From the test drive to the paperwork, the 23 things every buyer should check before handing over the cash.
Why a checklist matters
Most used-car problems are invisible to an untrained eye β which is exactly what dishonest sellers rely on. A structured inspection done before you get emotionally invested lets you walk away from bad deals and negotiate confidently on good ones.
Work through these categories in order. Save the test drive and paperwork for last β there's no point driving a car whose bodywork or undercarriage has already raised red flags.
The essential checks
- Exterior bodywork. Walk around in good daylight and look along each panel for ripples, paint mismatches or uneven gaps. A magnet won't stick to body filler used to hide accident damage β run one along sills and pillars.
- Glass and lights. Check all glass for chips and cracks that could fail a roadworthiness test. Verify every light works: headlights (dipped and full beam), indicators, brake lights, fog lights and reversing lights.
- Tyres and wheels. Check tread depth (legal minimum is 1.6 mm; replace at 3 mm for safety) and even wear across the width. Uneven inner or outer wear signals alignment or suspension problems.
- Under the bonnet. Check oil level and colour (black and gritty means neglected), coolant condition (rusty colour means internal corrosion), and look for oil or coolant leaks around hoses and the engine block.
- Service history and VIN. Match the VIN on the dashboard, door pillar and registration document. Confirm stamps in the service book align with the claimed mileage. Then run a VIN history check to verify everything independently.
Back it up with data
A physical inspection tells you what you can see on the day. A VIN history report tells you what happened before you arrived β insurance-recorded accidents, mileage readings from roadworthiness tests, theft flags, and more.
Run a VIN check