The 20-point used-car viewing checklist

Before you go

The best checks happen before you see the car. Get the registration and run a status check — tax, MOT due date and MOT history — using the official government services or our free car check. A seller with nothing to hide will give you the registration without hesitation.

Paperwork first (checks 1–5)

1. V5C logbook present and matches — keeper name and address should match the seller; the VIN should match the car. No V5C, no sale.
2. MOT history reviewed — look for steadily rising mileages between tests and note every advisory.
3. Service history — stamps or invoices at roughly the intervals the maker recommends. Gaps aren’t fatal; silence about them is.
4. Finance status asked — ask directly whether anything is owed. Write the answer down.
5. Receipt ready — a proper receipt with both names, the price, the car, the mileage and “sold as seen, buyer has inspected” protects you both.

Bodywork & interior (checks 6–12)

6. View in daylight — and dry if possible. Rain hides ripples, dim lights hide mismatches.
7. Panel gaps and paint — uneven gaps or shading differences hint at accident repairs.
8. Wheels and tyres — all four tyres should be the same size and brand-ish, with even wear and 3 mm+ of tread. Check the spare or repair kit exists.
9. Under the car — drips on the floor, corrosion on sills and subframes.
10. Boot, bonnet seals and fillers — open everything; check the fuel filler and oil cap for creamy residue (coolant in oil).
11. Electrics — every window, lock, light, the air-con, the infotainment, the reversing camera. One by one.
12. Wear where hands go — steering wheel, pedals and driver’s seat bolster should match the claimed mileage.

The test drive (checks 13–17)

13. Cold start — arrive early enough that the engine is cold; a warm engine can hide starting faults and smoke.
14. Insurance to drive — never test-drive without your own cover; ask the seller to confirm theirs if they drive first.
15. Mixed roads — 20 minutes including town, A-road and, if honest, a hill and a motorway stretch.
16. Brakes — a firm pedal, no pull, no grind; a hard stop from ~30 mph somewhere safe.
17. Gears and steering — smooth changes, no whines on turns (wheel bearings / CV joints), steering wheel straight.

Before you commit (checks 18–20)

18. Price sense-check — compare against several similar cars, not one. Know what the market says before negotiating.
19. Walk away test — be genuinely willing to leave. It is the single strongest negotiating tool a buyer has.
20. Independent inspection for big money — spending £10k+? A professional inspection (typically £150–£250) is cheap insurance. Or let us do the whole job — see car sourcing.