What should you check before buying a used car?

A convincing advert is only the starting point. Check the car behind it.

The answer in 2 lines. Before paying, check the vehicle's registration details, MOT history and original log book. Compare the vehicle identification number with the paperwork, inspect the car and arrange an insured test drive. Ask for evidence of servicing and explanations for gaps or inconsistent mileage. Buying from a trader gives stronger protection than buying privately, but neither an MOT pass nor a warranty removes the need for careful checks.

Start before you travel

Ask for the registration, make, model and MOT details. Follow the GOV.UK used-vehicle checklist, including its links for safety recalls.
Use DVLA's vehicle-information service: enter the registration and compare the recorded vehicle details with the advert.
Open the official MOT-history service, enter the registration and read the test results, recorded mileage and outstanding advisories.

Stop: danger

Unsafe condition: do not test-drive a car with suspected dangerous brakes, steering or tyres. Arrange an inspection instead.
Dangerous MOT defect: do not accept an assurance that an old certificate makes driving acceptable. Read the official MOT-result guidance and require evidence that dangerous defects have been repaired.

Check the identity and the seller

View the original V5C log book. Compare its vehicle details with the car, including the vehicle identification number, and check the security features described in the official buying checklist.

For a private sale, ask why the seller's details differ from the keeper's details if they do. Get a clear explanation of their authority to sell. Keep the seller's name, contact details and a written receipt. A reassuring story is not a substitute for matching documents.

Inspect the car, not just the documents

Arrange to see it in daylight and ask for the engine to be cold. Look for uneven body panels, corrosion, leaks and damaged tyres. Check lights, windows, seat belts and the equipment included in the advert. Ask about warning lights rather than accepting that they will disappear.

On an insured test drive, notice braking, steering, gear changes, unusual noises and smoke. If you lack the knowledge to assess the car, arrange an independent inspection by a qualified motor engineer before committing. The Citizens Advice buying guide explains inspections, history checks and test-drive precautions; work through those sections before viewing.

What not to do

Paying a reservation deposit under pressure before seeing the car and understanding the deposit terms.
Treating a fresh MOT as a guarantee of the car's overall mechanical condition.
Accepting verbal promises about repairs without adding them to the written agreement.
Assuming a business advertising as a private seller gives you no consumer rights.

Read the history and the agreement

Compare servicing invoices with the advertised history. Ask which scheduled maintenance is due and obtain written evidence for claims such as a recent timing-belt replacement. Unresolved MOT advisories may mean further expense: ask what has been done and budget accordingly.

Check outstanding finance and previous serious damage separately; the free government checks are not a complete ownership or finance history. Ask for supporting evidence and pause if the answer remains unclear. Record the agreed price, displayed mileage, description, included items and promised work on the invoice. Keep a copy of the advert before it disappears.

Understand your rights and prepare to drive away

A trader must supply a car meeting the applicable standards of quality, fitness and description. A private purchase offers narrower protection, although the description still matters. The Trading Standards buying guidance explains the distinction: read the section matching your seller.

A commercial warranty does not replace statutory rights. If something goes wrong, use the Citizens Advice used-car problem tool and answer its questions about the sale and fault. Before driving away, arrange insurance and vehicle tax; follow the purchase steps in the official checklist above.

Good to know

Take someone with you if that helps you inspect the car and resist pressure. Leave yourself time to read the documents.
Ask the seller to state any uncertainty about the mileage in writing before you agree a price.
This guide covers England. Consumer advice routes differ in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland; Northern Ireland also has different MOT arrangements.

Illustrative example: Ben likes a hatchback advertised with a full service history. At the viewing, invoices are missing and an MOT advisory has no matching repair evidence. He asks for the documents and an independent inspection before paying. When the seller insists on an immediate deposit instead, Ben leaves.

A made-up story, for illustration.

Bobby

Sources, verification, confidence

Verified on 6 November 2026, for England. Confidence: high for official vehicle checks and the distinction between trader and private sales; medium for an individual vehicle's condition or the remedy available after purchase. Government records do not replace a mechanical inspection or establish a complete finance history.