems.
Panel gaps and paint: uneven gaps, slightly different shades or paint overspray on rubber seals suggest accident repairs.
Rust on sills, wheel arches and underneath, especially on older cars.
Under the bonnet: oil level and colour, coolant level, and signs of leaks.
Wear inside (steering wheel, gear knob, pedals, driver’s seat) that fits the mileage.

Ask for the engine to be cold when you arrive, so you hear it start from cold.
All warning lights should come on briefly at start-up and then go out.
Brakes should pull up straight without juddering. Steering should be straight and precise.
Listen for knocks over bumps, and check the clutch and gearbox change smoothly.
Make sure you’re insured to drive it before you take it out.

Don’t send money before you’ve seen the car and the logbook. Bank transfer to a seller you haven’t met is a common scam.
Buying from a dealer, you’re covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2015: the car must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described, and you have 30 days to reject a faulty car for a refund.
Buying privately, you have fewer rights: the car must be as described, and the seller must have the right to sell it. That’s why the checks above matter more.
After buying, tax the car before you drive it. Tax doesn’t transfer with the car.

Every MOT test since 2005, mileage flagged for drops and gaps, and advisories in plain English. Free, no sign-up.