1. Check the car's details
Using the car's registration number, you can look up inspection reports and check for any outstanding finance on the vehicle.
If the registration number isn't visible in the advert's photos, you should contact the seller and ask for it.
2. Inspect the car thoroughly
Look for dents, scratches, tyre tread depth, and information in the service book. Also check for cracks or large stone chips in the windscreen and glass roof.
Small dents can be removed by a paintless dent repair specialist, so minor dents shouldn't put you off. However, you should pay special attention to colour differences in the paintwork, as this can indicate an attempt to conceal previous damage. If the car has been recently repainted, that is also worth noting.
Paint or polish? Not all scratches need a respray — if your fingernail doesn't catch when you run it gently over the scratch, it can be polished out.
Check the tyres. Check whether all four tyres are the same type and that there is still enough tread remaining.
Is the service book complete? Most service books record the car's service intervals.
- Check whether the timing belt has been replaced and when.
- Check whether service intervals have been maintained and when the last service was carried out.
Some warranties are only valid if the car has been serviced on time and has passed all required inspections.
3. Test drive the car
During the test drive, pay special attention to the brakes and steering. Perform a few emergency stops and also test the handbrake.
Drive in a slalom pattern and feel whether the car responds quickly to the steering wheel movements, or whether there is play in the steering.
Check the warning lights on the dashboard — and take note if one or more are illuminated. Test the heating and the fans. Turn them up fully in both directions and check that the system works as expected.
You should also test the seat heating and other electrically controlled features.
4. Review the purchase agreement
The purchase agreement is binding, so it's important to review it carefully before signing. For private sales, write up a receipt that includes both parties' names and addresses, the agreed price, the date of sale, and the vehicle's registration number and mileage. Question anything that seems suspicious.
5. Transfer of registration
The seller must notify the DVLA of the change of keeper using the V5C logbook (vehicle registration certificate). Make sure you receive the green "new keeper" slip (V5C/2) at the point of sale. The DVLA will post a new V5C in your name within 5 working days.
Do not buy a car without a V5C — without it, you cannot verify the keeper's identity or re-register the vehicle. If the V5C is missing, the buyer can apply using form V62 (£25 fee).