What To Look For When Buying A Used Car Checklist

Does the mileage age and appearance of the car look consistent.

Check the color of the transmission fluid. If you happen to be buying from a private seller be sure to check the paperwork the title and registration and compare it to the seller s driver s license. This is a must check when buying a used car the transmission fluid should be pink or red. Any sign like worn screws that the instruments might have been tampered with.

Used car interior checks the condition of a car s interior can help to indicate whether the mileage is genuine. Make sure the make and model of the car you re buying matches that on the v5 as well as the number plate. If the names don t match you may have run into a curbstoner a seller who poses as a private seller but is actually a used car dealer. The most important document you need to check when buying a secondhand car is the v5c also known as the registration document or log book.

Documents check for used cars. Raise the boot and take a good look around lifting the carpet to check the spare tyre and wheel changing kit is there and take a good sniff in here too as water leaks into the boot will make it smell musty and look under the bonnet and check the seals but we ll detail what you should be looking for a little later in the article. Make sure belts are in good condition as well. Digital odometers can be tampered with electronically so clues like this won t exist check recorded mileage on service records mot certificates and other documents.