Print out our handy checklist of things to look out for, and take it with you when going to look a car over.
OUTSIDE
-
suspension: from a distance, is the car standing level?
- body
panels: any scratches or panel gaps?
- paintwork: ripples,
mismatched colour or stray spray?
- bodywork: look down the sides
for dents or bulges
- rust: door-bottoms & sills, wheelarches,
boot lid?
- wheel rims: any dents, scuffs or cracks?
- tyres: check tread depth & wear pattern. Different make at each corner
= car maintained on the cheap. Wear on the outer shoulder means it's been hard
driven.
- glass: cracked or chipped, especially the windscreen?
Windows etched with matching reg number?
- shock absorbers: signs
of leaks or too bouncy?
- underneath: rust or evidence of welding
or repairs?
- lights: all working? Any lens moisture?
- doors: creaking or ill-fitting?
INSIDE
-
smell: smoking? pets? damp or musty?
- carpets: feel them
thoroughly for dampness
- seats: look under any covers. Bad wear,
particularly on driver's side = probable high miles
- gearknob / steering
wheel: shiny and worn?
- mileometer: numbers line up? Scratched
or painted over?
-
pedal rubbers: worn, missing or suspiciously new?
- instrument
panel screws: scratched or rounded?
- doors: all handles and
locks working?
- sunroof: winds back & tilts fully? No sign
of leaks or rust?
- alarm: ask for a demo
- boot:
look under the the carpet for rust, paint ripples or overspray. Is the spare wheel
inflated and has the jack and wheel nut spanner?
OILY BITS
-
is the engine warm? Possible bad starter that's been prepared for you.
- engine bay: very oily - where it shouldn't be? Or suspiciously sparkling
clean? Signs of oil leaks? Wires or hoses hanging loose?
- hoses:
hard, cracked or split?
- oil: light brown or pitch black on
the dipstick? Any white foam under the oil filler cap - sign of engine wear?
- water: CARE! Check engine is cool before opening cap. Is there water
to the proper level & what colour is it? Should be green or blue not a rusty
colour. Does the level move when you squeeze a radiator hose?
- other
fluids: are the brake fluid, gearbox and power steering oil full to the proper
levels?
- wiring: cracked or burned outer coating? Neat connections
or botched repairs?
- engine belts: loose or frayed?
- front suspension: rust around the mountings?
- exhaust:
most will have some rust, but how serious is it?
- CV joints:
split rubber bellows where the suspension arms meet the engine? Expensive MOT
failure point.
- look at the ground: any oily marks where the
car is usually parked?
Extra info on test driving a used car and checking a car's paperwork can be found
on our full car buying checklist