How to Check a Used Car Before You Buy It

Buying a used car can save you thousands, but it also means taking on a car with a history you weren’t there to see. For many new drivers, their first car will be a used one, so knowing to check a used car before handing over any money is essential.

Fortunately, you can uncover a lot before you even leave home. Free government records, a full car history check and a careful inspection can reveal everything from suspicious mileage to outstanding finance.

Here’s how to check a used car before you buy it, starting with the checks you can do from your sofa.

Before you travel: do the free checks

Start online. A few minutes of research could save you a wasted journey or help you rule out a problem car completely.

The DVLA vehicle enquiry service lets you check basic information about the car, including its tax and MOT status. Compare details such as the make, colour and engine against the advert to make sure everything matches.

Next, check the car’s MOT history. You can see previous MOT results, recorded mileage, failures and advisories.

Don’t just check whether the car passed its last MOT. Look at the history as a whole.

Mileage should generally increase consistently from one MOT to the next. Unexpected drops could warrant further investigation. Repeated advisories can also tell you a lot about how the previous owner maintained the car. If the same suspension, tyre or corrosion issue appears year after year, check whether anyone eventually fixed it.

Run a full car history check

Free checks are useful, but they can’t tell you everything about a used car.

A more comprehensive car history check can uncover problems such as:

• Outstanding finance
• Insurance write-off history
• Theft records
• Previous registration plate changes

These checks matter because some problems are almost impossible to spot just by looking at the car.

Outstanding finance is particularly important. If finance remains attached to a vehicle, a lender may still have an interest in it, which can create serious problems after you’ve paid the seller.

You should also check whether an insurer has previously written off the car. Category A and B vehicles shouldn’t return to the road, while Category S and N cars can return to use after appropriate repairs.

That doesn’t automatically make a Cat S or Cat N car a bad purchase. However, you should know its history, understand what damage occurred and consider how the write-off could affect its value, resale and insurance.

Ideally, run the history check before arranging a viewing. Rooster Car Check lets you check a vehicle using its registration, including its history, finance and write-off status.

At the car: give yourself time to inspect it

Don’t rush the viewing. Give yourself at least 30 to 40 minutes to inspect the car properly, preferably in daylight and dry weather.

Check the documents and VIN

Ask to see the V5C logbook and compare its details with the vehicle.

Check the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the car against the number shown on the V5C. You can usually find the VIN at the bottom of the windscreen and in other locations around the vehicle.

If numbers don’t match, documents look suspicious or the seller can’t explain inconsistencies, don’t ignore them.

Also remember that the V5C records the registered keeper. It isn’t proof of legal ownership on its own, so combine your document checks with a proper vehicle history check and proof of purchase.

Look closely at the bodywork

Walk around the entire car and inspect it from different angles.

Look for:

• Different shades of paint between panels
• Uneven gaps around doors, wings and the bonnet
• Overspray around rubber seals or trim
• Dents, scratches or signs of rust
• Rippling or unusual repairs inside the boot

Small cosmetic marks are normal on older cars. However, inconsistent paintwork or poorly aligned panels could suggest previous accident repairs.

Check every tyre

Don’t just look at the tyre tread. Check the condition and wear pattern across all four tyres and the spare, if the car has one.

Uneven wear can point towards alignment, suspension or tyre-pressure problems.

Also look at the tyre brands and condition. A car with four well-maintained tyres can suggest a different approach to maintenance than one running heavily worn or mismatched tyres.

Look under the bonnet

If possible, ask the seller not to start the car before you arrive. Starting an engine from cold can reveal noises or starting problems that aren’t as obvious once everything has warmed up.

Check the oil and coolant levels and look around the engine bay for leaks or anything that looks recently cleaned or suspiciously wet.

Check underneath the car too. A few minutes spent looking for leaks could reveal an expensive problem.

Test all the electrics

Switch everything on.

Check the windows, mirrors, lights, indicators, air conditioning, heating, infotainment system and any other electrical equipment.

Pay particular attention to the dashboard when you turn the ignition on. Warning lights should illuminate as part of the car’s normal checks and then go out as expected after starting.

Take a proper test drive

Before driving, make sure you’re legally insured to drive the car. Never assume your existing policy automatically covers you.

If you’re covered, take the car out for a proper test drive rather than driving around the block for five minutes.

Around 20 minutes should give you time to try different speeds, road surfaces and manoeuvres.

Pay attention to the brakes. The car should stop smoothly without pulling strongly to one side or producing excessive vibration through the pedal or steering wheel.

On a manual car, check how the clutch feels and whether the gears engage smoothly. A very high biting point, slipping under acceleration or difficulty selecting gears can indicate wear, although clutch behaviour varies between cars.

The steering should feel predictable, without excessive pulling or unusual vibration.

Keep the radio off and listen for unusual sounds. Knocking over bumps could indicate suspension problems, while humming or droning that increases with road speed can point towards worn wheel bearings.

Slow, full-lock manoeuvres can also reveal clicking noises from worn CV joints.

Once you’ve finished the drive, park up and check underneath the car again for fresh leaks.

Check the price, paperwork and payment

Before negotiating, compare the asking price with similar cars of the same model, age, engine, mileage and condition.

If you’ve found problems during your inspection, work out roughly what they’ll cost to repair. You can then decide whether the asking price still makes sense.

When you buy the car, get a written receipt containing the vehicle details, purchase price, date and the names of both parties. Make sure the registered keeper change is completed correctly too.

Remember that vehicle tax doesn’t transfer to the new keeper. You’ll need to tax the car yourself before driving it on a public road.

You’ll also need valid insurance before driving away. It’s worth getting quotes for the exact car before you agree to buy, so you don’t discover afterwards that your affordable first car comes with an unaffordable insurance premium.

Used car check FAQs

What does a car history check show that free checks don’t?

Free government checks can show useful information such as MOT history, recorded mileage and the vehicle’s current tax and MOT status.

A more comprehensive car history check can uncover additional information such as outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, theft records and registration plate changes.

Using both gives you a much clearer picture of the car before you buy it.

Should I buy a Cat S or Cat N car as a first car?

A Cat S or Cat N classification doesn’t automatically mean you should avoid the car, but you should understand exactly what you’re buying.

Category S means the vehicle suffered structural damage, while Category N means it suffered non-structural damage. Both can return to the road after appropriate repairs.

Ask for evidence of the repairs, consider getting an independent inspection and check how the history affects the car’s insurance and resale value before buying.

Is buying from a dealer safer than buying privately?

Buying from a dealer generally gives you stronger consumer protection than buying privately.

A dealer must meet legal requirements around the condition and description of the vehicle. With a private sale, your protections are more limited, although the seller still can’t legally misrepresent the car.

Either way, you should still carry out your own checks before buying.

Can I test drive a car I don’t own?

Yes, but you need valid insurance before getting behind the wheel.

Your existing car insurance might include cover for driving other cars, but many policies don’t offer this and restrictions can apply. Alternatively, the seller’s insurance may cover test drives or you can arrange temporary insurance.

Check your cover before driving rather than assuming you’re insured.

What’s the most important check when buying a used car?

There’s no single check that tells you everything, which is why combining an online history check with an in-person inspection works best.

However, checking for outstanding finance, theft records and previous write-offs is particularly important because you usually can’t identify these issues simply by inspecting or test-driving the car.

Run those checks before travelling, then use the viewing and test drive to assess the car’s physical and mechanical condition.

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