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Buying a second-hand car

Before you buy a second-hand car, you should:

• check the condition of the car, including mechanical checks
• check the car's history
• test drive the car

This will help reduce the risk of you buying a faulty or stolen car.

If you don't feel confident about carrying out the car checks yourself, you can pay experts to do this for you, eg a breakdown recovery service.

Get the answers to any questions you've asked the seller put in writing before you buy the car. This means you will have proof of claims made by the seller.

Where you buy your car changes what rights you have if the car develops a fault later (see link below).

• Buying a car – your rights

Checking the condition of a car

You can test the condition of a car by checking:

• paintwork is still in good condition
• sills, wheel arches and door bottoms are not rusty
• tyres are not damaged or worn
• seat belts work
• door and window seals show no signs of leaking
• electrics work, eg lights and in the dashboard

If a car has been in a serious accident, this can cause lasting damage that means it is unsafe.

Signs that a car has been in an accident include:

• the boot doesn't close properly
• welding has been carried out on the engine
• repairs have been carried out on the boot – also check under the boot carpet
• body panels have been repaired – ask the seller if in doubt
• the colour of paintwork is patchy or panels are different colours

Test driving a car

Always try to take a car for a test drive before you buy it. When driving the car, make sure:

• the car doesn't pull to one side when you brake
• the brakes don't squeal or squeak
• there isn't a strong smell of petrol or oil that indicate faults with the engine
• there are no unusual engine noises
• the steering wheel doesn't shake
• that changing gear is smooth and gears don't stick
• the engine doesn't sound different when the clutch is pressed – this could indicate problems with the gear and clutch

Once you finish the test drive, leave the engine running while you check under the bonnet and the rest of the car. Check:

• the engine doesn’t rattle
• there are no oil leaks
• there is no blue or black smoke from the exhaust (indicating a badly-worn engine)
• there is no grey smoke from the exhaust (indicating water leaking into the engine)

Checking the car's history

Check the car is the seller’s to sell. If the car is stolen or has an outstanding car loan on it, the car will be taken off you and you won’t get your money back.

If a car's vehicle identification number (VIN) has been tampered with, it's a sign the car has been stolen (see link below). The VIN on the car (usually under the bonnet and on the car's windows) should be the same as the number on the car’s registration certificate.

You can also pay a company to carry out a vehicle history check on any car you want to buy.  This will show:

• any outstanding finance on the car
• old insurance claims on the car
• if the car is recorded as stolen

You can find companies that carry out these checks in motoring magazines or search for ‘vehicle history checks’ online.

• Advice on how to avoid buying a stolen vehicle (motoring section)

Car clocking

Car clocking is when the milometer has been turned back to reduce the number of miles on the clock. This falsely increases the value of the car.

Signs that a car has been clocked include:

• the milometer numbers are out of line
• the mileage on the car’s last MOT certificate or service history documents is more than the milometer reading
• the gear knob, steering wheel and pedal rubbers have been replaced to make the car look newer

Ask a dealer what checks they have carried out on the car and what they have found out about the mileage.

If you think that a car has been clocked, report it to Consumer Direct, the government funded advice service.

• Report a clocked car to Consumer Direct

If the car is faulty

Even if you do these checks, a fault may develop with a car you've bought. Follow the links below to find out what your rights are to a repair, replacement or refund.

• Buying a car – your rights

More useful links

• Consumer rights - an introduction

• Returning faulty items

• Borrowing money on credit - your consumer rights

• How to find a reliable business

• Advice on buying a second hand car from Consumer Direct (YouTube video) Opens new window