User Car Purchasing Advice
Buying a used vehicle can be a daunting experience, so we’ve put together a guide to signpost areas of research we recommend you conduct and things that are important to check. We also look at the various buying options you have and set out some considerations for each.
Initial research
Before you buy a vehicle it is essential that you conduct some research so you understand what makes, models and features of a car you are looking for and what you can afford before undertaking viewings.
1: Vehicle specification and features The first step for most car buyers is understanding what models are available that suit their motoring needs. There are many websites that provide sophisticated search tools that enable you to find vehicles tailored to your requirements. The main areas to consider:
Practicality – the size, transmission and various gadgets the vehicle provides based on your needs. Are you looking for a hatchback, saloon, SUV or estate? Are you looking for manual or automatic transmission? What is the safety rating of the vehicle? Do you want to play music from your phone or are you happy with a CD player?
Performance and fuel type – does the vehicle’s speed, acceleration and fuel economy suit your requirements? With petrol and diesel vehicles the bigger the engine the faster the vehicle and the more expensive they are to run. But hybrids and electric vehicles (EV) offer fast acceleration and lower fuelling costs – charging a vehicle at home is usually cheaper than the cost of refuelling a petrol or diesel engine.
Mileage – you can work out if the vehicles you are looking at are above or below the average mileage based on the UK national average of 7,400 miles per annum. Ensure you run a check which will tell you if there are any mileage issues, particularly if the mileage seems very low for the vehicle’s age.
Condition – most used cars will have wear and tear which typically worsens with age. Sellers should point out where there are any issues with the condition of the vehicle such as damage to the exterior and interior and any mechanical issues. Look out for adverts that provide a high number of images covering all areas of the vehicle, both inside and out. If there are only a handful of images it may be worth you contacting the seller to get an honest overview of the vehicle’s condition before you commit to travelling to view.
2: Set buying criteriaOnce you have a general idea of what you are looking for from a vehicle then we suggest you formalise your criteria – defining ranges of tolerance for what you will and won’t consider. You can then focus your search on a range of makes/models and shortlist specific vehicles to view. An example is provided below. You can make this more or less detailed depending on how fussy you are about the vehicle you are looking for. But when you set a buying criteria make sure you stick to it and this will more likely lead you to getting hold of the right vehicle.Example criteria:
- Price/running costs – see below
- Age – up to 5 years old
- Mileage – 15,000 – 40,000 miles
- Safety – Must have air bags and be at least NCAP 4* rated
- Condition – Only minor scratches
- Aesthetics – Dark blue or grey with matching trim and dark interior and alloys
Purchase a Total Car Check Gold Check
Before you set off to view a vehicle make sure you buy our Complete Check. This will tell you if it passes our rigorous data inspection first before you’ve left the door. Buying in bulk using our multi-gold deal gives you more value for money if you have more than one vehicle in your shortlist. The reports we provide can also be purchased and stored on our highly rated app and taken with you on your mobile phone to use in conjunction with physical checks you make on vehicles.
Buying from a private seller
10-step guide to viewing and checking vehicles
1: Seek assistance from a vehicle inspection expert: If you are new to buying cars it makes sense for you to appoint a vehicle inspection expert to come along to initial viewings with you. This could be a friend that works in the trade such as a mechanic or engineer, or there are a number of vehicle examination firms that you can approach to provide this service. Be wary of any sellers that are reluctant to facilitate any inspection requests you make.
2: Arrange to see the vehicle in daylight at the seller’s home and not in a public placeThis will help you both assess the vehicle’s condition and an unscrupulous seller is less likely to invite you to their home (as you could easily inform the police of these details if there are any serious issues).
3: Ask the seller for some ID, such as a driver’s licence or passportA genuine seller is unlikely to be concerned at this request, and it will enable you to check that the registered keeper (name on the V5C) is the person who is selling you the vehicle..
4: Ensure V5C logbook details match the vehicleMake sure the seller has the DVLA V5C logbook registration document. If they don’t then walk away immediately, as there is no way for you to verify the important vehicle details. The seller should be named as the registered keeper on the V5C otherwise the vehicle might not be theirs to sell and it may be stolen.Even if the seller is listed as the registered keeper it is important you conduct a Complete Check as the vehicle could hold outstanding finance and be owned by a finance provider. As stated on the document itself, a V5C is a record of ‘keepership’ not ‘ownership’.It is important to check that the VIN, the engine number and the vehicle colour recorded in the V5C document match the vehicle. If they do not, the vehicle may be cloned. See guidance below on how to find the VIN and engine number.Engine number and VIN checks and cloningIt is not uncommon for criminals to attempt to conceal the fact a vehicle is stolen by replacing its number plates with those of a very similar vehicle. This means that when you run a vehicle history check, you won’t actually be checking the vehicle you think you are. This practise is known as cloning.Fortunately, it is quite easy to check to see if a vehicle has been cloned by using its vehicle identification number (VIN): How do I find the VIN?You must ensure that the VIN number provided in a car report matches those displayed in the vehicle.The vehicle identification number is unique and will never change. It’s normally 17 characters and a combination of letters and numbers.
