What to Look For When Viewing a Used Car

Start with the bodywork

Stand back and look along each side of the car. Panel gaps should be even all the way round, and the paint colour and finish should match from one panel to the next. A panel that looks slightly different in shade or texture may have been repainted after an accident.

Look closely at the lower edges of the doors, the wheel arches and the sills for rust bubbles. Open the bonnet and boot and look for signs of overspray, mismatched fixings or crumpled metal. A repair is not necessarily a problem, but you should ask about it.

Run your fingertips along the edges of panels and around door shuts, because a rough or ridged edge can reveal masking tape lines from a respray. Check the glass too: if one window has a different brand mark from the others, a replacement may have followed a break-in or accident.

Tyres, wheels and the underside

Check all four tyres for tread depth, cracks and even wear. Uneven wear on the inner or outer edge can point to alignment or suspension problems. The tyres should be of a similar type, and the legal minimum for cars is 1.6mm across the central three quarters.

Look at the alloy wheels for kerb damage and cracks. Glance underneath for fresh oil, coolant or leaks, and look for any dents or damage to the exhaust.

Press down hard on each corner of the car and let go. If it bounces more than once, the shock absorbers may be tired. Turn the steering to full lock in both directions with the engine running and listen for clicking or groaning from the front.

Interior wear and electrics

The inside should match the mileage. A badly worn driver's seat, shiny steering wheel and worn pedal rubbers on a car claiming low mileage is a red flag. Smell for damp, and press on the carpets, especially in the boot and footwells.

Try everything: windows, mirrors, central locking, heater, air conditioning, radio, wipers and all the lights. Missing items are small things individually, but they add up and can be bargaining points.

Look at the pedal rubbers, gear knob and driver's seat bolster, and compare them with the claimed mileage. A tidy interior in a very high-mileage car can simply mean it was looked after, but you should expect the story to hang together.

• Check both keys are present
• Look for the spare wheel or repair kit
• Test every seatbelt and seat adjuster
• Look at the dashboard for any stuck warning lights

The cold start and what is under the bonnet

Ask not to start the car before you arrive, so you can see a true cold start. Watch the dashboard: warning lights should come on and then go out. Listen for rattles, knocking or rough running, and look for smoke from the exhaust.

With the engine off, check the oil level and condition, coolant level and brake fluid. Milky oil, very low fluids or a messy engine bay deserve a question. If something worries you, a pre-purchase inspection by a garage is a good way to get a clear answer.

The test drive and the paperwork

Drive on a mix of roads if you can. The car should pull away smoothly, steer straight, and brake without pulling or juddering. The clutch should bite at a sensible point and the gears should change cleanly. Listen for clunks over bumps.

Afterwards, check the paperwork: V5C logbook, service history, MOT history and any receipts. Make sure the details match the car. At Banks of the Tyne we prepare and inspect the used cars we sell, but whoever you buy from, take your time and ask questions.

Take a friend or relative if you can. A second person notices things you miss, and having company helps you resist pressure. If you like the car but have doubts about its mechanical condition, a pre-purchase inspection is a sensible next step before you pay.

Frequently asked questions