Cars Prepared and Inspected Before Sale in Tyne and Wear

Buying used always carries some uncertainty, because you are taking on a car whose earlier life you did not see. Preparing and inspecting a car before sale is one way of narrowing that uncertainty. It means someone has been over the vehicle, noted its condition and dealt with what needed dealing with, so the car you view is not a surprise waiting to happen.

At Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn, we prepare and inspect cars before they are offered for sale. This page explains what that generally involves and what to ask any seller, us included.

What preparation and inspection usually covers

An inspection is a methodical look at the car, not a glance. A typical process starts with the obvious areas such as bodywork, glass, lights, tyres and the interior, then moves to the parts that matter for safe, reliable driving: brakes, steering, suspension, fluids and the engine bay. A road test usually follows, because some faults only show when the car is moving.

Preparation is the work that follows. Anything found that needs attention is put right or noted, and the car is cleaned and presented properly. The aim is that the car you see is ready to drive away, with its condition understood.

• Visual checks of body, glass, lights and tyres
• Brakes, steering and suspension condition
• Fluid levels and signs of leaks
• Warning lights and electrical items
• A road test to see how it drives

What an inspection cannot do

An inspection is a snapshot of the day it was carried out. It cannot predict every future failure, and it cannot undo a hidden history. Wear items such as tyres, brake pads and clutches are used up gradually, so a car can pass a check and still need them in future.

That is why it works alongside your own checks of the paperwork and service history.

Questions to ask about any car

Ask what was checked and what was done. A seller who has prepared a car should be able to tell you in plain terms.

• What was found during the inspection?
• What was repaired or replaced, and why?
• What is the service history, and can I see it?
• Are there any known faults or advisories?
• What aftercare or cover comes with the car? Ask us for the details.

Doing your own checks as well

View the car in daylight, take a test drive on roads you know and check that every control works. If anything feels wrong, say so.