Helping you to get the best deal when buying a used car
This checklist is a guide to help you decide whether a car is worth buying. If you find yourself ticking a lot of YES boxes in
one or more sections, it may be best to walk away. If you don't feel confident about carrying out these checks yourself, get
an expert's opinion.
The car's condition
YES
NO
Are sills, wheel arches and door bottoms rusty?
Is paintwork failing?
Are there oil leaks or damaged hoses/drive belts under the bonnet?
Are tyres damaged or worn?
Are the seat belts worn? Do they have faulty mountings?
Do door and window seals show signs of leaking?
Are electrics faulty (lights, dashboard warning lights)?
Has it been in an accident?
YES
NO
Have body panels been repaired?
Is colour/texture of paintwork patchy?
Has welding been carried out on the engine/boot?
Have repairs been carried out on the boot? (check under carpet)
Has car's identity been changed?
YES
NO
Has VIN number been tampered with?
Have areas of glass been scratched off windows, head lights, tail lights, sun roof?
Are windows etched with incorrect VIN?
Do stickers conceal altered etching?
Test Drive
YES
NO
Are brakes defective?
Does car pull to one side when you brake?
Do brakes squeal?
Are there other unusual noises?
Is the hand brake defective?
Does steering wheel shake/vibrate?
Does car pull to one side?
Is changing gear difficult?
Does gear lever skip when you brake or accelerate?
Does clutch grab or slip?
Does engine sound different if clutch is pressed when car is idling?
Is there a strong smell of petrol or oil?
After the test drive
YES
NO
Does engine rattle or make other noise?
Are there water or oil leaks?
Blue or black smoke from exhaust? (Indicates badly-worn engine)
Grey smoke from the exhaust? (Indicates water is leaking into the engine)
Has it been clocked?
YES
NO
Are mileometer numbers out of line?
Is wear and tear heavy, given mileage?
Have pedal rubbers/gear knob/steering wheel been changed?
Does mileage on last MOT certificate (if there is one) contradict mileometer reading?
Does mileage on service documentation contradict mileometer reading?
Does mileage when car was last sold contradict mileometer reading?
Is the car stolen?
YES
NO
Does the seller have the logbook?
Are there spelling mistakes or alterations on the logbook?
Is the seller's name and address different from the logbook?
Is the number plate different from the logbook?
Is engine number different from the logbook?
Is VIN different from logbook? (Check VIN plate, and under both bonnet and driver's seat)