Guide to Viewing a Used Car

Whether you're buying from a dealer or through a private seller, you'll need to make sure that you check the general condition of the car carefully - both inside and out. Skipping this stage could mean that you end up with a poorly maintained vehicle that could cause you a string of problems later on. If you feel slightly daunted by this process, you may find it more reassuring to arrange a professional check by a qualified engineer or a local mechanic.

You'll need to be extra careful when buying privately; cars are usually 'sold as seen' and you'll have little comeback if something goes wrong after you've taken the car home. A useful tip is to take a look at how well kept the owner's house and garden is - if they look unkempt, it's unlikely that they'll have looked after their car.

In this section, we've put together some more handy tips for checking out the condition of a used car, including the exterior , interior and under the bonnet .

Exterior

A guide to checking out the exhaust, tyres, paintwork, panels and seals.

Interior

Find out how to examine the odometer, carpets, seats, instruments and general condition of the car.

Under the Bonnet

A look at investigating the fuel lines, oil levels, coolant and radiator.

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