Buying a used car is the most affordable way to get on the road in the UK.
And it’s a good plan. Done right, buying second-hand can help you save a significant amount of money… if you know what to look out for.
Without the right knowledge, or someone mechanically-minded to turn to for advice, it’s very easy to be tempted by a cheap price tag that’s hiding a whole load of problems. Problems that will likely cost you thousands in car repairs down the road.
So to help, we spoke to the team at ClickMechanic, the UK’s leading car maintenance platform. They’ve given us a list of things to check when you’re buying used cars from private sellers.
Ready to find your dream(ish) second-hand car?
ClickMechanic team recommend focusing on 5 main areas.
The exterior
Look out for scratches or dents
You should also keep an eye out for slight differences in the paint colour. It may be that panels have been replaced and resprayed to cover up any accidents.
Check for leaks underneath the car
It may be that the oil or coolant is leaking.
Look for signs of corrosion and rusting
This typically affects the underside of a car first. We’d recommend a close visual inspection of the wheel arches, exhaust and the suspension.
You should also check the alloy wheels and paintwork for signs of ‘bubbling’ and any signs of red discolouration in these areas.
Make sure the tyres are in good condition
The tyre tread depth should be above the legal minimum of 1.6mm per tyre. To check this you can perform the ‘20p test’.
Just insert a 20p coin into one of the tread grooves on the tyre. If you can’t see the outer band on the coin, your tires are above the legal limit.
Driving a car with bald tyres can risk a fine of £2,500 and three penalty points per tyre.
We also recommend buying a tyre tread depth gauge to quickly and accurately measure the depth of your tyre grooves. If your tyre tread is close to the 1.6mm mark, you should consider replacing your tyres as soon as possible.
Turn lights on and off
Check that headlamps, braking lights and indicators are working as they should.
The interior
- Check the seat upholstery and carpets (and underneath it) for wear, tears and stains.
- Try all the controls and instruments like the climate controls and screen de-misters.
- Check the rearview mirror for cracks and that the side mirrors operate smoothly.
- Make sure the door locking function works.
- Turn the interior lights and lights on the dash panel on and off.
- Ask if your vehicle comes with a spare wheel, locking nut and other essential vehicle accessories.
The engine
It’s important to have a quick check under the bonnet for:
The general condition and cleanliness of the engine bay
Remove the engine oil cap and check if there is a build-up of fluids that is not engine oil. Engine oil is usually light brown in colour and turns darker in colour the more a car is used.
Signs of corrosion
This may look like red rusting around the mechanical components.
Test the fluid levels
To check the oil and coolant levels, remove the oil dipstick and inspect the colour (the lighter the better).
The condition of hoses and pipes
They should be in good general condition and not showing signs of wear and tear.
Signs of fluid leaks
Look underneath a car when it’s stationary to check if there are any fluid leaks. This can usually be identified by the consistency and smell of the fluid, although it could come from a number of places such as the engine oil, transmission oil or elsewhere and will need investigating.
The test drive
It’s a good idea to take the car for a test drive if you can. When driving check for:
Rattles and knocking noises. This could indicate major problems.
The general handling of the car. Take note of how the brakes and acceleration feel, as well as how easy it is to operate the clutch and change gears.
You should test the steering with a full turn in both directions and perform a 3-point turn when it’s safe to do so. This is generally a good test of the steering, suspension and additional components.
Get a second opinion from an expert
In addition to getting a history check, often it’s also worth getting a pre-purchase inspection through ClickMechanic.
The mechanic will undertake a thorough inspection of the car and use their expertise to identify any underlying problems that may not be immediately obvious. The mechanic will also take photos, create a report and send this to you as soon as possible.
And lastly, we recommend viewing and test driving a few cars of the same model before you make a final decision. That way you can compare the condition of each of the cars and get a clearer idea of whether your one is worth the money.
Got a Marshmallow policy? All of our policyholders can get 10% off any service booked via ClickMechanic. That could be an emergency repair, a service – or even a pre-purchase car inspection.
.jpg)
